The book Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing is written by Matthew Allen. I have been fortunate to discover that I was right in assuming that a practical book on critical thinking skills in the context of communication would be both popular and necessary. I continue to be involved in teaching critical thinking in the Applied Reasoning unit, which is now part of some study courses through Open Learning Australia and is being revived on the Curtin University campus. I also realized that by writing Smart Thinking I myself learned everything I expected from its readers and therefore, in the end, it was an easy decision to produce a new edition.
This second edition reflects the experiences of teaching with Smart Thinking over the years since it was first published. Reviewing it, I discovered that much of what I had originally written is still valuable and that students have learned from it. But I’ve also made some significant changes, including more assistance in earlier chapters to help readers with more complicated skills and concepts, as well as expanding later chapters on reasoning and research. The last chapter is now a fully worked example of the skills that underpin the entire book, providing a model for readers of the power and value of the approach I’m describing. I hope that readers now find the sometimes confusing journey to greater critical thinking and reasoning skills a little easier and with a clearer goal ahead.
Topics of this Edition
Overview of Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing
Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing 2E is a practical, step-by-step guide to improving analysis skills, critical thinking, and effective communication of arguments and explanations. The book combines an accessible and simple style with a solid foundation of knowledge. The text treats reasoning as an aspect of communication, not as an abstract exercise in logic. The book not only provides detailed advice on how to practice analytical skills, but also demonstrates how these skills can be used in research and writing. In particular, it emphasizes how to develop arguments that are coherent and take into account your audience and context.
Description:
| Book Name | Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing |
| Author of Book | Matthew Allen |
| Edition | 2nd |
| Language | English |
| Format | |
| Category | Motivational Books |
