NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm doing an A-Level this week on Critical Thinking and I just wondered whether a lot of people had done it. I think I sort of understand it, but I'd never heard of it until a few months ago. The NS population are an intelligent and varied bunch so I was just wondered how many of you had ever taken an exam in it, or did something involving it, just so I know whether I've just watsed the last three months of my life.

It did not exist when I did A levels, pity.

You haven't missed much, i'm afraid

Sounds like a nice idea, but I wouldn't have thought people would give it much accreditation compared to courses on Mathematics (/Further, if you're so inclined), History or the Sciences in which it's basically a synoptic element of the course anyway. They should make it a key skill; that way it gets taught but not at the expense of other studies.

I'm just finishing up with my A-levels and I haven't ever heard of it. It isn't even like I go to a small college - we have, er, about 2000 AS/A2 students. What is it?

Its a subject where you analyse arguments. Its quite difficult. It has uses in law etc. Apparently oxford and cambridge put a high value on it as an indicator of intelligence.( So im screwed.) Its just im only in year 10 and they asked me to do it early with twenty other year 10s and i just wondered if it was a widespread thing. ive not done my GCSEs yet so im a bit worried about it. Its on wednesday

Its a subject where you analyse arguments. Its quite difficult. It has uses in law etc. Apparently oxford and cambridge put a high value on it as an indicator of intelligence.( So im screwed.) Its just im only in year 10 and they asked me to do it early with twenty other year 10s and i just wondered if it was a widespread thing. ive not done my GCSEs yet so im a bit worried about it. Its on wednesday
I did the AS... got a C... my worst mark (along with general studies, of course!). It is tricky - partly because it is difficult, and partly because it is just plain picky and prescriptive. It sounds interesting, but it's actually really dull. I didn't do much work towards it: if you're an intelligent being and actually bother to put some effort in, you should be fine.

I'm doing an A-Level this week on Critical Thinking and I just wondered whether a lot of people had done it. I think I sort of understand it, but I'd never heard of it until a few months ago. The NS population are an intelligent and varied bunch so I was just wondered how many of you had ever taken an exam in it, or did something involving it, just so I know whether I've just watsed the last three months of my life.
what does it involve? it sounds like a good idea if coupled with philosophy

i might have considered taking it if i could have, but sadly my school was a little bit stuffy in that respect...

Its a subject where you analyse arguments. Its quite difficult. It has uses in law etc. Apparently oxford and cambridge put a high value on it as an indicator of intelligence.( So im screwed.) Its just im only in year 10 and they asked me to do it early with twenty other year 10s and i just wondered if it was a widespread thing. ive not done my GCSEs yet so im a bit worried about it. Its on wednesday

Cambridge already do a non-A-level testing of critical thinking in a procedure called the Thinking Skills Assessment. I had to sit one as part of the application process. Here's some info, for those of you curious enough. (http://tsa.ucles.org.uk/about.html) It seemed to work quite well, from what I hear, but it's not the sort of thing you need to spend a whole two years studying academically.

what does it involve? it sounds like a good idea if coupled with philosophy
I've always thought that philosophy was pure unadulterated bullshit.

And I have never been convinced that you can teach critical thinking.

Cambridge already do a non-A-level testing of critical thinking in a procedure called the Thinking Skills Assessment. I had to sit one as part of the application process. Here's some info, for those of you curious enough. (http://tsa.ucles.org.uk/about.html) It seemed to work quite well, from what I hear, but it's not the sort of thing you need to spend a whole two years studying academically.
thanks ill have a look

I've always thought that philosophy was pure unadulterated bullshit.


Including logic?

I've always thought that philosophy was pure unadulterated bullshit.
why?

phiosophy and critical thinking, in the limited experience i've had with the disciplines teach me how to ask questions, how to have a suitably inquisitve mind, to not accept things at face value and look for deeper meaning in all things. maybe thats not what you're supposed to get out of either of them, but that's my perspective anyhow.

philosophy has also given me reason and grounding behind my beliefs, and strengthened them too. without that grounding my beliefs are simply assumptions based on nothing - something that many, many people i talk to seem to accept as enough to form an opinon.
for this reason i think philosophy should be taught more widely

Including logic?
Logic can be taught in math class.

Logic can be taught in math class.

Yes, it can be taught in maths class, but it isn't maths. Science could also be taught in maths class, but why should it be?

Yes, it can be taught in maths class, but it isn't maths. Science could also be taught in maths class, but why should it be?

Mechanics, some physicists could argue, is the theory of physical modelling.

*Shrug*