Course Description

Applied Critical Thinking develops independent thought and the ability to express complex ideas clearly and convincingly. Real-world questions from law, medicine and education invite students to examine assumptions, weigh evidence and explain difficult decisions.

Students explore how legal arguments are defended, how doctors approach ethical choices and how to respond to demanding university application questions. Discussion and reasoned argument develop thinking skills relevant to HKDSE, IB Theory of Knowledge and Oxbridge interviews.

Discussion examples

• What is your response to the view that the purpose of education is to prepare young people for the world of work? (Sample question from the LNAT, which assesses university applicants to law degrees at top UK universities.)
• I am walking along the street when it starts to rain. I open the door of an unlocked car and sit there for 15 minutes until the rain passes. Have I ‘taken’ the car? (Sample interview question from the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford.)

Complex ethical concepts are discussed, and students often work on topics without a clear right answer. Being able to defend your position in these situations is the key to succeeding in interviews for top universities, and in the world of work beyond.

This course develops the thinking skills needed for:

• HKDSE, and the Theory of Knowledge core subject in the IB Diploma.
• Oxbridge interviews; LNAT/LSAT exams for law school applications; BMAT/MCAT exams for medical school applications.
• Careers in challenging fields such as law and medicine.

Applied Critical Thinking is a year-long course for S3-5 students. It is a 4-skill course during which students:

• Read varied sources, e.g. news articles, personal narratives, and technical reports.
• Write in a variety of styles, e.g. witness statement, formal letter, and analytical essay.
• Present arguments on each side of complex topics.
• Engage in debates and respond to the arguments of others.