STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
54
5.5
STUDY SKILLS
CRITICAL THINKING
1
a
5.8
Listen to an expert talking
about critical thinking. Make notes under
these headings.
•
What is critical thinking?
•
What do critical thinkers do?
•
Why is critical thinking important for
academic studies?
•
Why is it an important skill for everyone?
1
b
Work with a partner and summarise
what you’ve heard.
2
Work with your partner and decide
under which heading the following
statements belong.
CRITICAL THINKERS DO ...
CRITICAL THINKERS DON’T ...
1
identify a writer’s purpose and opinion.
2
question every statement or fact in a text.
3
question beliefs, opinions and ideas
which are in a text.
4
think that an online encyclopaedia is
the most reliable source of information.
5
distinguish between facts and opinions.
6
look for evidence which supports
arguments or opinions.
7
always keep the same opinion when
reading a text.
8
always read a text to find opinions that
are the same as their own.
9
look for the main argument and key
ideas in a text.
10
pay careful attention to the style and
tone of a text.
11
believe that their own beliefs and
values are always right.
12
accept a writer’s ideas just because he
or she is well known.
3
You are going to critically read an
essay. Before doing so, decide what
you think about the topic. Discuss this
question in small groups.
Should TV advertisements for unhealthy
products be banned?
4
Quickly read the essay. On first
impression, do you generally agree or
disagree with the writer?
I
n many countries, there are already laws which
do not allow advertising for dangerous products.
Some people now want to go further and ban
advertisements for other unhealthy products, such as
junk food.This is undoubtedly the right way forward for
governments.There are strong arguments for banningTV
advertising of these products.The benefits of doing this
greatly outweigh the disadvantages.
2
It is clearly desirable to limit TV advertisements of
fast food. It is widely known that the rate of obesity
has increased significantly in western countries. For
example, obesity is second most common cause of
death in the United States. In that country, the food
industry spends over $33 billion per year to advertise
food products that are considered to be junk food.
Drinking alcohol is also very unhealthy. It results in a
wide range of diseases. If children see fewer adverts on
TV of people doing these activities, they are much less
likely to try to imitate their behaviour.
3
Opponents of banning advertising argue that people
know what they must do to be healthy. In a free society,
people must be able to choose whether to buy a
product.They say that if a product is legal, businesses
should be able to sell and advertise it. However, it is the
government which has to deal with the consequences
of people buying unhealthy products.The cost of
healthcare for those who have unhealthy habits, such
as eating junk food is enormous.Therefore, it is clearly
the duty of a government to prevent the behaviour by
banning television commercials of such products.
4
Another reason why people are against banning
TV advertisements for unhealthy products is that
manufacturing the products creates jobs and brings
in large amounts of tax for governments. However,
surely this is a false argument. The money invested
in making these unhealthy products could be used
for more worthwhile businesses such as those which
improve our environment. Furthermore, it is not
right for governments to make money from activities
which harm its citizens.
5
To conclude, it is the responsibility of governments
to prevent people from damaging their health. Laws
to banTV advertisements of unhealthy products are
beneficial to society. They help to save lives and
improve the health of a nation.
ShouldTV advertisements
for unhealthy products
be banned?
