A' Level Critical Thinking (Full AS/A2)
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The course itself was set out really well, my tutor Dr. English was an amazing help and answered all questions really quickly. The course itself was interesting and enjoyable, with being able to complete it within your own time ideal.
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Course
Distance
Description
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Type
Course
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Methodology
Distance Learning
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Duration
2 Years
A Level Critical Thinking offers students the opportunity to explore a wide-range of real-world texts in a critical way. Critical Thinking is concerned with analysing and evaluating arguments that we find in our everyday lives. Central to critical thinking is the skill of looking for evidence provided in written arguments. As well as being a lively and engaging subject, Critical Thinking can be a very useful way to support the study of other subjects and improve your performance in other subjects, as it develops your understanding of how a persuasive argument may be made.
Objectives of the A' Level Critical Thinking
This specification gives candidates opportunities to:
understand the importance of examining knowledge and beliefs critically;
recognise, analyse and evaluate their own and others’ beliefs and knowledge claims in a variety of contexts;
recognise and evaluate assumptions;
evaluate reasoning of different kinds, including common and important species of reasoning;
make connections and synthesise information and arguments;
generate their own arguments and express them clearly
Important information
Documents
- A' Level Critical Thinking (AS/A2)
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
Key Topics
The A' Level Critical Thinking course is divided into four comprehensive units:
AS Course
UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING
UNIT 2 ASSESSING AND DEVELOPING ARGUMENT
A2 Course
UNIT 3: ETHICAL REASONING AND DECISION MAKING
UNIT 4 CRITICAL REASONING
No Entry Requirements
OCR A Level in Critical Thinking
Reviews
-
The course itself was set out really well, my tutor Dr. English was an amazing help and answered all questions really quickly. The course itself was interesting and enjoyable, with being able to complete it within your own time ideal.
← | →
Course rating
Recommended
Centre rating
Aisha
This centre's achievements
All courses are up to date
The average rating is higher than 3.7
More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months
This centre has featured on Emagister for 16 years
Subjects
- Critical Thinking
- Reasoning skills
- Creative Writing
- Creative Thinking
- Philosophy
- Effective Communication
- Conflict Resolution
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Analysis methodologies
Teachers and trainers (1)
Support Advisor
Support Advisor
Course programme
A' level critical thinking ocr (as/a2)
How is the course structured?
The A' Level Critical Thinking course is divided into four comprehensive units:
UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING
Part A – the language of reasoning
3.1.1 What is an argument?
- What is an argument?
- Some basic rules of arguments
- Using common notation as shorthand
3.1.2 The elements of an argument
- What are argument indicators?
- Counter arguments
- The use of counter claims
- Providing evidence
- Providing examples
- Hypothetical reasoning
- Assumptions
3.1.3 How strong is the evidence in a reason?
- Evaluating evidence
- How big was the sample?
- Was the sample representative?
- How and when was the evidence collected?
- How is the evidence presented?
- Alternative interpretations of statistics
- How well does a reason support the conclusion?
Part B – Credibility
3.1.4 What is credibility?
3.1.5 Credibility criteriaIs the evidence plausible?
- Is the source an eye witness?
- Is there corroboration?
- To what extent are different sources consistent with each other?
- Is there any suggestion of bias?
- Does the source have a vested interest?
- Is the source neutral?
- Can the source be seen as expert?
- Does the source have a positive reputation?
3.1.6 A guide to the unit one exam
- How the exam works
- What do I need to be able to do?
- How to give a good answer
- Practice makes perfect!
UNIT 2 ASSESSING AND DEVELOPING ARGUMENT
Part A – Further points on components
3.2.1 Some things that are not an argument
- Explanation
- Description
- Opinion
3.2.2 Intermediate conclusions
3.2.3 Analogies
3.2.4 Principles
3.2.5 Drawing conclusions
Part B – spotting problems with an argument - types of flaw
3.2.6 Inconsistency and contradiction
3.2.7 Types of flawWrong actions
- Unwarranted assumption of a causal relationship
- Generalisation
- Restricting the options
- Slippery slope
- Circular argument
- Confusing necessary and sufficient conditions
- Conflation
- Straw person
- Ad hominem flaws
- Arguing from one thing to another
3.2.8 Irrelevant appeals
Part C – Developing your own reasoned argument
Part D – Guide to the unit 2 exam
UNIT 3: ETHICAL REASONING AND DECISION MAKING
3.3.1 Ethical reasoningConflicting ideas
- Social, political, religious and moral factors
- More on hypothetical reasoning
- Different responses, different criteria
3.3.2 Dilemmas, applying principles and decision making
- The nature of a dilemma
- Constructing arguments
UNIT 4 CRITICAL REASONING
3.4.1 Analysis and evaluation of complex arguments
- Assumptions
- Valid and invalid arguments
- Syllogisms
- Sustained suppositional reasoning
- Sustained counter-argument
- Relationship between components
- Independent or joint?
- Smaller arguments, counter arguments and explanations
- Not part of an argument?
- Evaluating strength and weakness
3.4.2 Developing your own cogent and complex arguments
Course Fees
Our aim is to provide you with the best deal available, therefore registration fee, certification fee and full tutor support is included in the course price for you. The enrolment fee for the A' Level Critical Thinking (Full AS + A2) home study course is £450, though for a limited time we are offering you the opportunity to pay only £360 which is a 20% discount if you enrol online and pay in full.
You can also opt for our Easy Payment Plan and enrol online today by paying a deposit of £90 and then 4 equal payments of £90 per month. The first instalment is paid about a month after you receive your course
Online Version : £360
Online & Paper Version : £425
Additional information
Career opportunities: Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning A' Level Critical Thinking is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for the A Level exam through home study.
A' Level Critical Thinking (Full AS/A2)