Art of Thinking, The: A Guide to critical and Creative Thought

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.  

Table of Contents:
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