Critical Thinking : Building the Basics

This text is a guide to critical thinking and composition courses. It covers just the basics of critical thinking using an acronym called TCDR (Topic, Class, Description, Relevance). The text grounds the student in the basics of the technique and uses exercises to drive lessons home. It also shows students how to use critical thinking across the curriculum. In addition, the new Part Three covers critical thinking in relation to using new computer technology. This book can be used as a main text or a supplement.

Dr. Timothy L. Walter received his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Michigan. He is Dean of Academic and Student Services at Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He has served as Director of the Academic Center for Excellence at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Vice President for Student Development at the University of Tulsa, Program Director of the Reading and Learning Skills Center at the University of Michigan, and a faculty member in the Division of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Walter has co-authored several highly successful texts including STUDENT SUCCESS: HOW TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND STILL HAVE TIME FOR YOUR FRIENDS (8th ed.), STUDENT SUCCESS STRATEGIES, THE ADULT LEARNERS GUIDE TO COLLEGE SUCCESS (2nd ed.), and THE STUDENT STUDY GUIDE FOR UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR by James V. McConnell (8th ed.).

The late Dr. Glenn Knudsvig received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in educational psychology. As a full Professor in the Department of Classical Studies at The University of Michigan, he pioneered research and instructional programs in high school and undergraduate Latin. He was President of The American Classic League. He published widely in the areas of undergraduate liberal arts education, instruction design, and training.

Dr. Donald E.P. Smith is a Professor Emeritus at The University of Michigan where he was on the faculty of the School of Education for better than 35 years. He served as Director of the University of Michigan Reading and Learning Skills Center from 1951-1968. He was the senior author on several editions of Learning to Learn, a classic work in the field of learning and critical thinking. He authored numerous books and research articles in reading, education, and psychology including Child Management, Classroom Management, and the Michigan Language Program. He served a senior editor in college publishing. Dr. Smith is considered by many people in the field to be the father of the "learning to learn" movement in American higher education.