Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument (Palgrave Study Skills)

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All in all, this book is an excellent source to deepen your understanding, reinforce your learning, and develop the skill to read between lines; not to forget effective note-making. David, Gardner. "The Lifelong Learning Centre: New Beginnings". University of Leeds . Retrieved 30 June 2011. Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuth

skills (Learning Development) - University of Lincoln Study skills (Learning Development) - University of Lincoln

Written by internationally renowned author Stella Cottrell, this is an essential resource for students looking to refine their thinking, reading and writing skills. Stella Cottrell's student-centred approach demystifies critical thinking and breaks down a complex subject into manageable chunks. With clear explanations, relevant examples and plenty of exercises throughout, this book helps students to develop their analytical reasoning skills and apply them to a range of tasks including reading, note-making and writing. This text will turn even the most hesitant student into a proficient critical thinker. This book showed me the way of thinking of academicians. Also helped me to spot flaws in mass media's like newspaper and TV news. Only thing that I disagree with the author is that early on the book, the author insist on being non-emotional while accessing an argument. Although it will be helpful in getting a clearer picture, humans are emotional beings. Its what makes us who we are. Hence it seems no wonder that at certain times the academia or science in general feels stale. For me its an ongoing reference text, the exercises are also quite effective for skills development... Cottrell, Stella (2010). Skills for Success. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp.206–9. ISBN 978-0-230-25018-5.

Harriet, Swain. "Ready to furnish tools of thought". Times Higher Education . Retrieved 4 July 2011. This biographical article is written like a résumé. Please help improve it by revising it to be neutral and encyclopedic. ( November 2016) In 2011, the University of Bedfordshire announced that an honorary doctorate was to be awarded to Stella Cottrell "in recognition of her 'outstanding contribution to lifelong learning and widening participation'". [20] On the announcement of this award, Stella summarised her work with the Lifelong Learning Centre: "I have always worked to create good educational opportunities for those who, for whatever reason, either underachieved in the past or didn't get a chance to study in higher education." [20] Education [ edit ] Stella sees reflection as a central component of study skills. Since Higher Education involves more autonomous learning than students may have experienced previously, they need to become responsible for reflecting on their own progress, strengths and areas in need of development. [11] Examples of reflective questions include: Cottrell believes that accurate self-reflection is difficult and so includes brief structured reflective models throughout her books to help students. One such example is the Core Model for reflection, that appears in Skills for Success. [13] Personal development planning [ edit ]

Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis (PDF) Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis (PDF)

Skills for Study is based on the work of expert Stella Cottrell,international bestselling author of The Study Skills Handbook. She is also the author of Critical Thinking Skills, Skills for Success, The Macmillan Student Planner, Dissertations and Project Reports, The Exam Skills Handbook, Mindfulness for Students and titles in the 50 Ways series.Stella was formerly Director of Lifelong Learning at the University of Leeds, UK, and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at the University of East London, UK. assess your current understanding of critical thinking and identify your priorities for improvement Cottrell sees personal development planning (PDP) as a confluence of personal improvement, greater academic performance, and planning to achieve goals, "whether academic, personal or professional". [14] For Cottrell, it is important that all students regularly reflect on how their course and extracurricular activities relate to their future ambitions: "Linking PDP, the programme of study and the student's future is especially important for younger students, who are less likely to have thought about careers." [15] Cottrell encourages students to personalise their learning by reflecting on the way they learn and under what circumstances this is most effective. "If you are open, flexible and creative in trying new approaches, you will develop into a more rounded personality and a more effective learner". [9]Her publications for staff and students have sold more than a million copies worldwide. First published in 1999, The Study Skills Handbook is now in its 5th edition. Stella has authored a number of study skills guides as part of the Macmillan Study Skills series including Critical Thinking Skills, Skills for Success and The Macmillan Student Planner (previously published as The Palgrave Student Planner). This is an excellant text to assist anyone who wants to develop critical thinking skills, through effective analysis and argument... Cottrell argues that critical thinking makes sense to the student if it is contextualised. Lecturers can encourage critical thought through the careful structuring of information and set exercises. [7] Cottrell, Stella (2011). Critical Thinking Skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp.viii. ISBN 978-0-230-28529-3. Good book, especially for people that are just starting university and who may need a good "tutorial" for learning a solid reading and writing method. People later in their careers may find it a bit basic but you can consider it as a sort of reference.