Christopher Melvin Rodriguez

Instructor Connie Douglas

ENG 112-01

26 April 2017

Persuading Better Critical Thinking

I would like to start this off with a question. What is critical thinking, critical thinking is the

objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. Now why should you

care about what critical thinking is why does it matter to you what it is and what it does. The

reason is that as students we are supposed to be learning how to use critical thinking in our lives.

Now I know this might sound confusing but here is a better explanation of why this is a very

important introduction.

When we are in school we are supposed to display our knowledge and skills on

standardized tests which is one form of critical thinking but is that a really fair way to emphasize

critical thinking I dont think so. Some reasons why that it is not a fair representation of a

students knowledge is that one some students tend to crack under pressure and have test anxiety

and two that this method of critical thinking is just one method why do we not see more during

the school year if we are supposed to show an understanding of critical thinking in schools
 Now that I have given you my view I am here to persuade you the school system to look

and some other methods that I have researched that puts a better understanding of what critical

thinking is and how to use it in a better form of emphasizing the importance of it in schools

today.

One of the first methods that I would like to talk to you about and convince you the school

system to take in consideration on applying it to other school systems is Peer-Led Team Learning

which is explained by Gregory J. Crouch, C. J. Brahler and Ian Quitadamo. This method of

critical thinking objective is to analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

Now let me go into more detail on what this method entails. This method was created to improve

better critical thinking why should you care? Well here is some evidence this new method has

increased percentage grades like A, B and C grades significantly and has helped the drop out of

this class decrease as well not only that this method also focuses on more collaboration rather

than memorization like the students would find different ways to solve the problem and the team

leader would ask questions to stimulate more thinking.

Here are some other facts on this method this method has improved a lot like in science

up 7 percentiles but in some cases this method did not work as well as the people doing the study

wanted to in a math course it did show at least a 11% growth in the class. But for the ones that

did use this method it students that used this method developed a better understanding of critical

thinking but for the others that did not use this method had a harder time understanding it. If that

did not convince you that critical thinking methods need to be assessed or reevaluated dont

worry I got a lot more of information on why it should.

 Here are other methods that can help assess the problem of emphasize on critical thinking

explained by Linda Ziolkowski, Sandra Truesdell and Marilyn Oermann. One is method is called

the context-dependent test which evaluates critical thinking and may be used in orientation, in

competency testing and this study was conducted in a nursing class. This method challenged the

students by giving them everyday problems and critical thinking enables them to consider

multiple possibilities to solve those problems in clinical situations not only that there are also

other exercises like problem-solving strategies, case studies, discussions with Socratic

questioning, debates, and media dips are some of the exercises to show critical thinking and they

show discussion with the staff and development of skills needed for problem solving. If this has

not persuaded you to change the critical thinking system maybe the perception of teachers and

will.

In a study by Khaled Alazzi this article explains the view of what critical thinking is in

this certain school system in Jordanian Schools in 2004 that two thirds of middle and high school

students claim that they were not taught critical thinking skills in these social study classes.

Thats a little concerning in my opinion dont you think? Also In the article, most teachers were

interviewed said that they did teach critical thinking methods but in reality, they focused more on

the textbooks which gave little time to teach critical thinking so the solution to this is to revise

them to show different methods and skills to emphasize better critical thinking in classrooms.
 In conclusion, the methods of critical thinking need to be revised. I have showed you

different methods and how teachers see critical thinking and how they are not being taught and

should be revised. If you take anything out of this essay this is what you should know. Testing is

should not be the only source of critical thinking and other methods should be implemented into

the class to show students learning critical thinking with more emphasize and skills in the school

system. If I have not persuaded you than I have not done my job.
 Works Cited

Alazzi, Khaled F. "Teachers' Perceptions of Critical Thinking: A Study of Jordanian Secondary

School Social Studies Teachers." The Social Studies, vol. 99, no. 6, 2008, pp. 243-248 Education

Database, http://ezproxy.cpcc.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/274617617?

accountid=10008.

Oermann, Marilyn, PhD,R.N., F.A.A.N., Truesdell, Sandra, MSN,R.N., C.S.,

and , Ziolkowski Linda, BSN,R.N., C.P.A.N. "Strategy to Assess, Develop, and Evaluate Critical

Thinking." The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, vol. 31, no. 4, 2000, pp. 155-60;

quiz 190-1 Education Database, http://ezproxy.cpcc.edu/login?

url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/223335910?accountid=10008.

Quitadamo, Ian J., C. J. Brahler, and Gregory J. Crouch. "Peer-Led Team Learning: A

Prospective Method for Increasing Critical Thinking in Undergraduate Science

Courses." Science Educator, vol. 18, no. 1, 2009, pp. 29-39 Education

Database, http://ezproxy.cpcc.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/228783607?

accountid=10008.