Page 12 - Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing, 2nd Ed

How to Use this Book

To get the most out of this book, you will need to read it carefully chapter by
chapter. The book builds sequentially, so that many of the ideas and concepts
introduced in earlier chapters underpin more complex discussion of related issues
in subsequent chapters. Also, as you go, you should do the exercises in each chapter.
Do not check the answers until you have completed all of a particular exercise and
are satisfied with them. When you turn to the Answers, Discussion, and Further
Advice, you will see that, in most cases, there is further discussion of the issues and
concepts relevant to each exercise. As much as you can, don't be tempted to look at
the next set of answers until you have completed the exercises for them. Often, you
will be asked to do an exercise in order to provide you with the experience neces-
sary to get the most out of the further advice offered in the answers. And, when you
have done the exercises and checked the answers, I expect you will need to reread
and revise the chapter again.
After you have read a chapter, done the exercises, and checked the answers, look
at the Concept Check and Review Exercise at the end of the chapter. The concepts
introduced in each chapter are listed. You should briefly write down what you
know about them, then turn to the Glossary to check your answers. There are, by
contrast, no answers provided for the review questions that you will find at the end
of most chapters. If you have understood and integrated the material in each
chapter, you should be able to answer these questions confidently. If you cannot,
then it is probably a sign that you have missed something.
Finally, you should integrate what you learn about reasoning in this book with
the work or study you are doing at the moment. For example, when doing the
exercises and review questions, you will often be called upon to use information
from your own life as examples or basic material with which to do an exercise. The
whole point of this book is to give practical, applied advice. I can provide the
advice; you must apply it.
This book aims to provide you with structured information, exercises, and
reflections to guide your own learning. Your investment of time and effort in
working through this structure will provide you with considerable returns in
improving your smart thinking.

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