Question

Two cornerstones of critical thinking are the abilities to test logic and examine evidence. You can start testing logic right now by asking the following questions about what you read:

Does the author define her key terms?
Do any of the author’s main points contradict each other?
Has the author clearly stated her assumptions (the points that she simply accepts as true without trying to prove them)?
Is the author’s material free of logical fallacies, such as jumping to conclusions or making personal attacks?
Choose a current reading assignment—a nonfiction piece rather than a novel, short story, or poem. Focus on a particular chapter or section of this assignment and test it by asking the above questions.

1. Did you answer no to any of the above questions? If so, explain:



2. Now review the same chapter or section and examine evidence. List the author's main points. Did she present enough facts, examples, or expert testimony to support each one? If not, explain why.

Answer 1

I don't have access to a current reading assignment to review and answer the questions for. However, I can provide a general response to the first question.

If I were to review a nonfiction piece and answer "no" to any of the above questions, it would indicate that the author's argument or presentation may be weak or flawed. For example, if the author did not clearly define their key terms, it could lead to confusion or misinterpretation of their points. If the author's main points contradict each other, it may undermine the overall credibility of their argument. If the author did not state their assumptions, it could be difficult to evaluate the validity of their argument. Finally, if the author used logical fallacies, it could suggest a lack of critical thinking or a biased perspective.

I don't have access to a specific reading assignment to list the author's main points and evaluate the evidence presented. However, if the author did not provide enough facts, examples, or expert testimony to support their main points, it could weaken their argument and undermine their credibility. A lack of evidence may suggest a need for further research or a different approach to supporting the author's claims.