Includes bibliographical references and index.

"This bestselling book provides an easy to follow, step by step guide to developing analytical reasoning skills and applying them to tasks such as reading, note-making and writing. A complex subject is broken down into easy to understand blocks, with clear explanations, good examples, and plenty of activities to develop understanding at each stage. The 4th edition features a new section on argument mapping techniques, which help readers to visualize the structures of an argument. It also contains brand new material on critical listening and viewing, which will help readers to work with a wider range of academic sources. Additional, new material on critical writing gives students the tools to produce well-founded arguments and shape their thinking on a topic. Beyond this, the 4th edition also contains new and updated examples that link to current affairs, showing the importance of critical thinking as a lifelong skill"-- Provided by publisher.