Mindsystems - Products

Key Features
Argument maps?
Top 10 Reasons
Pricing
System Requirements

Rationale

Rationale key features:

Build hierarchical grouping maps. Organise information by brainstorming, grouping and creating a hierarchy of ideas.

Build structured reasoning maps. Represent reasons for and against a position, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and decide whether to accept or reject the position.

Build more complex multi-premise argument maps. Display multiple premises within a single reason or objection, represent support for inferences as opposed to premises, and evaluate premises separately from the reasons or objections to which they belong.

Create a structured essay outline from an argument map. Convert your map into structured prose in real time. Export the outline to Word to refine and finish your essay.

Research using the built-in web browser. Highlight information and drag and drop it straight onto the workspace, where it automatically becomes an Item. You can also drag and drop Rationale files from web sites like the Rationale wiki, to open them on the workspace.

Build your critical thinking skills with online exercises. 12 sets of exercises, each about 15 minutes long, take you through the fundamentals of critical thinking. In a few hours you can be mapping and evaluating arguments with confidence.

Rationale

Argument maps are box-and-line diagrams that lay out visually reasoning and evidence for and against a statement or claim. A good map clarifies and organizes thinking by showing the logical relationships between thoughts that are expressed simply and precisely.

Argument maps are driven by asking, ‘Should I believe that? Why, or why not?’.

While this takes on the appearance of mapping, this is different to a normal mind map®. Rather than seeking to simply map out all the information, it actually forms a focused outcome through reasoning.

You can produce two kinds of argument maps in Rationale:

1. Reasoning maps, which lay out arguments in a quick, intuitive way

2. Analytic maps, which enable a more careful and rigorous analysis of an argument.

How does Argument Mapping differ from other kinds of mapping?

Different kinds of map are defined by the nature of the relationships they depict – what the boxes and lines mean.

What kind of map, depends on:

what goes in the boxes; and
what the connecting lines indicate.

Argument Maps show only evidential (inferential) relationships between claims. In Argument Maps, the lines mean something very specific: that something is a reason to believe or a reason not to believe something else. Argument maps are driven by the question, ‘Why should I believe that?’. Any map driven by that question is an Argument Map.

What is 'Critical Thinking' and how can it help me?

Critical thinking is about making good judgments. Much of critical thinking involves dealing with arguments.

To be a good critical thinker you must be skilled at articulating and evaluating arguments.

Argument mapping helps us carry out these tasks. Argument maps are box-and-line diagrams laying out the arguments for and against some claim.

Rationale is software for argument mapping. It was designed to support Critical Thinking skills by helping us

build,
modify,
evaluate, and
communicate arguments.

Top 10 reasons to purchase Rationale®:

1	Effective decision making: With Rationale you can arrive at the correct decision in a fraction of the time you would normally take.
2	The right choice: Argument mapping ensures you consider all the angles and are able to make an informed decision, based on fact and not on assumption.
3	Complex analysis made easy: Analytic maps enable you to understand a argument in specific detail, ensuring no important considerations are overlooked.
4	Handle complex decisions: Can't see the forest for the trees? Complex, multi issue decisions can often overwhelm people...leading to poor decisions that ultimately cost money. Eliminate this problem by working with Rationale.
5	Critical thinking skills: Make decisions confidently, knowing with each new argument map that your critical thinking skills are improving!
6	Inbuilt tutorials: Take advantage of the inbuilt tutorials and help files to gain a better understanding of argument mapping and the positive impact it can have on your life.
7	Expert essays: Create expert essays in Rationale and then click to export to MS® Word!
8	Web integration: Work with the inbuilt web browser to research your information, then just drag it across the work space and drop into your map!
9	Work with templates: Construct and reuse common work flows to enhance your efficiency.
10	Comprehensive help and tutorials: The onboard help files and tutorials are comprehensive and easy to understand. This combined with Mindsystems quality coaching support allows you to get maximum benefit from the software.

Rationale

Rationale® Pricing Information:

Base Price*

HelpDesk

Rationale: Windows® 98 / ME / 2000 / XP / Server 2003 / Vista

Single License - Never Expires

$219

2 yrs

Buy Now

Yearly License - 1 year usage / updates

$109.50

2 yrs

Buy Now

Volume Buy - Multi User Site

Contact

Contract

Email

* Prices are ex GST for AU buyers

Important Pricing Information:

Extra Options: 2 Year HelpDesk Plan Included with most license types, primary technical support refered.

* Large Scale Deployment - Large deployment discounts and time limited price freezes are available on 25+ user purchases. Please contact Mindsystems on 1300 200 555 (+61 3 9770 2555) to discuss the most suitable option for your business.

Microsoft Windows®
Windows® 98 / ME / 2000 / XP / Server 2003 / Vista

Subsidiary:

Microsoft® .NET 2.0 or higher

System Requirements:

IBM or compatible Pentium® processor (700 MHz or greater)
256 MB RAM or greater, 512 MB RAM or greater on Vista
150 MB disk space and 50 MB more during installation
SVGA (1024 x 768/16-bit color or greater)

* Note - Base requirements assume a neutral operating load. For example, if your system is right on the 700Mhz minimum requirement, under lab conditions you will be able to run this application. As soon as you add other resource hungry applications like email or Internet applications, the amount of processor capacity available is divided and this may in turn effect your ability to use the software in conjunction with other applications.