Dr. Jia LiUOIT, Faculty of Education

Jingfeng HanXinzhou Teachers University, visiting Researcher

2015 Education SymposiumJanuary 16, 2015

Critical thinking Criteria in EFL Writing Assessment among Chinese University Students

Outlines

• Research Background

• Literature Survey at CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure)

• Categorizations of the articles reviewed

• Results

• Conclusion

Research Background

Definition of Critical Thinking Skills (CTS)

We understand critical thinking to be purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which that judgment is based. (Facione, 1990, p.2)

Three major CTS tests used

• CCTST (California Critical Thinking Skills Test) Interpretation, Analysis, Evaluation, Inference, Explanation, Self-

Regulation • CCTDI (California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory ) Truthseeking, Open-mindedness,   Analyticity,  Systematicity, Confidence in Reasoning, Inquisitiveness and Maturity of

Judgment

• Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, (WGCTA) Watson & Glaser, 1980) 。

Inference, Recognition of assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation and Evaluation of arguments

The Necessity to train CTS

• Zhang (1995): the scarce of content in composition

• Qian (1996): interrelation between language and thinking

• Huang (1998, 2010): reasons of CTS lacking in English education in China.

Hierarchy theory of CTS

Wen Qiufang (2009)

Meta-CTS (self-regulation)

CTS

Cognitive Affective

Analysis

Inference

Evaluation

Clarification

Relevance

Logic

Depth and width

flexibility

Curiosity

Open-mindedness

Self-confidence

Integrity

firmness

Skills Criteria

CTS involvement in writing

• Theme• Topic• Argumentation• Conclusion• Structures • …

Requirements in Large-Scale tests

• TOEFL, IELTS, • CET 4 &6, TEM 4 &8, PETS 5 • Postgraduate English Test

Literature Survey in CNKI

Key words involved

CTS (various term translations in Chinese)

English, foreign, or second language and writing

English majors, TEM 4&8 CET 4& 6.

Empirical studies in writing

Articles Found

Results1. Theoretical CTS introduction2. CTS teaching strategies in English writing CTS explanation and practice Data collection by students Peer assessment Online writing assessment software Rating criteria perfection3. Empirical studies in English writing Rating articles by criteria in CTS Questionnaires and interview Action research in CTS teaching of writing

13 Empirical-study articles

1. Statistical analyzing the CTS in students’ compositions

a. Self-designing the rating criteria and scale

b. Applying analytical rating scale abroad

2. Directly applying the CTS test and questionnaires overseas

CCTST, CCTDI, WGCTA, Stapleton’s Questionnaire (2002)

3. Action Research: CTS teaching practice

Rating CTS and counting the frequency of each criterion used

Further study

• CTS rating criteria

• How to improve students knowledge and to support their views with substantial evidence

• English language proficiency and CTS skills in writing

Using the overseas tests and questionnaires

Further study

• Teaches’ CTS instructional roles

• More SPSS analyses to illustrate CTS and writing competence

• Encouraging students to have more creative ideas and improving their inference and evaluation skills (Zhu, 2013, Yan, 2014)

Action Research — CTS writing teaching practice

Further Study

• More detailed practice in CTS teaching Teaching and syllabus designs, Assessment methods Teaching methods Students’ roles in teaching• Questionnaires and interviews• Ways of evaluating students’ improvement• Roles of Writing samples

Conclusion

• CTS rating criteria

• Follow-up CTS research

• CTS involvement in writing process

• Relationship between CTS and writing competence

• CTS teaching designs

Thank you!Jia.li@uoit.cahanjilleli@hotmail.com