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Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
and
Dr. Ram Neta
In this course, you will learn what an argument is. The definition of argument will enable you to identify when speakers are giving arguments and when they are not. Next, you will learn how to break an argument into its essential parts, how to put them in order to reveal their connections, and how to fill in gaps in an argument by adding suppressed premises. By the end of this course, you will be better able to understand and appreciate arguments that you and other people present.
Suggested Readings:
Read more
In this course, you will learn what an argument is. The definition of argument will enable you to identify when speakers are giving arguments and when they are not. Next, you will learn how to break an argument into its essential parts, how to put them in order to reveal their connections, and how to fill in gaps in an argument by adding suppressed premises. By the end of this course, you will be better able to understand and appreciate arguments that you and other people present.
Suggested Readings:
Read more
In this course, you will learn what an argument is. The definition of argument will enable you to identify when speakers are giving arguments and when they are not. Next, you will learn how to break an argument into its essential parts, how to put them in order to reveal their connections, and how to fill in gaps in an argument by adding suppressed premises. By the end of this course, you will be better able to understand and appreciate arguments that you and other people present.
Suggested Readings:
Students who want more detailed explanations or additional exercises or who want to explore these topics in more depth should consult Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic, Ninth Edition, Concise, Chapters 1-5, by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and Robert Fogelin.
Course Format:
Each week will be divided into multiple video segments that can be viewed separately or in groups. There will be short ungraded quizzes after each segment (to check comprehension) and a longer graded quiz at the end of the course.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/cdlfwg/think
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What's inside
Syllabus
Welcome to the Specialization
Welcome to our specialization Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking based on our Coursera course Think Again: How to Reason and Argue. This course-Think Again: How to Understand Arguments - is the first in a series of four courses. We are excited that you are taking this course, and we hope that you will stick around for all four courses in the series, because there is a great deal of important material to learn. In the series as a whole, you will learn how to analyze and evaluate arguments and how to avoid common mistakes in reasoning. These important skills will be useful to you in deciding what to believe and what to do in all areas of your life. We will also have plenty of fun. The first part of this course introduces the specialization and the course. It also clarifies some peculiarities you may find with this course. We encourage you to watch the "Introduction to the Specialization" video first as it will help you learn more from the materials that come later.
Read more
Syllabus
Welcome to the Specialization
Welcome to our specialization Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking based on our Coursera course Think Again: How to Reason and Argue. This course-Think Again: How to Understand Arguments - is the first in a series of four courses. We are excited that you are taking this course, and we hope that you will stick around for all four courses in the series, because there is a great deal of important material to learn. In the series as a whole, you will learn how to analyze and evaluate arguments and how to avoid common mistakes in reasoning. These important skills will be useful to you in deciding what to believe and what to do in all areas of your life. We will also have plenty of fun. The first part of this course introduces the specialization and the course. It also clarifies some peculiarities you may find with this course. We encourage you to watch the "Introduction to the Specialization" video first as it will help you learn more from the materials that come later.
Read more
Understanding Arguments, Ninth Edition, Chapter 5.
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Provides practical skills in recognizing, breaking down, and reconstructing different types of arguments
Helps learners develop critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills
Focuses on foundational concepts in logic and provides a solid basis for further studies in the subject
Suitable for those seeking to improve their communication and argumentation skills
Taught by experienced instructors with research and practical expertise in logic and critical thinking
Requires a basic understanding of logic and reasoning concepts
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Reviews summary
Foundational course on understanding arguments
According to learners, Think Again I provides a solid introduction to understanding arguments. Students praise the clear explanations and structured approach to identifying, untangling, and reconstructing arguments. Many found the course excellent for beginners seeking to develop critical thinking skills and learn the fundamental concepts of informal logic. While the video lectures and quizzes are often highlighted as helpful tools for comprehension, some reviewers noted that the material requires significant effort and practice. It is widely recognized as the first course in a specialization, laying necessary groundwork.
First course in a series on logic.
"This is the first course of the 'Think Again' specialization."
"It sets the stage for the subsequent courses in the series."
"A necessary prerequisite for the other courses on reasoning and arguments."
"Looking forward to continuing the specialization after this intro."
Paced well for those new to logic.
"Excellent for beginners, lays a very solid foundation."
"Perfect starting point for anyone interested in critical thinking and logic, but new to the topic."
"As someone with no prior background in logic, I found this course very accessible."
"It is definitely aimed at beginners and covers the basics well."
Systematic method for analyzing arguments.
"I found the process of taking an argument, breaking it down to its essential parts and reconstructing it was a valuable and very useful lesson."
