Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Second edition Cover C M Y K

Thinking Skills

John Butterworth and Geoff Thwait

Second edition

John Butterworth and Geoff Thwaites

This lively coursebook encourages students to develop more

sophisticated and mature thinking processes by learning specific,

transferable skills independent of subject content which assist confident

engagement in argument and reasoning.

As well as giving a thorough grounding in critical thinking and problem

solving, the book discusses how to analyse and evaluate arguments,

manipulate numerical and graphical information and develop a range of

skills including data handling, logic and reasoning.

The second edition of the book has been substantially updated with new

and revised content throughout. The only endorsed coursebook offering

complete coverage of the Cambridge AS and A Level Thinking Skills

syllabus, this resource also contains extensive extra material to cover a

wide range of related awards.

Features include:

? clearly focused and differentiated critical thinking and problem solving

units that provide complete coverage of the Thinking Skills syllabus

and beyond

? a range of stimulating student activities with commentaries to develop

analytical skills

? summary of key concepts at the end of each chapter to review learning

? end-of-chapter assignments to reinforce knowledge and skills, with

answers at the back for self-assessment

? a mapping grid to demonstrate the applicability of each unit to awards

including Critical Thinking, BMAT and TSA.

Thinking Skills is written by two experienced examiners, who have

produced a lively and accessible text which all students of Thinking Skills

will find invaluable.

Visit education.cie for information on our full range of

Cambridge International A Level titles including e-book versions and

mobile apps.

John Butterworth and Geoff Thwaites

Thinking Skills

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Butterworth and Thwaites

9781107606302

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Thinking Skills

Thinking Skills

ISBN 978-1-107-66996-3

Second edition

John Butterworth and Geoff Thwaites

Thinking Skills

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Second edition

cambridge university press

Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town,

Singapore, S?o Paulo, Delhi, Mexico City

Cambridge University Press

The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK



Information on this title: 9781107606302

? Cambridge University Press 2005, 2013

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception

and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,

no reproduction of any part may take place without the written

permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2005

Second edition 2013

Printed in Italy by L.E.G.O. S.p.A.

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-1-107-60630-2 Paperback

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or

accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in

this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is,

or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Information regarding prices, travel

timetables and other factual information given in this work is correct at

the time of first printing but Cambridge University Press does not guarantee

the accuracy of such information thereafter.

Contents

Unit 1 Thinking and reasoning

1.1 Thinking as a skill 

1.2 An introduction to critical thinking 

1.3 Solutions not problems 

1

7

13

Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

Claims, assertions, statements

Judging claims

Argument 

Identifying arguments

Analysing arguments

Complex arguments 

Conclusions 

Reasons 

Assumptions 

Flaws and fallacies

16

21

28

33

38

43

50

58

63

70

Unit 3 Problem solving: basic skills

3.1 What do we mean by a ¡®problem¡¯?

3.2 How do we solve problems?

3.3 Selecting and using information

3.4 Processing data

3.5 Finding methods of solution

3.6 Solving problems by searching

3.7 Recognising patterns

3.8 

Hypotheses, reasons, explanations and inference

3.9 Spatial reasoning

3.10 Necessity and sufficiency

3.11 Choosing and using models

3.12 Making choices and decisions

79

82

86

90

93

98

102

106

112

116

119

123

Unit 4 Applied critical thinking

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

Inference

Explanation

Evidence

Credibility 

Two case studies

Critical thinking and science 

126

137

144

150

156

163

Contentsiii

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