Becoming a Critical Thinker [with Schacter Seven Sins of Memory]

by Vincent Ruggiero

Becoming a Critical Thinker stresses concrete and practical applications of critical thinking in everyday situations. The concise structure makes the text a useful supplement to any student success course, and its use of timely examples—from advertising, television, music, and the Internet—help students connect the skills outlined to their own lives. The text is divided into a series of cumulative activities and includes exercises linked to further activities on the Web. Chapter 4, Solving Problems, provides critical-thinking techniques that students can apply to school and life. Thinking Critically About Research offers methods for assessing information. Thinking Critically About Movies illustrates how the cinema is used as a tool for persuasion, and how students can analyze the messages within the context of a film.

Genres: Education, Philosophy

Unknown Binding

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[John Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have gone through a number of Critical thinking textbooks, and most contain a politically left of center perspective, so the examples of bias, bad reasoning and logical fallacies are almost always of republicans and Fox News. Interestingly, this, from what I've heard, has resulted in some on the political right thinking "Critical thinking is simply brainwashing students to uncritical and credulously accept leftist ideology and to think critically and tear apart the values of their republican parents". Then as people on the right declare their opposition to "critical thinking" it further confirms just how backwards, stupid and irrational those on the right are to the progressive liberal. When ultimately, Republicans are not opposed to the principles of critical thinking, but are reacting to the liberal bias in the giving of it.

So yeah, one thing that stood out to me about this textbook by Ruggiero is that it most definitely wasn't written by someone on the left. In fact, how conservatives feel when reading the standard critical thinking textbook with its liberal bias, is how liberals will feel when reading this textbook. I don't think the conservative bias is over the top, but it is there.

All in all, it means this might be a good textbook for those who want to introduce critical thinking in areas where there might be backlash from angry parents when the content of critical thinking books has a clear leftist agenda. There are good principles that can be learned in most critical thinking books (both on the left and the right), this one will feel less threatening to conservatives, and mean they may learn some good principles of better reasoning without feeling under attack.

Concerning the content, I have mixed feelings, some was really good, other parts seemed more self-helpish, and contained long list of too briefly flushed out points.
I think what I liked most was from the early chapter "Fundamentals of thinking" which had some helpful ways to encourage reasoning about thing before engaging in research. We can consider

Does this contradict experience?
What are the implications?
What are the exceptions?
What are the counter examples?
What are the consequences?
What is the reverse of the opinion?

I notice these are some things I naturally do when I reason about something, it was great to see them listed and expended upon. When teaching critical thinking, it will now be easier to encourage students to do likewise.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://nontraditional-teaching.blogsp...

[Mohamed Alsaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

about 7 chapters about developing your mind to think, different strategies can apply. the book is brilliant.there is also website to write your Summaries and remarks of each chapter.
Chapter one about Strategies for effective Learning. how to change your habits of the way you live.starting with planning and Start command your mind and studying efficiently.

[Bjorn · Rating 1 out of 5]

No good.