"Loved the structure of the course, breaking down arguments piece by piece."
"Teaches a very systematic way to approach and understand complex arguments."
"The method for diagramming and reconstructing arguments is very helpful."
The concepts are explained very clearly.
"The teacher explains everything clearly, which helps a lot to understand everything and build up a clear picture of arguments, logic, reasoning, and fallacies."
"Concepts were explained very clearly and concisely. The professor used relatable examples."
"His explanations are clear and concise, making complex concepts easy to grasp for beginners."
"The explanations in this course were particularly clear and helpful."
Provides a strong foundation in logic.
"This course provides a very good and well-structured introduction to arguments, premises and conclusions. Excellent for beginners."
"Excellent course for anyone looking to take their first steps into the world of logical thinking and constructing sound arguments."
"The course material is excellent and provides a great introduction to understanding arguments."
"I gained a solid foundation from completing this course."
Material is challenging; requires practice.
"This was a tough course for me. It demanded significant thought and effort."
"It requires a lot of effort to understand and practice the concepts taught."
"Though challenging, the concepts are vital and require dedication to fully grasp."
"I found it difficult at times and needed to review the material multiple times."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments with these
activities:
Organize your course materials
Show steps
Organizing your materials can help you find what you need quickly and easily.
Show steps
-
Gather all of your course materials.
-
Create a system for organizing your materials.
-
Put your materials away in an organized manner.
Review the book Understanding Arguments
Show steps
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of argumentation.
View
Cengage Advantage Books: Understanding...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book.
-
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Watch a video tutorial on how to evaluate arguments
Show steps
Watching a video tutorial can help you learn the basics of evaluating arguments.
Show steps
-
Find a video tutorial on how to evaluate arguments.
-
Watch the video.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Find a mentor who can help you improve your argumentation skills
Show steps
A mentor can provide you with guidance and support as you develop your argumentation skills.
Show steps
-
Identify the skills you want to improve.
-
Find a mentor who has those skills.
-
Meet with your mentor regularly to get feedback and advice.
Practice identifying arguments
Show steps
Practicing identifying arguments will help you develop the skills you need to understand and evaluate them.
Show steps
-
Find a list of statements.
-
Decide whether each statement is an argument.
Create a diagram of the structure of an argument
Show steps
Visualizing the structure of an argument can help you understand how the premises and conclusion are connected.
Show steps
-
Identify the premises and conclusion of the argument.
-
Draw a diagram that shows the relationship between the premises and conclusion.
-
Analyze the diagram to see how the premises support the conclusion.
Participate in a study group
Show steps
Discussing arguments with other students can help you understand different perspectives and strengthen your own arguments.
Show steps
-
Find a study group to join.
-
Attend the study group meetings.
-
Participate in the discussions.
Write a summary of an argument you encounter in your daily life
Show steps
Summarizing arguments helps you identify the key points and understand the overall structure.
Show steps
-
Find an argument in a newspaper, magazine, or online.
-
Identify the main points of the argument.
-
Write a summary of the argument, including the premises and conclusion.
Organize your course materials
Show steps
Organizing your materials can help you find what you need quickly and easily.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather all of your course materials.
- Create a system for organizing your materials.
- Put your materials away in an organized manner.
Review the book Understanding Arguments
Show steps
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of argumentation.
View
Cengage Advantage Books: Understanding...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book.
- Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Watch a video tutorial on how to evaluate arguments
Show steps
Watching a video tutorial can help you learn the basics of evaluating arguments.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a video tutorial on how to evaluate arguments.
- Watch the video.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Find a mentor who can help you improve your argumentation skills
Show steps
A mentor can provide you with guidance and support as you develop your argumentation skills.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the skills you want to improve.
- Find a mentor who has those skills.
- Meet with your mentor regularly to get feedback and advice.
Practice identifying arguments
Show steps
Practicing identifying arguments will help you develop the skills you need to understand and evaluate them.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a list of statements.
- Decide whether each statement is an argument.
Create a diagram of the structure of an argument
Show steps
Visualizing the structure of an argument can help you understand how the premises and conclusion are connected.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the premises and conclusion of the argument.
- Draw a diagram that shows the relationship between the premises and conclusion.
- Analyze the diagram to see how the premises support the conclusion.
Participate in a study group
Show steps
Discussing arguments with other students can help you understand different perspectives and strengthen your own arguments.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a study group to join.
- Attend the study group meetings.
- Participate in the discussions.
