Academic Thinking and Writing

Good technical English.

• Practical introduction to the principles of logical reasoning: examples of both reasoning about facts and reasoning about practical decisions are defined, discussed and practiced.
• Ways and means of recognizing and avoiding common argumentation errors and various linguistic abuses are demonstrated.
• Application of the techniques learned to scientific papers.

Students will be able to

• apply techniques and strategies to think creatively and critically in both academic and professional environments.
• recognize weaknesses and strengths of arguments and apply this in their own work.
• find logical and coherent solutions to specific problems and develop well-founded arguments.
• apply logically consistent lines of argument both orally and in writing.

Seminars and practical exercises.

Active participation and wirtten final exam.

none

• Bean, J. C. (2011). Engaging Ideas: The Professor's Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom, 2nd Edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Bowell, T. & Kemp, G.(2014). Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide. Taylor and Francis: Routledge.
• Hacking, I. (2002). An Introduction to Probability and Inductive Logic. University Press: Cambridge.
• Holowchak, M. (2011). Critical Reasoning and Philosophy: A Concise Guide to Reading, Evaluating, and Writing Philosophical Works. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers: Rider.
• Kurfiss, G. J. (1988). Critical Thinking: Theory, Research, Practice, and Possibilities: ASHE-ERIC/Higher Education Research Report, Volume 17, Number 2, 1988 (2nd Printing).
• Priest, G. (2000). Logic: A Very Short Introduction. University Press: Oxford.
• Talbit, M. (2014). Critical Reasoning: A Romp Through the Foothills of Logic for Complete Beginners. University Press: Oxford.

Face to face seminars with compulsory attendance.