S ING 1201025 Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to investigate students’ critical thinking in writing an
English exposition text. In particular, the purpose of this study was to find out elements
of critical thinking demonstrated by students in their writing an English exposition text.
Further, it was intended to find out students’ opinions about critical thinking reflected in
their essays.
This study employed a qualitative research design, particularly a case study. To
obtain the data, students’ texts and interviews were used. The Third Year Students of
English Department in private university in Ciamis were chosen as participants. They
were 6 students of low, middle, and high achievers who were selected purposively. The
data of students’ texts were analyzed by using the theory of critical thinking movement
proposed by Reichenbach (2001), Ennis (1996), and Chaffee et al (2002). These were
very valuable to assess students’ critical thinking. Moreover, interview data were
transcribed, categorized and coded into central themes, condensed, and interpreted into
a description form. This was aimed to provide a description of students’ points of view
about the concept of critical thinking in writing an English exposition text.
The data from student’s texts show strengths and weaknesses. In term of
strengths, students’ texts reflected all aspects of critical thinking in exposition text
focused in this study including elements of critical thinking, critical thinking standards,
and critical thinking dispositions. However, students’ texts were weakened by the
frequent use of fallacies which resulted in illogical reasoning, such as equivocation and
amphiboly, the most common fallacy made by students in this study. It suggested that
students still need guidance in expressing effective and sound arguments. Moreover, the
result of students’ interviews indicated that students still lack critical thinking
knowledge. In order to have an adequate comprehensive knowledge of critical thinking
in writing, in particular, they suggested critical thinking and written composition as
separate, stand-alone courses or combining them, the two should be taught and
combined into an integrated activity. It was recommended that the next research offer
the various methodologies, especially, how to teach critical thinking and the technique
of critical thinking assessment in order to provide the more enlightening critical
thinking horizon.
Key words: Critical Thinking, Writing, English Exposition Text.
Dedeh Rohayati, 2014
Students’ critical thinking in writing An english exposition text (a case study in a private
university in ciamis)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu |perpustakaan.upi.edu
ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji berpikir kritis (critical thinking)
mahasiswa dalam tulisan eksposisi berbahasa Inggris,, terutama untuk mengetahui
unsur-unsur berpikir kritisnya. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk
mengetahui pendapat mereka mengenai berpikir kritis dalam tulisan eksposisi berbahasa
Inggris tersebut.
Penelitian ini menggunakan desain kualitatif khususnya metode studi kasus
(case study) sehinngga untuk memperoleh data menggunakan analisis dokumen dan
wawancara. Penelitian ini melibatkan enam orang mahasiswa tingkat tiga dari program
studi Bahasa Inggris di sebuah universitas swasta di Ciamis yang dipilih secara sengaja
(purposive). Mereka mewakili kemampuan mahasiswa yang tergolong low achiever,
mid achiever, dan high achiever, masing- masing dua orang. Kemudian, dokumen
dianalisa menggunakan teori berpikir kritis (Reichenbach, 2001; Ennis, 1996; and
Chaffee et al, 2002). Ketiga teori tersebut digunakan untuk menilai berpikir kritis
mahasiswa. Sedangkan data dari hasil interview kemudian dibuat transkrip,
dikategorikan, dan dikodekan berdasarkan tema utamanya, diringkas, diterjemahkan,
dan dituangkan dalam bentuk deskripsi. Hasil data interview ini bertujuan untuk
mengetahui pendapat mahasiswa mengenai berpikir kritis dalam tulisan eksposisi
berbahasa Inggris.
Data dari dokumen mahasiswa menunjukan kekuatan dan kelemahan. Dari segi
kekuatannya, dokumen tersebut menunjukan semua aspek berpikir kritis mahasiswa
dalam tulisan eksposisi yang difokuskan dalam kajian ini, termasuk unsur-unsur
berpikir kritis (elements of critical thinking), standar berpikir kritis (critical thinking
standards), dan watak berpikir kritisnya (critical thinking disposition). Namun
demikian, dokumen tersebut memiliki kelemahan dengan adanya fallacy yang sering
muncul, diantaranya, equivocation dan amphiboly. yang mengakibatkan argument tidak
berterima. Hal ini menunjukan bahwa mahasiswa masih perlu bimbingan untuk
mengungkapkan argument yang efektif dan berterima. Dari hasil wawancara terungkap
bahwa pengetahuan mengenai berpikir kritis mahasiswa masih kurang, sehingga untuk
memiliki pengetahuan berpikir kritis yang memadai, khususnya dalam kegiatan
menulis, mahasiswa mengharapkan pengajaran berpikir kritis dan menulis secara
terintegrasi, ataupun terpisah. Diaharapkan penelitian selanjutnya dapat memberikan
Dedeh Rohayati, 2014
Students’ critical thinking in writing An english exposition text (a case study in a private
university in ciamis)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu |perpustakaan.upi.edu
berbagai metodologi, khususnya metode pengajaran dan penilaian berpikir kritis.dalam
rangka memperluas cakrawala keilmuan berpikir kritis yang telah ada.
Kata Kunci: Berpikir kritis, Menulis, Teks Eksposisi Berbahasa Inggris.
