• to develop an attitude that encourages critical thinking;
• to recognize and control the way language affects thinking;
• to recognize how memory and memory biases affect judgement;
• to think about complex problems in a logical sequence;
• to recognize the most common sorts and sources of bad arguments;
• to recognize and analyze relationships, such as cause and effect;
• to deal more comfortably with arguments involving numbers and statistics;
• to introduce techniques which enable more creative thinking.

Format
The workshop sessions themselves consist of a combination of lecture, Q&A, and group discussion. Some of the course material can only be learned by working on one's own, and computer-based material will be available for participants to download and use outside the workshop.
      A short reading package will be provided which will reinforce the topics covered, and includes optional exercises for the more eager participants.
      The instructor will be available by email between the sessions for additional discussion or assistance.

AGENDA

Each day will be divided into four sessions of approximately 1½ hours each.

DAY 1

Introduction

• What Is Critical Thinking?
• Problems for Critical Thinkers
• Attitude for Critical Thinking

Memory and Critical Thinking

• How Memory Biases Judgment
• Mnemonics as Memory Aid
• Mnemonics and Critical Thinking

LUNCH

Formal and Informal Reasoning

• Formal Logic as Paradigm of Good Reasoning
• Strengths and Limits of Formal Reasoning
• the Challenges of Informal Reasoning
• Practice: Mastermind

Language: It's Not "Just Words"

• Interpretation, Ambiguity, and Vagueness
• Sense and Reference
• Spin Control: How to Give the Truth a Point of View
• Practice: Spin Control

DAY 2

Fallacies

• Why We Are Vulnerable to Bad Reasoning
• the Seven Most Common Types of Fallacies
• Simple Ways to Avoid Fallacies
• Not-so-simple Ways to Deal with Fallacies
• Practice: Argument Evaluation

Numbers and Bell Curves

• Variation as a Theme
• Cause and Effect
• Regression to the Mean
• Practice: Thinking about a Bell Curve

LUNCH

Discussion
This session will allow us to discuss the topics covered as they appear in the readings and exercises.

Creative Thinking

• The Most Common Blocks to Creative Thinking
• Techniques for Generating New Ideas
• Practice: Creative Thinking Exercises

• Monty Hall Problem
• Master Mind