Critical Thinking
Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study
- Tom Chatfield - Author, tech philosopher and broadcaster
What is critical thinking? How do you apply it in your assessments? How do you build a good argument or find evidence?
Critical thinking is a set of techniques. You just need to learn them.
This is your personal toolkit for demystifying critical thinking. Clear and focused, it shows you how to sharpen your ability to think critically by developing and honing your skills. You’ll learn how to:
- Build a solid argument and express your ideas clearly
- Evaluate evidence and identify errors
- Understand and account for biased or flawed thinking
- Become a savvy user of technology
- Sift through the deluge of digital information
- Develop confident critical writing.
Designed to work with a power pack of digital resources and exercises, you'll find practical and effective tools to think and write critically in an information-saturated age.
Whether you're starting your first degree or arriving as an international or mature student, this book equips you with the skills, insights and confidence to succeed.
This second edition has been redesigned and fine-tuned with a focus on accessibility: with a new and improved layout to improve the eBook experience, and updated language, examples and further reading recommendations throughout.
Promotes critical thinking and supports the development of this academic skill for students from Level 4 onwards. Marking criteria focuses on critical thinking skills for students across all assessments and this is often a skill students struggle with understanding the 'how to'. This is a useful resource to signpost students to.
i bought a copy; it is a very good bock
Tom Chatfield presents an extensive and comprehensive but engaging text on developing critical thinking. This text can be applied at all levels of Further and Higher education programmes, irrelevant if prior knowledge. Th end of chapter exercises are are very effective in revisiting and reinforcing learning on a continuous basis.
It is helpful in focusing on what critical thinking is, how it works and how helpful it is in education and life
A very useful guide to thinking and writing critically. Great for my postgrads
All groups at Level 6 essential to support level 6 writing
This will be used for the students this academic year. It is a great text to help develop their cognitive skills as the students transition through their learning and degree.
This title has been really helpful to support social work degree students make the transistion from level 3 courses to level 4. It has helped them to develop their critical thinking and to understand what is required to be a critical thinker
I love the style of presentation, key points are emphasised and repeated, I feel it will engage visual learners very much. the book brings the learner on a journey of deepening their understanding of the various elements of critical thinking.
An important reading for every course at my institution, because of its vast and relevant topics about critical thinking. A reference for our library as well.

