Critical thinking skills and problem solving

Introduction
Students will participate in activities which help them to develop their problem solving, analytical and creative thinking, and use of reason and argument.

Syllabus
The course will introduce the concepts of critical thinking and arguments including major fallacies and persuasive techniques. Students will work through the concepts during the course by taking part in practical problem solving activities and analysis of arguments. Real life controversies and debates will be used to demonstrate the theories, with exemplars taken from the media and historical examples in diverse fields including science, politics, and society. As the course progresses the students will have the opportunity to build their own arguments and to apply the skills in practical ways including models of debate and essay writing.