Critical thinking

1. a statement that aims to persuade the reader to accept a conclusion (6)
5. a word or phrase is ambiguous if it can have more that one meaning and it is not clear which meaning is intended in a particular context. (9)
6. what is generally said or believed about the character of a person or an organisation - assumes someone's past performance is a guide to how they will act in the future (can be positive/negative) (10)
7. being impartial; having no reason to favour either side in a dispute or difference of opinion - should have no connection to parties involved, not motive to distort/lie. (Bias is a counterpart to neutrality) (10)

2. personal interest, usually financial, in a state of affairs/organisation leading to the expectation of personal gain from a favourable outcome. - VE provides a motive to say one thing rather than another - incentive to present one interpretation. (6, 8)
3. a missing reason in an argument that is necessary for the conclusion to be drawn from. The writer has accepted the assumption, but not stated it. (10)
4. reason(s) to show why something is the way it is but it is not trying to persuade the reader of anything - inform about generally uncontroversial facts. (11)
5. rhetorical devices which act as a substitute for rational argument. (7)
8. a statement of something that the writer wants the reader to accept based on reasons given. (therefore, so, thus, it follows that, consequently, should ... ought ...) (10)
10. a statement or judgement that can be challenged (5)

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