Page 11 - Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing, 2nd Ed

x PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION

it. But I have also made some significant changes, including greater assistance in
the earlier chapters to help readers with the more complicated skills and concepts,
as well as expanding later chapters on reasoning and on research. The final chapter
is now a fully worked example of the skills that underpin the whole book, providing
a model for readers of the power and value of the approach I am outlining. I would
hope that readers will now find the sometimes-confusing journey towards greater
ability in critical thinking and reasoning just that little bit easier, and with a clearer
goal ahead.
In writing the second edition, I have been aided greatly by Jane Mummery and
Robyn Mayes, both fine teachers of critical thinking, who have struggled with the
problems of the first edition in teaching Applied Reasoning and have generously
provided advice on how I might improve it. To them both, I owe a great deal. I also
wish to thank Christine Richardson with whom I taught elements of critical
thinking and who gave me the opportunity to develop further my ideas about
reasoning and research. To my long-suffering publishers at Oxford University Press,
especially my editors Lucy McLoughlin, Anne Mulvaney, and Chris Wyness, great
thanks and apologies for all the delays. Perhaps they could ask the government
about its neglect of higher education and the consequent doubling of workloads
since I wrote the first edition. And to Jane and Verity, this book is still and always
for you both.
Matthew Allen
m.allen@curtln.edu.au
Perth
February 2003