ABSTRACT

 AS Critical Thinking for AQA is the definitive textbook for students of the current AQA Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabus. Structured very closely around the AQA specification, it covers the two units of the AS level in an exceptionally clear and student-friendly style.

The chapters are helpfully subdivided into short digestible passages, and include:

  • intended learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter
  • student exercises at the end of each section with a ‘stretching activity’ for more advanced learners
  • exam orientated questions
  • key point summaries at the end of each section
  • cross references.

In line with the AQA specification, there is a heavy emphasis on more imaginative forms of source material, for example, music, film, artwork, historical documents, adverts, moral dilemmas and scientific debates, as a means of illustrating key points. A great deal of emphasis is also placed on ‘live’ or ‘real’ arguments, taking topical examples from the world of science, politics, entertainment and sport.

The book is accompanied by a companion website with extensive resources for both instructors and students.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

part 1|160 pages

Foundation Unit

chapter 1|20 pages

Reasoned argument

chapter 2|8 pages

Areas of discourse

chapter 3|24 pages

Claims

chapter 4|14 pages

Analysing and interpreting arguments

chapter 5|5 pages

Assumptions

chapter 6|6 pages

Evaluating arguments

chapter 7|5 pages

Considering consequences

chapter 9|6 pages

Ambiguity, vagueness and clarifying terms

chapter 10|6 pages

The use of persuasive language

chapter 11|27 pages

Flaws

chapter 12|4 pages

Drawing comparisons and contrasts

chapter 13|4 pages

Presenting your own arguments

chapter 14|19 pages

Unit 1 exam guide

part 2|74 pages

Information, Inference and Explanation

chapter 15|21 pages

Presenting information/evidence

chapter 16|18 pages

Numerical and statistical reasoning

chapter 17|6 pages

Patterns and correlations

chapter 18|8 pages

Plausible explanations

chapter 19|5 pages

Drawing safe inferences

chapter 20|16 pages

Unit 2 exam guide