Description
This course provides students with a foundation and practice in thinking clearly and critically. Practice includes developing writing skills that will enable students to clearly present claims to support their conclusions and avoid reinforcing biases. Practice in thinking clearly includes the opportunity to analyze and discuss various types of media - including television, cinema and print - to determine which sources provide the most reliable information and to identify faulty thinking. Topics addressed include the relationship between critical thinking and clear writing, credibility of sources, rhetorical devices, fallacies, unclear or misleading language, and the characteristics of various types of arguments.