The second AS unit develops the ability to understand and evaluate others’ arguments, and to construct arguments of one’s own. This is the core of critical thinking, and what makes it a particularly useful subject to study.

We are surrounded by attempts to persuade us; we should accept some and reject others. This module is all about learning to discern which attempts to persuade fall into which category.

This means first learning to work out what argument is being presented to us. This requires an understanding of the various elements of arguments, and an ability to read a passage or listen to a speech and reconstruct its argument.

The second skill involved is assessing the strength of the evidence offered, keeping an eye out for any logical fallacies that might have been committed.