LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 17:1 January 2017
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Thinking How to Think:
The Role of Critical Thinking in Developing Coherence & Precision in Writing

Anand Prakash Pathak, M.Phil. & Radhika B Pasricha, Ph.D.

Abstract

Output of thinking is the projection of the thoughts it generates but thought is independent of language, though Language depends on thought.

On the basis of the hypothesis mentioned above, and on the basis of various existing maxims in this regard, this study aims at establishing the relationship and the role played by thinking in enhancement of writing skills, especially the role of critical thinking.

In order to study the impact of critical thinking activities on writing skills and vice versa, an activity was chosen which further was implemented amongst the students of B.Tech. (having almost same level of proficiency in English language & expression) as a task-based language learning activity in the Language Laboratory.

The findings were interesting and also established the inseparable relationship between critical thinking and writing; both acted as complementary entities in the enhancement of the other once implemented as a continuous activity.

Keywords: Thinking, Critical Thinking, Free Practice, Expression, Writing Skills, Task-based language learning activity.

Introduction

The meaning of a word does not lie in the word itself; rather its real meaning is there in our mind. We tend to derive the meaning of words through our own associations & past experiences. Therefore, meaning can’t exist independently rather it is created by the communicator.

as a discourse that the mind carries on with itself about any subject it is considering. … I have a notion that, when the mind is thinking, it is simply talking to itself, asking questions and answering them. … So I should describe thinking as a discourse, … not aloud to someone else, but silently to oneself. (Plato)

The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (3rd Edition) provides four different definitions of the word “Critical” (as adjective) out of which two fit into our purpose of describing the process of Critical Thinking. The first definition says: “of the greatest importance to the way things might happen” and the second defines it: “as giving opinions or judgments on books, plays, films, etc.” Combining these two definitions in order to understand the process of critical thinking we can infer from the above that critical thinking is a thinking process of the greatest importance which involves logic, judgment and reason in order to be more precise and specific in our understanding and expression. Critical thinking goes beyond accepting things complacently as they exist; it is about questioning and looking for evidences and for reasons before believing them to be true. Unlike thinking at times, critical thinking is an unbiased approach to develop or generate verifiable & reconstructive understanding based on skillful analysis and evaluation.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Anand Prakash Pathak, M.Phil. English
appathak@ddn.upes.ac.in


Radhika B Pasricha, Ph.D. English rbpasricha@ddn.upes.ac.in

University of Petroleum & Energy Studies
Dehradun
Uttarakhand
India
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