- A concise text on critical thinking, reading, writing, and argument. The three chapters in Part One show students how to recognize and evaluate assumptions as a prelude to annotating, summarizing, and analyzing arguments. The three chapters in Part Two help students apply their critical thinking and reading skills to the tasks of writing analytical, critical, and research-based papers in MLA or APA style. The six chapters in Part Three uniquely introduce students to alternative approaches to argument.<BR>- A comprehensive and flexible argument reader with two anthologies. In addition to the 48 readings throughout the text, Parts Four and Five comprise an anthology with 55 selections that prompt students to think and write critically about 13 pressing current issues, Part Six, the second anthology, contains 29 classic selections that explore three enduring philosophical questions. In-depth casebooks -- multiple readings on controversial topics -- appear in both the text and the reader.<BR>- New to the sixth edition is coverage of visual rhetoric with images, updated and expanded research features, and more student writing.