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Longman / Prentice Hall

English

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Writing Logically, Thinking Critically, 4/E
Sheila Cooper, Emerita, San Francisco State University
Rosemary Patton, Emerita, San Fransisco State University

ISBN-10: 0321149807
ISBN-13: 9780321149800

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2004
Format: Paper; 288 pp
Published: 06/10/2003

This item has been replaced by Writing Logically, Thinking Critically, 6/E.

This concise, accessible text teaches students how to construct logical, cohesive arguments and how to evaluate the arguments of others.

Integrating writing skills with critical thinking skills, this practical book teaches students to draw logical inferences, identify premises and conclusions and use language precisely. Students also learn how to identify fallacies and to distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning. Ideal for any composition class that emphasizes argument, this text includes coverage of writing style, research, documentation, literature, rhetoric, and logic.

Collaborative activities throughout the text encourage a more interactive approach to learning.

Exercises appear throughout each chapter, often paired with short stories, poems, or passages for students to read and write about, giving them necessary practice with key ideas from the chapter.

Visuals—including many cartoon images—appear throughout the text, helping to illustrate the concepts discussed with wit and humor.

Chapter 9 includes expanded and updated coverage of research and documentation, including the addition of a student essay that illustrates MLA documentation.

An updated “Plagiarism” section discusses the current problem of students taking materials from the Internet without attribution and discovers the risks and ethical considerations of plagiarism.

“Making Inferences—Analyzing Visual Images” applies the principles of logical inference to “reading” images such as advertisements, helping students navigate our consumer culture.

An expanded section, “Strategies for Writing a Summary,” includes a model summary and step-by-step instruction.

A handy list of readings in the front of the book makes it easy for students and instructors to locate selections and highlights the variety of genres covered—poetry, fiction, student essays, editorials, newspaper and magazine columns.

A discussion of causation versus correlation—a distinction often blurred by popular media—is illustrated by Dr. Susan Love's essay, “Preventive Medicine, Properly Practiced.”

“Consider the Source” segment in Chapter 1 focuses on the biases of news sources, helping students to critically evaluate the news and analyze socially constructed knowledge.

A discussion of interpreting fiction is included in Chapter 2, “Inference—Critical Thought,” which discusses drawing inferences from fiction, film, and images.

DETAILED CONTENTS.

Preface.

1. Thinking and Writing—A Critical Connection.

Thinking Made Visible.

The Power of Writing Persuasively.

Critical Thinking.

Audience and Purpose.

Writing Assignment 1. Considering Your Audience.

Writing as a Process.

Writing Assignment 2. Your Writing Process.

He or She?

What You Can Expect from This Book.

Enjoying The Challenge of Thinking and Writing.

Key Terms.

2. Inference—Critical Thought.

What Is an Inference?

What Is a Fact?

What Is a Judgment?

Achieving a Balance Between Inference and Facts.

Reading Critically.

Writing Assignment 3. Reconstructing the Lost Tribe.

Making Inferences—Analyzing Images.

Making Inferences—Writing About Fiction.

Writing Assignment 4. Interpreting Fiction.

Summary.

Key Terms.

3. The Structure of Argument.

Premises and Conclusions.

Distinguishing Between Premises and Conclusions.

Standard Form.

Ambiguous Argument Structure.

Argument and Explanation—Distinctions.

Argument Structure, Logical Essay Organization, and Revision.

Summaries.

Writing Assignment 5. Constructing a Summary and Response.

Plagiarism.

Logical Relationships Between Ideas—Joining Words.

Hidden Assumptions in Argument.

Writing Assignment 8. A Letter of Application.

Summary.

Key Terms.

4. Written Argument.

Focusing Your Topic.

Shaping a Written Argument—Rhetorical Strategies.

A Dialectical Approach to Argument.

Logical Joining of Contrasting and Concessive Ideas.