32 of the text presented. On the other hand, Clanchy and Ballard 1991 support
Gorrell’s ideas that one needs to create notes on the ideas to be able to write a summary of the text by identifying its aims and main ideas. Clanchy and Ballard
1991 also propose that in order to write critically, one needs to analyze the text. The analyzing point needs to be produced by analyzing the key content of the
variables in the text. From the points presented by experts above, there are some points building
the nature of critical writing. The first is the summary of main ideas and issues. The second is the response to the main ideas or issues by analyzing the content or
variables and writing critically by reading critically the text. The third is in addition to the point of critical reading as the base of this critical writing, Fisher
2001 state that an evaluation is a way to find out whether the ideas presented is worthy or not or right or wrong.
2.1.3.2.4 Principles of Teaching Critical Writing
Based on the nature presented by some experts, there are some principles underlying how to teach critical writing. According to Gorrell n.d., the principles
are: 1.
Post reading After reading a text, Gorrell n.d. believe that the first mission to be
accomplished is summary on the ideas presented. It can be developed by asking some questions:
a. What are the main points, ideas or arguments of the text?
33 b.
How is the text organized? c.
What evidence or support does the author gives? d.
What is the primary purpose of the text? This principle is supported by Clanchy and Ballard 1991. They state
that after reading the text, one might create the mind map of the ideas presented then use the mind map and other notes from the analysis of the text
to make a summary of the text. 2.
Critical Thinking After being able to create the summary of the text, one should be able
to think critically on what is presented by the author as a whole. This stage requires the analysis on the text presented. According to Gorrell n.d.,
analysis towards the text is including the ability to produce the interpretation of the text and evaluation of the text. The ability to evaluate and interpret
the text can be developed by trying to answers some of these questions: a.
Does the work achieve its purpose? Fully or only partially? b.
Was the purpose worthwhile to begin with? Or was it too limited, trivial, broad, theoretical, etc.?
c. Is any of the evidence weak or insufficient? In what way? Conversely,
is the evidencesupport particularly effective or strong? d.
Can I supply further explanation to clarify or support any of the main points, ideas, and arguments?
e. Are there sections you don’t understand? Why?
34 f.
Was there any area where the author offered too much or too little information?
g. Is the organization of the work an important factor? Does its
organization help me understand it; hinder my understanding, or neither?
h. Is anything about the language or style noteworthy?
Critical thinking as seen through the analysis of the text is a way to develop critical thinking towards the issue or the subject matter. This idea is
supported by Fisher 2001 who states that an evaluation is a skillful activity which requires intellectual standards such as clarity, relevance, adequacy,
coherence, and so on. Then, the results are on the decision whether to accept or to believe what is stated on the text.
3. Critical Writing
According to Gorrell n.d., critical writing does not require the length of the essay that you are going to write nor the breadth. In critical writing
there are several basic elements that need to be considered; introduction, body, summary, analysis and evaluation to the evidence, response,
conclusion, and documentation. In implementing the principles of critical writing in a class, Gorrell
n.d. stated that there is no strict guideline on it. One may vary it by writing all the summary paragraphs first, and followed by analysis portion; alternate
between summary and analysis paragraphs so that each paragraph of a summary is followed by a critique of the summarized information; or
35 combining a summary and critique of each idea within each paragraph of the
body.
2.1.3.3 CRW in ELESP
