Thinking and reading critically

1. Arguments:

Does the conclusion follow from the reasons the author gives?

1. Affirming and denying | PDF Document | (0.159Mb)

2. Converting claims - Affirming and Denying | Word Document | (0.030Mb)

3. Qualifiers | PDF Document | (0.153Mb)

4. Analytic or Empirical | Word Document | (0.012Mb)

5. Does the conclusion follow from the reasons the author gives? | Word Document | (0.021Mb)

Are there hidden assumptions in the argument? | PDF Document | (0.157Mb

2. Evidence:

Does the author draw relevant inferences? | PDF Document | (0.134Mb)

Does the author have enough reliable evidence? | PDF Document | (0.134Mb)

Does the author represent the evidence? | PDF Document | (0.222Mb)

Does the author draw reliable inferences?

Analogies | PDF Document | (0.141Mb)

Invalid causal inferences - cause/correlation | PDF Document | (0.125Mb)

Invalid causal inferences - multiple causes and underlying causes | PDF Document | (0.12Mb)

Invalid causal inferences - the post hoc fallacy | PDF Document | (0.158Mb)

Oversimplification | PDF Document | (0.144Mb)

3. Language:

Is the meaning of the author clear?

Abstractions | PDF Document | (0.141Mb)

Begging the question | PDF Document | (0.119Mb)

Introduction | PDF Document | (0.163Mb)

Jargon | PDF Document | (0.111Mb)

Loaded language | PDF Document | (0.173Mb)

Does the author use words consistently?

Contraries and Opposites | Word Document | (0.025Mb)

Equivocation | PDF Document | (0.106Mb)