Whether you are reading a newspaper or book, watching the television, talking to a co-worker, or attending a class, usually some person or institution is trying to influence your attitudes, beliefs, or actions. Understand the critical skills needed in making decisions about what to believe and what to do, so that we may have more control over how we respond. Discuss general standards for changing or acquiring belief, by means of exploring the nature of justification and/or giving reasons. How can we use logical tools to strengthen our critical faculties? How is language manipulated to influence beliefs? How are beliefs justified?