Critical Thinking

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to develop the critical thinking skills needed to interpret and assess arguments and information. This course will highlight the language skills essential for critically analyzing and discussing the quality of the information and opinions presented in authentic texts and listening selections. The course will concentrate on detecting errors of reasoning in short and long passages, evaluating evidence in written and verbal arguments, detecting logical inconsistencies, removing vagueness and ambiguity through word choice and phrasing, and identifying the point or purpose of someone's remarks. Through examining these topics, students will be able to thoughtfully respond to others' opinions in a clear, logical, and informed way. Students will leave the course better prepared to collect, synthesize, and evaluate information and feel more confident in presenting their perspectives in an academic setting.