Dedeh Rohayati, 2014
Students’ critical thinking in writing An english exposition text (a case study in a private
university in ciamis)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu |perpustakaan.upi.edu
This study was aimed to investigate students’ critical thinking in writing an
English exposition text. In particular, the purpose of this study was to find out elements
of critical thinking demonstrated by students in their writing an English exposition text.
Further, it was intended to find out students’ opinions about critical thinking reflected in
their essays.
This study employed a qualitative research design, particularly a case study. To
obtain the data, students’ texts and interviews were used. The Third Year Students of
English Department in private university in Ciamis were chosen as participants. They
were 6 students of low, middle, and high achievers who were selected purposively. The
data of students’ texts were analyzed by using the theory of critical thinking movement
proposed by Reichenbach (2001), Ennis (1996), and Chaffee et al (2002). These were
very valuable to assess students’ critical thinking. Moreover, interview data were
transcribed, categorized and coded into central themes, condensed, and interpreted into
a description form. This was aimed to provide a description of students’ points of view
about the concept of critical thinking in writing an English exposition text.
The data from student’s texts show strengths and weaknesses. In term of
strengths, students’ texts reflected all aspects of critical thinking in exposition text
focused in this study including elements of critical thinking, critical thinking standards,
and critical thinking dispositions. However, students’ texts were weakened by the
frequent use of fallacies which resulted in illogical reasoning, such as equivocation and
amphiboly, the most common fallacy made by students in this study. It suggested that
students still need guidance in expressing effective and sound arguments. Moreover, the
result of students’ interviews indicated that students still lack critical thinking
knowledge. In order to have an adequate comprehensive knowledge of critical thinking
in writing, in particular, they suggested critical thinking and written composition as
separate, stand-alone courses or combining them, the two should be taught and
combined into an integrated activity. It was recommended that the next research offer
the various methodologies, especially, how to teach critical thinking and the technique
of critical thinking assessment in order to provide the more enlightening critical
thinking horizon.
Key words: Critical Thinking, Writing, English Exposition Text.
Dedeh Rohayati, 2014
Students’ critical thinking in writing An english exposition text (a case study in a private
university in ciamis)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu |perpustakaan.upi.edu
ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji berpikir kritis (critical thinking)
mahasiswa dalam tulisan eksposisi berbahasa Inggris,, terutama untuk mengetahui
unsur-unsur berpikir kritisnya. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk
mengetahui pendapat mereka mengenai berpikir kritis dalam tulisan eksposisi berbahasa
Inggris tersebut.
Penelitian ini menggunakan desain kualitatif khususnya metode studi kasus
(case study) sehinngga untuk memperoleh data menggunakan analisis dokumen dan
wawancara. Penelitian ini melibatkan enam orang mahasiswa tingkat tiga dari program
studi Bahasa Inggris di sebuah universitas swasta di Ciamis yang dipilih secara sengaja
(purposive). Mereka mewakili kemampuan mahasiswa yang tergolong low achiever,
mid achiever, dan high achiever, masing- masing dua orang. Kemudian, dokumen
dianalisa menggunakan teori berpikir kritis (Reichenbach, 2001; Ennis, 1996; and
Chaffee et al, 2002). Ketiga teori tersebut digunakan untuk menilai berpikir kritis
mahasiswa. Sedangkan data dari hasil interview kemudian dibuat transkrip,
dikategorikan, dan dikodekan berdasarkan tema utamanya, diringkas, diterjemahkan,
dan dituangkan dalam bentuk deskripsi. Hasil data interview ini bertujuan untuk
mengetahui pendapat mahasiswa mengenai berpikir kritis dalam tulisan eksposisi
berbahasa Inggris.
Data dari dokumen mahasiswa menunjukan kekuatan dan kelemahan. Dari segi
kekuatannya, dokumen tersebut menunjukan semua aspek berpikir kritis mahasiswa
dalam tulisan eksposisi yang difokuskan dalam kajian ini, termasuk unsur-unsur
berpikir kritis (elements of critical thinking), standar berpikir kritis (critical thinking
standards), dan watak berpikir kritisnya (critical thinking disposition). Namun
demikian, dokumen tersebut memiliki kelemahan dengan adanya fallacy yang sering
muncul, diantaranya, equivocation dan amphiboly. yang mengakibatkan argument tidak
berterima. Hal ini menunjukan bahwa mahasiswa masih perlu bimbingan untuk
mengungkapkan argument yang efektif dan berterima. Dari hasil wawancara terungkap
bahwa pengetahuan mengenai berpikir kritis mahasiswa masih kurang, sehingga untuk
memiliki pengetahuan berpikir kritis yang memadai, khususnya dalam kegiatan
menulis, mahasiswa mengharapkan pengajaran berpikir kritis dan menulis secara
terintegrasi, ataupun terpisah. Diaharapkan penelitian selanjutnya dapat memberikan
Dedeh Rohayati, 2014
Students’ critical thinking in writing An english exposition text (a case study in a private
university in ciamis)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu |perpustakaan.upi.edu
berbagai metodologi, khususnya metode pengajaran dan penilaian berpikir kritis.dalam
rangka memperluas cakrawala keilmuan berpikir kritis yang telah ada.
Kata Kunci: Berpikir kritis, Menulis, Teks Eksposisi Berbahasa Inggris.
Dedeh Rohayati, 2014
Students’ critical thinking in writing An english exposition text (a case study in a private
university in ciamis)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu |perpustakaan.upi.edu