Thinking Critically teaches the fundamental thinking, reasoning, reading, and writing abilities that students need for success. The text begins with basic skills related to personal experience and then carefully progresses to the more sophisticated reasoning skills required for abstract, academic contexts. The Ninth Edition maintains the hallmarks that make Thinking Critically an effective tool for both instructors and students. Each chapter provides an overview of an aspect of critical thinking, such as problem-solving, perception, and the nature of beliefs--all of which are reinforced by provocative readings and Thinking Activities for student review and practice. Visual Thinking features provide images for evaluation and discussion, while Thinking Passages present readings and questions for analysis. Exercises, discussion topics, and writing assignments encourage active participation and prompt students to critically examine others' thinking, as well as their own.