What is Critical Thinking?

Page 1

cambridge.org/unlock

What is Critical Thinking?

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking. Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information.

Aristotle

Why is it important?

Critical thinking is one of the most important skills your learners will develop, not only to succeed academically, but because it is one of the skills most valued by employers.

45%

of students are not developing critical thinking skills at undergraduate level

25%

Studies show teaching critical thinking can increase students’ ability to identify issues clearly and accurately, by up to

97%

of educators of undergraduates state that teaching students to think critically is the most important academic goal

What abilities will students develop through critical thinking?

EXTRACT and DESCRIBE different points of view

RECOGNISE key points and arguments

EVALUATE information

SYNTHESISE information from different sources

FORM OPINIONS and ARGUMENTS based on evidence

ORGANISE information so that they can EXPRESS it clearly and in a logical structure

DEVELOP analytical skills which are transferable to other situations/tasks

A four-level academic English course with a fresh approach to critical thinking

What is Bloom’s Taxonomy and how was it used in Unlock?

We chose to base the critical thinking sections in Unlock on Bloom’s Taxonomy, a classification of learning objectives. Learners engage in tasks that develop the skills set out in Bloom’s taxonomy. This guides them

HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS

through the thinking and information gathering needed for the end-of-unit writing task.

CREATE EVALUATE

Throughout Unlock, from the A1 to

ANALYSE

the B2 level, learners practise higher

APPLY

order and lower order thinking skills,

UNDERSTAND

developing essential tools for success in academic English.

REMEMBER

LOWER ORDER THINKING SKILLS

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS = ACADEMIC SUCCESS = INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Stephanie Dimond-Bayir

Nicholas M. White

LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS STUDENT'S BOOK

2

STEPHANIE DIMOND-BAYIR

Unlock your Potential

■ Based on the world’s largest corpus of written and spoken American English, it describes the language the way it's really used today ■ Includes more than 500 Usage panels based on real errors commonly made in English

Clear & Helpful

A fresh approach to critical thinking gives students a framework they can use to generate their own ideas and opinions in the classroom.

Unique research using the Cambridge English Corpus provides the academic language which students need, even at lower levels.

■ Includes over 60,000 meanings and examples

■ Thousands of idioms, phrases, and phrasal verbs are easy to find and understand

■ Based on the world’s largest corpus of written and spoken American English, it describes the language the way it's really used today ■ Includes more than 500 Usage panels based on real errors commonly made in English

Clear & Helpful

■ SMART Thesaurus turns the dictionary into a thesaurus ■ QUICKfind looks up words in documents, e-mail, and Web pages ■ Word Building and Verb Endings help expand your vocabulary

LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS

Authoritative & Authentic

■ The most important words and meanings in English are clearly shown

The Entire Dictionary on CD-ROM ■ Spoken American English pronunciations for every word

■ Easy-to-understand definitions are written using words you already know ■ Guidewords help you find the exact meaning you're looking for – fast!

Thought-provoking video from Discovery EducationTM provides a fresh angle on a range of academic topics. This exciting material provides the context for a systemic approach to the development of the skills needed for academic success. Nicholas M. White

Authoritative & Authentic

■ The most important words and meanings in English are clearly shown

■ Includes over 60,000 meanings and examples

■ Thousands of idioms, phrases, and phrasal verbs are easy to find and understand

■ Based on the world’s largest corpus of written and spoken American English, it describes the language the way it's really used today

The Entire Dictionary on CD-ROM

■ Includes more than 500 Usage panels based on real errors commonly made in English

■ Spoken American English pronunciations for every word

Clear & Helpful

■ SMART Thesaurus turns the

With more than 2,000 content-area dictionary into a thesaurus ■ QUICKfind looks up words in words, from algebra to zoology

■ Easy-to-understand definitions are written using words you already know

New

■ Guidewords help you find the exact meaning you're looking for – fast!

Cambridge English: Business BEC

■ The most important words and meanings in English are clearly shown ■ Thousands of idioms, phrases, and phrasal verbs are easy to find and understand

New

■ Guidewords help you find the exact meaning you're looking for – fast!

v vv C1

The Entire Dictionary on CD-ROM ■ Spoken American English pronunciations for every word ■ SMART Thesaurus turns the

With more than 2,000 content-area dictionary into a thesaurus ■ QUICKfind looks up words in words, from algebra to zoology

■ Easy-to-understand definitions are written using words you already know

documents, e-mail, and Web pages

■ Word Building and Verb Endings help expand your vocabulary

With more than 2,000 content-area words, from algebra to zoology

documents, e-mail, and Web pages

■ Word Building and Verb Endings help expand your vocabulary

New

B1

Intermediate

Higher

6–8

Vantage

5–6.5

Preliminary

4–5.5

N ew

N ew

N ew

ISBN 978 0 521 74862 9

Advanced Upper-intermediate

Stephanie Dimond-Bayir

2

1 ISBN 978 0 521 74862 9

IELTS band:

Business Advantage

B2

LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS

LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS STUDENT’S BOOK

LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS STUDENT’S BOOK

Authoritative & Authentic ■ Includes over 60,000 meanings and examples

ISBN 978 0 521 74862 9

STUDENT'S BOOK

STUDENT'S BOOK

A1

ONLINE

A2

cambridge.org/unlock

www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/14/10-job-skills-every-employer-wants/ www.npr.org/2011/02/09/133310978/in-college-a-lack-of-rigor-leaves-students-adrift www.emeraldinsight.com/learning/study_skills/skills/critical_thinking.htm www.kalbos.lt/zurnalai/09_numeris/11.pdf

ONLINE


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