Arguing, Reasoning, and Thinking Well

Arguing, Reasoning, and Thinking Well offers an engaging and accessible introduction to argumentation and critical thinking. With a pro-social focus, the volume encourages readers to value civility when engaged in arguing and reasoning. Authors Gass and Seiter, renowned for their friendly writing style, include real-world examples, hypothetical dialogues, and editorial cartoons to invite readers in. The text includes a full chapter devoted to the ethics of argument, as well as content on refutation and formal logic. It is designed for students in argumentation and critical thinking courses in communication, philosophy, and psychology departments, and is suitable for students and general education courses across the curriculum.

Chapter 1: Why Study Argument?

Chapter 2: Arguing Ethically

Chapter 3: Argument Theories, Models, and Definitions

Chapter 4: The Nature of Critical Thinking

Chapter 5: Building Blocks of Argument

Chapter 6: Evidence and Proof

Chapter 7: Informal Reasoning

Chapter 8: Fallacies in Reasoning, part 1

Chapter 9: Fallacies in Reasoning, part 2

Chapter 10: Judgment, Decision-Making, and Problem-Solving

Chapter 11: Deductive Reasoning

Chapter 12: Effective Advocacy & Refutation

Appendix: Formats for Class Debates

Robert H. Gass is a Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies at California State University Fullerton.

John S. Seiter is a Distinguished Professor of Communication Studies in the Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies at Utah State University.