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M. Neil Browne

Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking -- Print Offer 12th Edition

  • ISBN-10 0134425618
  • ISBN-13 978-0134425610
  • Edition 12th
  • Publisher Pearson
  • Publication date September 6, 2017
  • Language English
  • Dimensions 5.79 x 0.51 x 9.02 inches
  • Print length 192 pages
  • See all details

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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pearson; 12th edition (September 6, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0134425618
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0134425610
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.79 x 0.51 x 9.02 inches
  • #316 in Semantics (Books)
  • #1,882 in Rhetoric (Books)
  • #103,185 in Social Sciences (Books)

About the authors

M. neil browne.

What to include? Hmm.

For 53 years I taught critical thinking to undergraduates at a state university. I have a Ph.D. in Economics and a J.D.; both globs of training I am sure affect my blind spots and any insights that might creep into what I say. I have co-authored 64 books, many of them in multiple editions. The most successful of the lot, Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking is in 12 editions and 16 languages. Its success led to dozens of consulting activities with government agencies, corporations and univrsities, including the National Security Agency, 3 of the Military Academies, dozens of universities, Toyota Pacific, and the Social Security Administration. In addition, I have had the privilege of keynoting International Critical Thinking Confernces on 4 continents.

In 2023 I am publishing 2 new books:

A Healthy Democracy’s Best Hope: Developing the Critical Thinking Habit

FRIENDLY Critical Thinking: Harnessing Questions to Teach and LEARN

Nancy (wife) and I travel extensively and are active participants in the Senior Olympics, dance festivals, songwriters’ conventions, tennis, and fishing. We only reluctantly are unable to attend every International Film Festival.

Stuart M. Keeley

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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Asking the Right Questions:  A Guide to Critical Thinking

Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking , 12e

Browne & keeley.

1. The Benefit and Manner of Asking the Right Questions

The Noisy, Confused World We Live In Experts Cannot Rescue Us, Despite What They Say The Necessity of Relying on Our Mind Critical Thinking to the Rescue The Sponge and Panning for Gold: Alternative Thinking Styles Weak-Sense and Strong-Sense Critical Thinking The Importance of Practice

Critical Thinking and Other People

Primary Values of a Critical Thinker

Keeping the Conversation Going

Creating a Friendly Environment for Communication

Writing and Speaking as Critical Thinkers

2. What Are the Issue and the Conclusion ?

Kinds of Issues Searching for the Issue Searching for the Author’s or Speaker’s Conclusion Clues to Discovery: How to Find the Conclusion Practice Exercises Sample Responses

3. What Are the Reasons?

Initiating the Questioning Process Words That Identify Reasons Keeping the Reasons and Conclusions Straight Reasons First, Then Conclusions

Practice Exercises

Sample Responses

4. What Words or Phrases Are Ambiguous?

The Confusing Flexibility of Words Locating Key Terms and Phrases Checking for Ambiguity Determining Ambiguity Context and Ambiguity Ambiguity, Definitions, and the Dictionary Limits of Your Responsibility to Clarify Ambiguity Writing and Speaking as Critical Thinkers Practice Exercises Sample Responses

5. What Are the Value and Descriptive Assumptions?

General Guide for Identifying Assumptions Value Conflicts and Assumptions From Values to Value Assumptions Typical Value Conflicts The Communicator’s Background as a Clue to Value Assumptions Consequences as Clues to Value Assumptions More Hints for Finding Value Assumptions The Value of Knowing the Value Priorities of Others Values and Relativism Identifying and Evaluating Descriptive Assumptions Illustrating Descriptive Assumptions Common Descriptive Assumptions Clues for Locating Assumptions Writing and Speaking as Critical Thinkers Practice Exercises Sample Responses

6. Are There Any Fallacies in the Reasoning?

A Questioning Approach to Finding Reasoning Fallacies Evaluating Assumptions as a Starting Point Discovering Other Common Reasoning Fallacies Looking for Diversions Sleight of Hand: Begging the Question Summary of Reasoning Errors Expanding Your Knowledge of Fallacies Practice Exercises Sample Responses

7. The Worth of Personal Experience, Case Examples, Testimonials, and Statements of Authority as Evidence

Fact or Opinion? The Need for Dependable Evidence Sources of Evidence Personal Experience as Evidence Case Examples as Evidence Testimonials as Evidence Appeals to Authority as Evidence Practice Exercises Sample Responses

8. How Good Is the Evidence: Personal Observation and Research Studies?

Personal Observation as Evidence Biased Surveys and Questionnaires Research Studies as Evidence General Problems with Research Findings

