Abstract

A college academic course is an argument constructed by the professor who teaches the course. Richard Paul’s elements of thinking are used to clarify this contention. It is the responsibility of the professor to choose reading materials, construct lectures, and develop other activities and assignments that can best aid her students to understand the argument. Reading texts and listening to lectures effectively to grasp the argument requires critical thinking skills that can be learned by students. Students fail when those responsible for their education either assume they already possess such skills or that they cannot learn them.