OCR A2 Critical Thinking Student Unit Guide: Unit F504 Critical Reasoning

Summary:
Student Unit Guides are perfect for revision. Each guide is written by an examiner and explains the unit requirements, summarises the relevant unit content and includes a series of specimen questions and answers.

There are three sections to each guide:

Introduction - includes advice on how to use the guide, an explanation of the skills being tested by the assessment objectives, an outline of the unit or module and, depending on the unit, suggestions for how to revise effectively and prepare for the examination questions.

Content Guidance - provides an examiner's overview of the module's key terms and concepts and identifies opportunities to exhibit the skills required by the unit. It is designed to help students to structure their revision and make them aware of the concepts they need to understand the exam and how they might analyse and evaluate topics.

Question and Answers - sample questions and with graded answers which have been carefully written to reflect the style of the unit. All responses are accompanied by commentaries which highlight their respective strengths and weaknesses, giving students an insight into the mind of the examiner.

• A revision guide specifically written to meet the requirements of the unit
  

• Written by an examiner with commentary on key points and concepts
  

• Features specimen questions and answers, together with examiner's comments
  

Table of Contents:
Introduction
About this guide
Unit F504
Resource booklet
Skills
Preparing for the examination
Further reading and viewing
The examination
Content Guidance
About this section
Analysing arguments
Structure of arguments
Worked example
Evaluating arguments
Validity of arguments
Flaws
Emotional and irrelevant appeals
Analogies
Assumptions
Evidence
Examples
Consistency and inconsistency
Counter-arguments
Causation
Overall strength of the reasons
Developing your own arguments
Conclusion
Definitions
Reasons
Examples and evidence
Intermediate conclusions
Counter-arguments
Things to avoid
Questions and Answers
About this section
Sample A: ‘If I could choose, I’d have far less choice in my life’
Analysis questions
Evaluation questions
Sample B: ‘It’s no surprise children have retreated into a techno-Narnia’
Analysis questions
Evaluation questions
Sample C: ‘Of course a deaf couple want a deaf child’
Analysis questions
Evaluation questions
Sample D: ‘For women, Gazza isn’t a fallen hero. He’s a sad drunk’
Analysis questions
Evaluation questions
Arguments

About the Author(s):
David Yates teaches at New Hall School, Chelmsford.