Critical Thinking Ability in EFL Students' Argumentative Essay Writing: The Difficulties and The Strategies

Abstract

The aim of research is to explore the effect, if any, of integrating critical thinking on learners’ use of critical thinking skills in argumentative writing. The research used quasi-experimental desaign, it is include control group and experimental group. The data which has been quantitatively analyzed indicates that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group. The students’ ability to use more credible evidence, address alternative arguments, support conclusions, and maintain the logical flow of ideas in their essays did not reach a mastery level in the posttest, yet the average level they reached is reassuring in view of the short time of the training they had. The integration of critical thinking for longer periods may bring forth encouraging outcomes. Argumentative writing constitutes an important part of second-language learners' academic writing. Data analysis indicated that most participants perceived the rhetorical aspects of English argumentative writing as difficult. Data analysis also indicated that participants mainly used cognitive, social, and search strategies, whereas metacognitive strategies were used infrequently. Potential implications of the study for second-language writing instruction are discussed

Malaysian ESL Students’ Perception of the Importance Learning Argumentative Writing and Challenges Faced

“…Future studies may also look into which elements students lack or have difficulties with and how educators can employ suitable teaching methods to help students address those issues. Furthermore, future replications can confirm findings by Srinawati and Alwi (2020) that learning argumentative writing skills could help learners improve and enhance their critical thinking. These suggestions could help both students and educators understand each other's struggles in teaching and learning argumentative writing.…”

The Analysis of University Student’s Critical Thinking in Writing Argumentative Essays in the English Department of UNESA

“…The researcher used a scoring rubric adopted from (Srinawati & Alwi, 2020) who rate this argumentative writing from 5 points, introduction, body, conclusion, grammar and structure, and mechanics. Introduction must catch the reader's attention at the beginning.…”

Conceptualisation of Critical Literacy and Argumentative Writing as an Essential Tool for the Development of Dialectic Reasoning among Students

“…The study showed that undergraduate English majors in China did not possess strong critical thinking skills and therefore advocated the integration of critical thinking into EFL writing instruction. Srinawati and Alwi (2020) worked on critical thinking ability in EFL students' argumentative essay writing. Their study found out that students who were not exposed to critical thinking instruction performed less than their mates who benefited from critical thinking instruction.…”