ASSESSING UNDERGRADUATE EFL STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING IN WRITING ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Abstract
This study assesses Undergraduate EFL students’ critical thinking particularly in writing argumentative essay. We know, a lot researchers have stated that writing argumentative essay requires writer’s critical thinking skill (Afshar, 2017; Movassagh, 2017; Arbabi, 2017; Hastiari, 2020; Khoirunnisa, 2020) . By having critical thinking, a writer can persuade and influence readers more through their convincing arguments. However, it is found many Undergraduate EFL students who still write argumentative essay with some weak arguments (Komara, and Sriyanto, 2018). Therefore, it is crucial to give them valuable feedback by assessing their critical thinking in writing argumentative essay, so they can know and improve their critical thinking level. To achieve such goal, the researchers involved 30 participants the researchers who were willing to be assessed their critical thinking in argumentative essay with NEIU Critical Thinking Rubric (2006). The finding showed that 28 students or 93% got low score meanwhile only 2 students or 6.7% who got high score in their argumentative essay critical thinking score. It can be concluded majority participants of this research did not write argumentative essay with high critical thinking criteria.
Keywords: Argumentative essay, assessment, critical thinking, EFL students
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Afshar, H. S., Movassagh, H., & Arbabi, H. R. (2017). The interrelationship among critical thinking, writing an argumentative essay in an L2 and their subskills. Language Learning Journal, 45(4), 419–433. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2017.1320420
Brown, H.D. 2004. Some practical thoughts about students- sensitive critical pedagogy. The Language Teacher,28(7), 23-27
Ennis, R. H. (2001). Critical thinking assessment. The Ohio State University. Retrieved from http://www3.qcc.cuny.edu/WikiFiles/file/Ennis%20Critical%20T hinking%20Assessment.pdf
Ennis, R., & Weir, E. 1985. The Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test. Pacific Grove, CA: Critical Thinking Press and Software.
Fahim, M., & Hashtroodi, P. (2012). The effect of critical thinking on developing argumentative essays by Iranian EFL University Students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 3(4), 632–638. https://doi.org/10.4304/jltr.3.4.632-638
Finocchiaro, M. A. (1989). English as a Second/Foreign Language from Theory to Practice. Fourth Edition. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents
Graham, S. (2019). Changing how writing is taught. Review of Research in Education, 43(1), 277–303. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X18821125
Hakim, M. F. Al, Sariyatun, S., & Sudiyanto, S. (2018). Constructing student`s critical thinking skill through discovery learning model and contextual teaching and learning model as solution of problems in learning history. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 5(4), 175. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v5i4.240
Halpern, D. F. 2013. Thought and knowledge: An introduction to critical thinking. Psychology Press
Hastiari, Destria. (2020). Assessing student’s critical thinking in essay writing (Unpublished magister dissertation). State Institute for Islamic Studies IAN. Bengkulu
Javed, M., Juan, W. X., & Nazli, S. (2013). A study of students’ assessment in writing skills. International Journal of Instruction, 6(2), 129–144. Retrieved from www.e-iji.net
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (1979). Conflict in the classroom: Controversy and learning. Review of Educational Research, 49(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.2307/1169926
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2007) Creative controversy: Intellectual challenge in the classroom (4th ed). Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company
Johnston, I. (2000). Essays and Arguments: A handbook for writing argumentative and interpretative essays. Retrieved from http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/arguments/argument1.htm
Kadwa, M. S., & Alshenqeeti, H. (2020). The impact of students’ proficiency in english on science courses in a foundation year program. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation (IJLLT), 3(11), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijllt
Klimova, B. F. (2012). The importance of writing. Paripex - Indian Journal Of Research, 2(1), 9–11. https://doi.org/10.15373/22501991/jan2013/4
Komara, C., & Sriyanto, W. (2018). The effectiveness of applying constructive controversy method in gaining student’s critical thinking for writing argumentative essay. Getsempena English Education Journal (GEEJ), 5(2), 177–186. https://doi.org/10.46244/geej.v5i2.857
Liaw, M. L. (2007). Content-based reading and writing for critical thinking skills in an EFL. Journal Studies in English Language and Education, 6(1), 45-87. Retrieved from http://candle.ntcu.edu.tw/profile/vita e/20070827185727.pdf
Nunan, D., Terrell, T. D., & Brown, H. D. 2003. Practical English Language Learning. In Language (Vol. 57, Issue 3). Singapore: McGraw Hill
Paul, R. 1990. Critical Thinking: What Every Person Needs to Survive in A Rapidly Changing World. California: Sonomo State University
Peter. A. Facione. 1990. Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction. Millbrae: The California Academic Press
Qin, J., & Liu, Y. (2021). The influence of reading texts on L2 reading to write argumentative writing. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(March), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.655601
Iftanti, Erna. (2016). Improving students’ writing skills through writing journal articles. Lingua Scientia. https://doi.org/10.21274/ls.2016.8.1.1-14
Setyowati, R. N., Sari, M. M. K., & Habibah, S. M. (2020). Improving critical thinking skills of students through the development of teaching materials. June 2019. https://doi.org/10.2991/icss-18.2018.50
Sharadgah, T., A. Sa’di, R., & H. Ahmad, H. (2019). Promoting and assessing EFL college students’ critical thinking skills through argumentative essay writing. Arab World English Journal, 10(4), 133–150. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol10no4.11
Srinawati, W., & Alwi, R. (2020). Critical thinking ability in EFL students’ argumentative essay writing: The difficulties and the strategies. Jurnal Serambi Ilmu, 21(2), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.32672/si.v21i2.2194
Sugiyono. 2015. Metode Penelitian Pendidikan (Pendekatan Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D). Penerbit CV. Alfabeta: Bandung
Vacca, R. T., & Vacca, J. A. L. (2008). Content area reading: Literacy and learning across the curriculum. Learning, July. Retrieved from https://www.pearson.com
Wahid, A., & Marni, S. (2018). Content area literacy strategy for argumentative writing learning in higher education. ISCE: Journal of Innovative Studies on Character …, 2(2), 234–246. http://www.iscjournal.com/index.php/isce/article/download/36/31
Zhu, W. (2001). Performing argumentative writing in english: Difficulties, processes, and strategies. TESL Canada Journal, 19(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.18806/tesl.v19i1.918
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12928/iucee2022.v1i1,%20March.8926
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.