The Critical Thinking Toolkit

Are you looking to develop and master critical thinking skills? This introductory book is designed to meet the need for practical, applied content in this essential area. It guides you through the day-to-day application of critical thinking at university, both in preparation for, during and after university-based learning activities including lectures and seminars and in assessed work including essays, presentations, exams and practical learning opportunities.

This book:

Allows you to apply new critical thinking and reasoning skills with exercises and real-world examples

 Helps you in building your critical thinking skills progressively in a clear way.

 Enables you to tailor your learning journey to your specific goals with activities, examples, and personalised action plans.
Includes guidance to help you engage critically and ethically with artificial intelligence and other assistive technology.

Ideal for beginner to advanced students seeking to enhance their critical thinking abilities, this book is a valuable addition to any academic toolkit.

Student Success is a series of essential guides for students of all levels. From how to think critically and write great essays to boosting your employability and managing your wellbeing, the Student Success series helps you study smarter and get the best from your time at university. 

Author Biography

Paula Beesley is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Leeds Beckett University, with interests in communication skill development and practice placements. She holds the Practice Teacher Award, and has been a practice teacher for 20 years both as a child protection social worker and as an independent off-site practice educator working with a wide range of placements and students. She is currently undertaking a PhD into communication in social work student supervision on placement.

Louise is a sociologist with specific interests in health policy and social policy. She is a Reader located in The Centre for Health Promotion Research, which she has co-directed since 2013. Louise joined the University in September 2005 and has taught on a wide range of modules including sociology, health policy, research, community and global policy and health care. She also manages a range of research projects and a team of research staff.

Louise’s research projects are diverse and include a commissioned evaluation of the Way Forward Programme, a project to develop resilience in vulnerable young women with unmet need, the evaluation of a Department of Health Eatwell and Livewell Project to tackle malnutrition amongst the elderly, and the project management of the Sunderland Health Champion Programme.

Louise has recently conducted a range of research with vulnerable young women, drawing upon feminist participatory approaches to data collection in order to give young women voice. Her research has been used in practice to improve interventions during their delivery and in securing future funding for further work in this area. Her other evaluation research is used in practice similarly to further develop interventions, and to capture the voice of service users.