Weyers J., McMillan K.A. How to think, write & reflect critically

Pearson Education Limited, 2013. — xii, 278 p. — (Smarter study skills). — ISBN: 978-0-273-77332-0We are pleased that you have chosen How to Improve Your Critical Thinking and Reflective Skills and hope that it will provide you with a deeper understanding of the thought processes used in university learning. We have included a range of tips and suggestions to help you to develop relevant skills. These cover methodical thinking, when a logical approach is required; reflective thinking, when self-analysis is expected; and creative thinking, when you need to be innovative. We have tried to make the book as practical and jargon-free as possible, and have avoided a theoretical treatment of logic or behaviour. The book takes you through the full process of applying thought. It will help you to analyse the ideas of others and put your own notions into words. We also show you how to make the most of feedback from staff and how to let potential employers know about your thinking skills. We hope this book will meet your needs – regardless of your experience and background.Preface and acknowledgements
How to use this bookiKey concepts and processes – how thinking, reflection and creativity involve important skillsKey approaches to thinking
Critical thinking – how to develop a logical approach to analysis and problem-solving
Reflective thinking – how to evaluate your feelings in academic contexts
Creative thinking – how to generate innovative and original ideasCritical thinking in practice
Arriving at a viewpoint – how to sift fact and opinion to arrive at a position on a topic
Supporting or opposing an argument – how to express your point of view through discussion and debate
Interpreting and manipulating data – how to approach graphs, tables, formulae and basic statistics
Decision-making and work-planning – how to make choices, plan ahead and prioritise
Group effort and collaboration – how to enhance your contribution to teamworkEvaluating the ideas of others
Evaluating information sources – how to filter and select reliable material
Effective academic reading – how to read efficiently and with understanding
Note-making from texts – how to create effective notes for later reference
Plagiarism and copyright infringement – how to avoid being accused of ‘stealing’ the ideas and work of others
Citing and listing references – how to refer appropriately to the work of othersPutting your thinking into words
Tackling a writing assignment – how to respond to the specified task
Academic writing style – how to adopt appropriate language conventions
General writing structures – how to select and shape your content appropriately
Writing about reflection – how to structure and report your thoughts
Editing and presenting your assignment – how to review your own work and follow academic style conventionsForward thinking
Exploiting feedback – how to learn from what lecturers think of your work
Preparing for employment – how to transfer your thinking skills to a careerReferences and further reading
Glossary of key terms