A2 Critical Thinking
A Level
In Winchester
Description
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Type
A Level
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Location
Winchester
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Duration
2 Years
Critical thinking is all about arguments: recognising them, analysing them, evaluating them and creating them. Whatever your other subjects, the Critical Thinking course will help you to ask the right questions.You'll become more confident in assessing conflicting claims. You'll also learn to refute claims in a logical, coherent way. Universities and employers like people who listen keenly.
Important information
Government funding available
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
As well as 5 GCSEs at grades A-C, including Maths and English, you will also need a minimum of Grade A in English or English Literature, together with an overall GCSE average of B.
Reviews
Course programme
OCR (1-2 years)
Course Content
Critical thinking is all about arguments: recognising them, analysing them, evaluating them and creating them. Whatever your other subjects, the Critical Thinking course will help you to ask the right questions.You'll become more confident in assessing conflicting claims. You'll also learn to refute claims in a logical, coherent way. Universities and employers like people who listen keenly, think clearly and express themselves well. Critical thinking develops all these skills.
There is no coursework for either the AS or the A2 course.
AS Level
The AS course consists of two examined units:
Unit 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking
The unit is designed to give candidates an introduction to important skills within Critical Thinking, including an understanding of how arguments are constructed. The unit also covers the area of credibility; and recognizes that the plausibility of an argument, or the evidence used to support it, is also influenced by its origin, be that a person or an organisation.
Unit 2 Assessing and Developing Argument
This unit builds on the skills developed in Unit 1. Candidates will be asked to identify a wider range of argument components from stimulus material in order to assess the structure of the arguments presented and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
Candidates will be asked to write their own arguments, in response to the stimulus material.
A2 Level
In the second year of the course you will look at moral and ethical dilemmas and extend your critical reasoning skills by evaluating more complex source materials.
Methods of Teaching
Critical thinking is taught over two lessons a week. This is a concept subject, rather than a content one; you don't need to learn any facts so there will be few formal lectures. There will be close analysis of specific texts, group discussions and debates. You'll learn from a variety of materials including current affairs programmes and newspaper articles. You'll be expected to respond to this material, prepare presentations and produce written work of a high standard. You'll be encouraged to evaluate examples of all types of arguments including your own.
Career Possibilities
Critical Thinking is a great enabling subject that will set you up for any degree course. It is very well regarded by the more selective universities including Oxbridge and develops skills which all universities value. It will help you in whatever career you want to pursue. It could set you up as a brilliant newspaper columnist, lawyer, prime minister ...
A2 Critical Thinking