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Art of Thinking, The: A Guide to Critical Thought, 11th edition

Published by Pearson (January 23, 2014) © 2015

  • Vincent Ryan Ruggiero
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Accessible and engaging, this unique text offers concrete, practice strategies for critical and creative thinking and includes many opportunities for practicing these fundamental skills.

The Art of Thinking introduces students to the principles and techniques of critical thinking, taking them step-by-step through the problem-solving process. Emphasizing creative and active thought processes, the author asserts that good thinking and problem-solving is based on learnable strategies. The book's four parts, “Be Aware,” “Be Creative,” “Be Critical,” and “Communicate Your Ideas,” present students with a process for solving problems and resolving controversial issues. Discussions of how to evaluate ideas and how to question long-held assumptions or biases help students look at concepts critically. This text can be used in freshman experience courses, freshman composition courses, and a wide array of other courses where instructors want to enhance students' critical thinking skills.
 
  • Extensive coverage of persuasion and argument offers strategies on writing a better argument and encourages students to develop an interest in current issues relating to argument.
  • Emphasis on creative and critical thinking moves beyond traditional texts by encouraging students to problem solve creatively.
  • Numerous problem-solving exercises–including group discussion, composition, and speech exercises–demonstrate the various applications of good thinking skills as well as methods for sharpening them.
  • Chapter 14, “Persuading Others,” teaches students how to anticipate their audience's objections, and how to build a persuasive case.
  • Chapter 15, “Writing and Speaking Effectively,” offers reminders about the writing process and provides instruction on delivering oral presentations and formal speaking.

New applications encourage students to think critically about controversial, contemporary issues including:

  • The Snowden revelation about government surveillance
  • The woman who married herself
  • Punishing the use of guns
  • Expanding U.N. powers
  • "Redistributing” wealth
  • “Stand your ground” laws
  •  The minimum wage

       

· A new strategy in Chapter 2 helps students with their will investigative skill. It is based on the principle that if you don’t understand both (or all) sides of an issue, you don’t understand the issue.

Every chapter concludes with Warm-Up Exercises, Applications, Issue for Extended Analysis  

 

Part I    Be Aware 

1      Developing Your Thinking: An Overview 

What Is Thinking? 

The Importance of Thinking 

Brain and Mind at Work 

Good Thinking Is a Habit 

The Structure of This Book 

Getting the Most from Your Efforts 

Using Feelings to Advantage 

Learning to Concentrate 

Coping with Frustration

Making Discussion Meaningful 

Preliminary Thinking Strategies 

Sample Exercises and Responses 

 

2      Establish a Foundation

Free Will Versus Determinism 

What Is Truth? 

What Is Knowing? 

Ways of Knowing 

The Problem of Remembering 

What Are Opinions? 

Understanding Cause and Effect 

Debating Moral Questions 

The Basis of Moral Judgment 

Dealing with Dilemmas 

A Special Thinking Strategy

 

3      Broaden Your Perspective 

Becoming an Individual 

Habits That Hinder Thinking 

Overcoming Bad Habits 

 

4      Be a Critical Reader, Listener, and Viewer 

Critical Evaluation Defined 

Making Important Distinctions 

A Strategy for Critical Reading 

A Sample Evaluation and Judgment 

A Strategy for Critical Listening 

A Strategy for Critical Viewing 

How Critical Analysis Relates to Writing

 

Part II     Be Creative 

5      The Creative Process

Key Facts About Creativity 

Characteristics of Creative People 

Applying Creativity to Problems and Issues 

Stages in the Creative Process 

 

6      Search for Challenges 

The Importance of Curiosity 

How Curiosity Is Lost 

Regaining Your Curiosity 

Six Helpful Techniques 

 

7      Express the Problem or Issue

Distinguishing Problems from Issues 

Expressing Problems 

Expressing Issues 

When Problems Become Issues 

Gu

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