DEMONSTRATION ONLY: This demonstration presents an abbreviated version of the complete COMPASS course. Click 'Next' at the bottom of the screen or make a selection from the links on the left to begin. Not all links are available for the demo.
Use Critical Reasoning Skills to Evaluate Written Material
Evaluating the Stated or Implied Assumptions upon Which the Validity of a Writer's Argument Depends
Something is not necessarily true just because it is in print. Critical reasoning is thinking for yourself. To do that you must question the writer’s assumptions and decide for yourself if an effective argument has been made. Writers sometimes state their assumptions, but often they do not, so the reader has to determine them. You must decide for yourself if the strengths of the argument outweigh the weaknesses. Your ability to do this will depend on your ability to use the following five subskills effectively.
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