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Becoming a Critical Thinker: A User Friendly Manual, 4/E
Sherry Diestler, Contra Costa College

ISBN-10: 0131779982
ISBN-13: 9780131779983

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2005
Format: Paper; 432 pp
Published: 08/23/2004

Suggested retail price: $61.40
Not available for purchase at this time.

For courses in Critical Thinking, Informal Logic, Rhetoric, Argumentation, and English courses which cover the Argumentative Essay.

This text trains students to distinguish high-quality, well-supported arguments from arguments with little or no evidence to support them. It develops the skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs.

  • The combined basic principles of logic, rhetoric, and argumentation.

    • Prepares students to be discerning about the messages they read or hear.

  • Coverage of decision-making and the Toulmin model of argumentation.

    • Empowers students to use principles of critical thinking and argumentation and quickly see the application in different dimensions of their lives.

  • Contemporary, multicultural issues throughout using diverse sources.

    • Broadens students' understanding of issues with the use of articles and examples.

  • Coverage of persuasive speaking principles.

    • Teaches students to construct and present arguments so that they can gain skill and confidence as advocates—applying what they have learned in their personal lives, and in social and political arenas.

  • Chapter-end writing and speaking exercises—Various levels of difficulty.

    • Gives students opportunities to practice critical thinking skills with useful and enjoyable activities.



 1. Foundations of Arguments: What is a Critical Thinker and When Do You Need to Be One?


 2. Values and Ethics: What Price Ethics and Can You afford Not to Pay?


 3. Reality Assumptions: It's Eleven O'Clock. Do You Know Where Your Assumptions Are?


 4. Inductive Arguments: Statistical and Causal Generalizations: Prove It to Me: What Are the Statistics?


 5. Inductive Generalizations: Controlled Studies and Analogies.

 6. Reasoning Errors: I Know What I Think. Don't Confuse Me with Facts.


 7. The Power of Language: What's in a Name?


 8. Suggestion in Media: Is What You See What You Get? Do You Really Want It?


 9. Fair-Mindedness: It's You and Me, Kid, and I'm Not So Sure About You.


10. Persuasive Speaking: What's Your Point? How Do You Sharpen It?


Glossary.


Index.

    For courses in Critical Thinking, Informal Logic, Rhetoric, Argumentation, and English courses which cover the Argumentative Essay.

     

    This text trains students to distinguish high-quality, well-supported arguments from arguments with little or no evidence to support them. It develops the skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs.

  • 0132413132Becoming a Critical Thinker: User Friendly Manual, 5/E
    Diestler
    © 2009 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 496 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0132413132 | ISBN-13: 9780132413138
    Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore

"Diestler has definitely written the book to be just what its cover advertises—user friendly. It is quite easy to read and it presents difficult concepts in a basic way so that the average student has little trouble understanding them . ... A cut above many other critical thinking books." — R. Natasha Mohr, Creighton University

"There are very few hooks that can introduce a beginner to the thrill of critical thinking in a way that seems fairly uncomplicated, and yet that fosters progressive competency. Diestler's book says to a potential student, 'Come and try critical thinking: it is not scary, and you will soon become better at it than you think!" — Lee Loots, California State University. Hayward

"For the kind of class that I teach and the particular group of students I encounter, this text is the best I have found." — Steven Benfell, Western Michigan University

Sherry Diestler has written a straightforward text to train students to distinguish well-supported arguments from ineffectual arguments with little or no evidence to support them. She develops students' skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them, from classic sources as well as contemporary print and broadcast media, as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs through both writing and public speaking.

Features
  • Combines basic principles of logic, rhetoric, and argumentation
  • Provides extensive contemporary, multicultural issues for students from a variety of disciplines and subject areas
  • Covers decision-making and the Toulmin model of argumentation
  • Teaches students the fundamentals of persuasive speaking
  • Includes end-of-chapter writing and speaking exercises

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Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.


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