Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: recognize topics, main ideas, and supporting details; distinguish between fact and opinion and detect bias; draw valid inferences and conclusions; apply study skills to reading material; utilize words in context; recall the author’s purpose and point of view; relate patterns of organization: cause and effect; describe words in context: transitional words; develop valid inferences and conclusions; recall the author’s  tone and style; explain explicit and implied main ideas and supporting details; assess the credibility or objectivity of the writer; apply study skills to reading material: summarizing, reading a map or atlas; describe figurative language: simile and metaphor; recall the author’s tone and style; emotive language; identify words in context using dictionaries; apply study skills to reading material (mapping); reference words in context; employ study skills to reading materials (outlining); recognize patterns of organization (mapping key events); define and distinguish ethics and morals; critique one’s moral compass and understand its origins; discuss how to nurture one’s moral growth; create valid inferences and conclusions; differentiate between fact and opinion; describe literary allusions in context using an encyclopedia; apply study skills to reading (summarizing); and develop analytical skills in order to better comprehend various issues presented in the subject of critical thinking.