Generalizing From the Research Sample

Generalizing From the Research Measures

When You Can Most Trust Expert Opinion

Research and the Internet

9. Are There Rival Causes?

When to Look for Rival Causes The Pervasiveness of Rival Causes Detecting Rival Causes The Cause or a Cause Multiple Perspectives as a Guide to Rival Causes Confusing Causation with Association Confusing “After This” with “Because of This” Explaining Individual Events or Acts Evaluating Rival Causes Rival Causes and Your Own Communication Exploring Potential Causes

10. Are Any Statistics Deceptive?

Unknowable and Biased Statistics Confusing Averages Measurement Errors Concluding One Thing, Proving Another Deceiving by Omitting Information Using Statistics in Your Writing Practice Exercises Sample Responses

11. What Significant Information Is Omitted?

The Benefits of Detecting Omitted Information The Certainty of Incomplete Reasoning Questions That Identify Omitted Information But We Need to Know the Numbers The Importance of the Negative View Omitted Information That Remains Missing Writing and Speaking as Critical Thinkers Practice Exercises Sample Responses

12. What Reasonable Conclusions Are Possible?

Dichotomous Thinking: Impediment to Considering Multiple Conclusions Grey Thinking: Two Sides or Many? Productivity of If-Clauses The Liberating Effect of Recognizing Alternative Conclusions Summary Practice Exercises Sample Responses

13. Speed Bumps Interfering with Your Critical Thinking

The Discomfort of Asking the Right Questions Thinking Too Quickly Stereotypes Mental Habits That Betray Us Halo Effect Belief Perseverance Availability Heuristic Answering the Wrong Question

Egocentrism

Wishful Thinking: Perhaps the Biggest Single Speed Bump on the Road to Critical Thinking  

Final Words

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book.

This print textbook is available for students to rent for their classes. The Pearson print rental program provides students with affordable access to learning materials, so they come to class ready to succeed.  

For courses in argument, linguistics, and composition — or in any course where critical thinking is key.

Think critically, analyze objectively, and judge soundly when you know the right questions to ask.

Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking  bridges the gap between simply memorizing or blindly accepting information, and the greater challenge of critical analysis and synthesis. Authors M. Neil Browne and Stuart Keeley teach readers to think critically by exploring the components of arguments — the ¿¿issues, conclusions, reasons, evidence, assumptions, and language — ¿¿and showing how to spot fallacies, manipulations, and faulty reasoning. They demonstrate how to respond to alternative points of view and make the best personal choices about what information to accept or reject.

Now in its 12th Edition, this current and concise book greatly extends the understanding of critical thinking to writing and speaking. Additionally, the updated practice passages and exercises, as well as an enhanced visual program, add to this book’s appeal in a variety of courses and disciplines.

Professor M. Neil Browne has taught critical thinking, great ideas, economics, and law at Bowling Green State University for five decades. During that time, he authored 55 books and 170 professional research articles in multiple disciplines. In addition, he consulted and trained – focusing heavily on critical thinking – the faculty, corporate managers, and government leaders at some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions. He has recently been asked to keynote the International Critical Thinking Conferences in Turkey and China.

Browne created the Honors Scholars Learning Community at Bowling Green, with the single focus of enhancing the critical thinking and ethical reasoning of the university’s most outstanding students. Critical thinking has also been a core element of his success as a coach of Intercollegiate Mock Trial, Intercollegiate Mediation, and Intercollegiate Model Arab League teams.

Stuart Keeley received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Illinois, and enjoyed a flourishing 30-year career as a psychology professor at Bowling Green State University. His undergraduate and graduate teaching focused on abnormal psychology and clinical assessment. He also taught critical thinking to freshmen for many years. In 2000, the Bowling Green State University Trustees awarded him the title of Distinguished Teaching Professor of Psychology.

In addition to  Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking, Keeley has published numerous other books,   including Striving for Excellence in College; Asking the Right Questions in Abnormal Psychology;  and  Psychology on the Internet: Evaluating Online Resources. His dozens of research articles in psychology and higher education have centered around pedagogy, community mental health training, and decision making. Now in his retirement, he continues to be an avid listener and reader, as well as an accomplished author.

  • For educators

Asking the Right Questions 12th edition

A guide to critical thinking (subscription).

Asking the Right Questions 12th edition 9780134425689 0134425685

M Neil Browne , M Browne , ...more

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Asking the Right Questions (12th edition)

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Publisher Description

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book. This print textbook is available for students to rent for their classes. The Pearson print rental program provides students with affordable access to learning materials, so they come to class ready to succeed.

