The fifth edition is significantly revised and expanded. The chapters have been rearranged to provide a more natural sequence of concepts and to enhance students' mastery of techniques and strategies. Numerous new sections have been added to five of the six chapters, introducing students to such important topics as the relationship between thinking and intelligence, the influences of life's experiences on our thinking, how to recognize and avoid other people's manipulation of our thinking.

This edition also demonstrates how to apply critical thinking to relationships, careers, and ethical challenges. In addition, each chapter offers two or three "Good Thinking" profiles, which demonstrate the role thinking played in various historic achievements and offer students positive role models to emulate. Among the men and women featured in these profiles are Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Dale Carnegie, Nellie Bly, Albert Einstein, and Elizabeth Loftus.

Chapter by Chapter Changes

Chapter 1: Fundamentals
The approach for testing opinions has been expanded and now includes seven specific tests, the "Comprehensive Thinking Strategy" has been revised and expanded, and two new sections have been added: "What Is Intelligence?" and "Key Principles of Thinking."

Chapter 2: Persuasive Communication
The persuasion material from the fourth edition's Chapter 7 is included in this new chapter, together with five new sections: " A Strategy for Persuasive Writing," "A Strategy for Persuasive Speaking," "A Strategy for Group Discussion," "Overcoming Errors in Grammar," and "Overcoming Errors in Usage."

Chapter 3: Becoming an Individual
The title and much of the content of this chapter are the same as the fourth edition's chapter 2. The new sections are titled: "Acknowledging Influences," "Recognizing Manipulation," "Resisting Manipulation," "Four Empowering Attitudes," and "Habits for Individuality."

Chapter 4: Evaluating Arguments
This chapter consists of the previous material on evaluating arguments plus "Conducting Library Research," "Conducting Internet Research," "Conducting an Interview," "Avoiding Plagiarism," "Evaluating Complex Arguments," and an expanded treatment of the various types of evidence.

Chapter 5: Recognizing Errors in Thinking
This chapter is essentially unchanged from the previous edition.

Chapter 6: Applying Your Thinking Skills
Most of the sections in this chapter remain the same as in the fourth edition. However, the material on problem solving in the fourth edition's Chapter 4 has been moved here and the following new sections have been added: "Thinking Critically About Relationships," "Thinking Critically About Careers," and "Thinking Critically About Ethical Judgments."