Reasoning and Writing

Reasoning and Writing seeks to make students better writers by first teaching them to think critically about what they read and write. Designed to offer a critical thinking approach to introductory courses in philosophy of composition, it combines instruction in critical thinking and writing composition with the study of primary texts often taught in liberal arts courses--Plato, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, William Paley, and Bertrand Russell. The first sections present the formal study of critical thinking techniques; the remainder applies those skills to reading primary texts and writing critical papers. Each chapter includes exercises and writing assignments. The appendices address the nuts and bolts of grammar and punctuation, methods of documentation, and straightforward instruction in composition.

Donald L. Hatcher is professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Critical Thinking at Baker University. Anne L. Spencer is professor of Spanish at Baker University.