Write a summary of an argument you encounter in your daily life
Show steps
Summarizing arguments helps you identify the key points and understand the overall structure.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find an argument in a newspaper, magazine, or online.
- Identify the main points of the argument.
- Write a summary of the argument, including the premises and conclusion.
Career center
Learners who complete Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Judge
Judge
Judges preside over legal proceedings and make decisions based on the law. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to make fair and impartial decisions. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which is essential whether you want to be a Judge or other legal professional.
Lawyer
Lawyer
Lawyers help people understand and comply with the law. They also represent them in legal proceedings. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which is a skill that is essential for lawyers. Understanding arguments will help you to better understand the law and to make stronger arguments in court.
Politician
Politician
Politicians make laws and policies that affect our lives. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to make informed decisions. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which is essential for anyone who wants to be successful in politics.
Journalist
Journalist
Journalists report on current events and issues. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to write accurate and informative stories. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which is essential for aspiring journalists who wish to write logical and coherent news.
Researcher
Researcher
Researchers conduct studies and collect data in order to answer questions and solve problems. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to design and conduct valid research studies. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which will be an extremely valuable part of the research process.
Teacher
Teacher
Teachers help students learn and grow. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to teach their students how to think critically. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which is essential for anyone who wants to be a successful teacher.
Writer
Writer
Writers create content for a variety of purposes, including informing, entertaining, and persuading. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to write clear and effective prose. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which is essential for anyone who wants to be a successful writer.
Editor
Editor
Editors review and revise written content. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to ensure that the content is clear, accurate, and well-written. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which would be a huge benefit in working with other writers and with your own writing.
Analyst
Analyst
Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data in order to provide insights and make recommendations. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to make sound judgments and conclusions. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which could help you be more precise in your recommendations and conclusions.
Consultant
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses and organizations. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to provide sound advice. This course will teach you how to analyze and evaluate arguments, which could help you to be more persuasive when advising clients.
Manager
Manager
Managers plan, organize, and direct the activities of an organization or department. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to make sound decisions. This course may be useful for you if you want to enter management.
Salesperson
Salesperson
Salespeople sell products and services to customers. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to persuade customers to buy their products or services. This course may be useful if you wish to work in sales.
Marketer
Marketer
Marketers develop and implement marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to create effective marketing campaigns. This course may be useful if you want to work in marketing.
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists manage the public image of a company or organization. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to develop and implement effective public relations campaigns. This course may be useful if you want to work in public relations.
Customer Service Representative
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives provide assistance to customers. They must be able to analyze and evaluate arguments in order to resolve customer issues. This course may be useful if you want to work in customer service.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/cdlfwg/think
Reading list
We've selected 14 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments.
This is the textbook recommended by the instructors of the course. It provides detailed explanations, exercises, and additional topics that can enhance the learning experience.
Save
Provides a foundational understanding of the principles and processes involved in thinking and reasoning, which are essential for critical evaluation of arguments.
Offers a comprehensive overview of the field of logic, providing foundational knowledge that can complement the course's focus on informal logic.
Provides practical guidance on how to construct and evaluate arguments, with a focus on identifying fallacies and developing persuasive strategies.
A comprehensive and accessible text on informal logic, covering a wide range of topics including argumentation, fallacies, and the analysis of everyday reasoning.
Save
An engaging and accessible introduction to logic, providing essential concepts and tools for understanding and analyzing arguments.
A concise and practical guide to critical thinking, covering the principles of argument evaluation, common fallacies, and the development of logical reasoning skills.
A classic textbook on logic, providing a comprehensive introduction to the field, including formal and informal logic, with a focus on argumentation.
Save
A clear and concise introduction to critical reasoning, designed for beginners, covering the basics of argument analysis and evaluation.
Save
A seminal work on the philosophy of science, providing insights into the nature of scientific reasoning and argumentation.
A comprehensive and rigorous textbook on logic, offering a deeper dive into formal and informal logic, suitable for advanced learners.
A classic work on the philosophy of language, providing a foundation for understanding the relationship between language, truth, and logic.
Save
A research-oriented text that explores the cognitive processes involved in reasoning and argumentation, offering insights into how people construct and evaluate arguments.
Save
A contemporary textbook on logic, presenting a modern approach to the subject, focusing on the applications of logic in computer science, linguistics, and other fields.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/cdlfwg/think
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Rating
4.6
Effort
Approx. 26 hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
Duke University
Instructors
Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
Dr. Ram Neta
Language
English
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking. It's comprised of four courses:
- Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments (viewing)
- Think Again II: How to Reason Deductively
- Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies
- Think Again III: How to Reason Inductively
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