Critical Thinking and Informal Logic

This book will familiarize the reader with the basics of critical thinking and informal logic - deductive and inductive arguments, form and content, fallacies, and complex arguments. Following a brief introduction, Chapter 1 outlines the basic concepts and principles of informal logic. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on deductive and inductive reasoning (analogical and statistical) and include a discussion of validity, soundness and cogency. Chapter 4 presents rhetorical devices and informal fallacies. Chapter 5 discusses strategies and tactics for the evaluation of complex argumentation. Chapter 6 provides an overview that includes a guide to good critical thinking habits, a discussion of the composition and development of argumentative essays, and an introduction to information literacy. Appendices include a synopsis of categorical logic and resources for additional study. The book includes diagrams and external hyperlinks.