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AS Critical Thinking
Entry Requirements
You will need to have attained a high grade in GCSE English. Critical Thinking is a fundamental academic competency and is useful for candidates taking a wide variety of AS or A2 subjects. Students considering taking Law, Philosophy or Theology at a higher level would find it a useful introduction to some of the principles of Logic and Ethics. Keeping up to date with current affairs should be considered an essential part of the course: you should aim to read a quality (broadsheet) newspaper everyday, paying particular attention to the Comment / Editorial and main feature sections. You should also aim to listen (critically!) on a regular basis to Radio 4 and T.V. news and discussion programmes such as Today or Newsnight.
Course content
Critical Thinking aims to give candidates the opportunity to develop the skills which are central to the process of arriving at reason-based judgement. It is not a content-based course, but rather one which aims to develop skills of reading, thinking logically, evaluating arguments and expressing ideas and opinions clearly and concisely. You will be
expected to read about and discuss a wide variety of topics and to develop your skills of analysing arguments. You will have practice in writing responses to the topics discussed, but also there will be plenty of opportunity for class debate. Topics to be covered this year will include: Cloning, Censorship, The Warren Report on the Assassination of J.F. Kennedy (assessing credibility of sources), the rights of Asylum Seekers, proposals to introduce I.D. cards, the Trial of Craig and Bentley and the Death Penalty. Topics selected are used to cover the following areas: identifying the elements of reasoning; evaluating
reasoning of different kinds; recognising and evaluating assumptions; clarifying expressions and ideas; presenting arguments.
Assessment (OCR)
2 examination papers taken in the Summer Term, each 1 hour 30 minutes.
Subject Coordinator: Mrs J. Railton, j.railton@finhampark.co.uk
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