For courses in argument, linguistics, and composition — or in any course where critical thinking is key. Think critically, analyze objectively, and judge soundly when you know the right questions to ask. Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking bridges the gap between simply memorizing or blindly accepting information, and the greater challenge of critical analysis and synthesis. Authors M. Neil Browne and Stuart Keeley teach readers to think critically by exploring the components of arguments — the ¿¿issues, conclusions, reasons, evidence, assumptions, and language — ¿¿and showing how to spot fallacies, manipulations, and faulty reasoning. They demonstrate how to respond to alternative points of view and make the best personal choices about what information to accept or reject. Now in its 12th Edition, this current and concise book greatly extends the understanding of critical thinking to writing and speaking. Additionally, the updated practice passages and exercises, as well as an enhanced visual program, add to this book’s appeal in a variety of courses and disciplines.

Table of Contents

1. The Benefit and Manner of Asking the Right Questions

The Noisy, Confused World We Live In

Experts Cannot Rescue Us, Despite What They Say

The Necessity of Relying on Our Mind

Critical Thinking to the Rescue

The Sponge and Panning for Gold: Alternative Thinking Styles

Weak-Sense and Strong-Sense Critical Thinking

The Importance of Practice

Critical Thinking and Other People

Primary Values of a Critical Thinker

Keeping the Conversation Going

Creating a Friendly Environment for Communication

Writing and Speaking as Critical Thinkers

2. What Are the Issue and the Conclusion?

Kinds of Issues

Searching for the Issue

Searching for the Author’s or Speaker’s Conclusion

Clues to Discovery: How to Find the Conclusion

Practice Exercises

Sample Responses

3. What Are the Reasons?

Initiating the Questioning Process

Words That Identify Reasons

Keeping the Reasons and Conclusions Straight

Reasons First, Then Conclusions

4. What Words or Phrases Are Ambiguous?

The Confusing Flexibility of Words

Locating Key Terms and Phrases

Checking for Ambiguity

Determining Ambiguity

Context and Ambiguity

Ambiguity, Definitions, and the Dictionary

Limits of Your Responsibility to Clarify Ambiguity

5. What Are the Value and Descriptive Assumptions?

General Guide for Identifying Assumptions

Value Conflicts and Assumptions

From Values to Value Assumptions

Typical Value Conflicts

The Communicator’s Background as a Clue to Value Assumptions

Consequences as Clues to Value Assumptions

More Hints for Finding Value Assumptions

The Value of Knowing the Value Priorities of Others

Values and Relativism

Identifying and Evaluating Descriptive Assumptions

Illustrating Descriptive Assumptions

Common Descriptive Assumptions

Clues for Locating Assumptions

6. Are There Any Fallacies in the Reasoning?

A Questioning Approach to Finding Reasoning Fallacies

Evaluating Assumptions as a Starting Point

Discovering Other Common Reasoning Fallacies

Looking for Diversions

Sleight of Hand: Begging the Question

Summary of Reasoning Errors

Expanding Your Knowledge of Fallacies

7. The Worth of Personal Experience, Case Examples, Testimonials, and Statements of Authority as Evidence

Fact or Opinion?

The Need for Dependable Evidence

Sources of Evidence

Personal Experience as Evidence

Case Examples as Evidence

Testimonials as Evidence

Appeals to Authority as Evidence

8. How Good Is the Evidence: Personal Observation and Research Studies?

Personal Observation as Evidence

Biased Surveys and Questionnaires

Research Studies as Evidence

General Problems with Research Findings

Generalizing From the Research Sample

Generalizing From the Research Measures

When You Can Most Trust Expert Opinion

Research and the Internet

9. Are There Rival Causes?

When to Look for Rival Causes

The Pervasiveness of Rival Causes

Detecting Rival Causes

The Cause or a Cause

Multiple Perspectives as a Guide to Rival Causes

Confusing Causation with Association

Confusing “After This� with “Because of This�

Explaining Individual Events or Acts

Evaluating Rival Causes

Rival Causes and Your Own Communication

Exploring Potential Causes

10. Are Any Statistics Deceptive?

Unknowable and Biased Statistics

Confusing Averages

Measurement Errors

Concluding One Thing, Proving Another

Deceiving by Omitting Information

Using Statistics in Your Writing

11. What Significant Information Is Omitted?

The Benefits of Detecting Omitted Information

The Certainty of Incomplete Reasoning

Questions That Identify Omitted Information

But We Need to Know the Numbers

The Importance of the Negative View

Omitted Information That Remains Missing

12. What Reasonable Conclusions Are Possible?

Dichotomous Thinking: Impediment to Considering Multiple Conclusions

Grey Thinking: Two Sides or Many?

Productivity of If-Clauses

The Liberating Effect of Recognizing Alternative Conclusions

13. Speed Bumps Interfering with Your Critical Thinking

The Discomfort of Asking the Right Questions

Thinking Too Quickly

Stereotypes

Mental Habits That Betray Us

Halo Effect

Belief Perseverance

Availability Heuristic

Answering the Wrong Question

Egocentrism

Wishful Thinking: Perhaps the Biggest Single Speed Bump on the Road to Critical Thinking

Final Words

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