Critical Thinking Course (AS-103)

This course is made up of five two-hour sessions. There are also some tasks to complete in your own time and some recommended reading.

SESSION ONE: Introduction and Defining Critical Thinking

This session will consider what critical thinking is and why it is important. It will also cover the common barriers to critical thinking that we all face.

SESSION TWO: Defining, Identifying and Analysing Arguments

This session will consider what arguments are and how we can identify and analyse them. Different techniques for analysing arguments will be introduced, which are helpful for planning assignments.

SESSION THREE: Evaluating Arguments and Identifying Fallacies 

This session will consider how we can go about evaluating arguments. It will also consider what makes both a good and bad argument and cover some of the common problems people make with their reasoning.

SESSION FOUR: Persuasion and Effective Conversation

This session will look at how speakers and authors make their arguments more persuasive. It will also consider how we can use critical thinking skills to communicate more effectively when discussing and debating difficult topics.

SESSION FIVE: Critical Thinking and Assignments

This session will act as a summary to the course and consider how the course material can be applied to help you get better results in assignments.