The Effect of Teaching Critical Thinking on Iranian EFL Learners Essay Writing

Fatemeh Miri¹

1) Young Researchers and Elite club, Qeshm Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran

Publication : 2nd International Conference on Behavioral Science and Social Studies(2ibsconf.com)
Abstract :
Abstract: The present study has made an attempt to determine the effect of teaching critical thinking skills on Iranian EFL learners essay writing ability. To do this, a sample of 60 EFL learners was selected based on their performance on Preliminary English Test (PET). The participants were randomly assigned to two equal groups of control and experimental. An essay-writing test functioning as pre-test was administered on both groups in order to ensure their homogeneity in terms of writing ability. The groups received 10 sessions of writing instruction; however, experimental group received additional instruction and practice regarding the techniques of critical thinking. Finally, both groups took an essay writing posttest in order to compare their writing achievements. Both pretest and posttest were scored by two raters using TOEFL rating scales. The results of paired and independent sample t-tests showed that critical thinking techniques significantly enhanced EFL learners writing ability. Key words: critical thinking, writing ability, essay writing
Keywords : critical thinking writing ability essay writing