Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

GCE Advanced Level AS/A2

Course Content

Unit 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking

• The language of reasoning: how persuasion works
• Credibility: how believability can be strengthened and weakened

Unit 2 Assessing and Developing Argument

• How and why arguments sometimes go wrong
• How to improve our ability to persuade others of our point of view

Unit 3 Resolution of Dilemmas

• How to think more clearly when faced with moral or political problems that dont seem to have a straightforward solution

Unit 4 Critical Reasoning

• How persuasion works in the real world
• How and why real arguments often go wrong
• How to improve our ability to persuade others in the real world

How it is Taught
Taking Critical Thinking is not like taking any other A Level course because we focus exclusively on theskills needed to reason. So the classes are extremely active. We don't spend hours learning theories or facts and you don't have to remember who said what and what happened when. The classes are geared towards helping you to reason better, to think and express your ideas more clearly and precisely.

A typical class involves breaking into small groups or working in pairs and spending time exploring different ways in which arguments are used and misused to persuade. There are no essays to write but there is written work and you are expected towant to work to clarify your thoughts and to be prepared to identify flaws in your own, as well as others', reasoning. So as well as gaining a useful qualification, studying Critical Thinking will have a beneficial impact on your attainment in all the subjects you study.

Examination Details

Module :Module name :Duration :Date

AS Unit 1 : Introduction to Critical Thinking : 1 hour 30 min : 1st Year January

AS Unit 2 : Assessing and Developing Arguments : 1 hour 30 min : 1st Year May

A2 Unit 3 : Resolution of Dilemmas : 1 hour 15 min : 2nd Year June

A2 Unit 4 : Critical Reasoning : 1 hour 45 min : 2nd Year January

Useful/Common Subject Combinations
Critical Thinking combines well with any other subjects. It fits particularly well with the study of Humanities subjects such as: Philosophy, History, Languages; and Social Science subjects such as: Law, Psychology, Sociology and Politics.

Careers and HE Information
Studying Critical Thinking will develop essential skills such as analysis, evaluation and, especially, your ability to express complex and sophisticated ideas clearly and coherently. These skills are valuable for careers and university courses. The course will be of particular use to students intending to take entry examinations for Medicine and Law. Those applying for competitive courses will also find that the subject is well regarded by universities seeking to choose between candidates with similar results in their core A Levels. Former students have contacted us to tell us that, although they found the course challenging, they found Critical Thinking one of the most useful courses they took at college.