Written Communication Oct 2001

Assessing Critical Thinking in the Writing of Japanese University Students: Insights about Assumptions and Content Familiarity

PAUL STAPLETON

Abstract

L2 writing scholars have recently debated the appropriateness of using cultural constructs to enhance the teaching of English. An important aspect of writing, critical thinking, has received considerable attention. Some have suggested that Asians, including Japanese, do not display critical thought in their writing in English. Other researchers claim that Asians display critical thinking abilities differently than Western learners. In addition, they argue that learners from a particular culture are too diverse to make claims about the whole group's thinking abilities. This study proposes a model for assessing critical thinking in the writing of L2 learners to determine whether content familiarity plays a role in critical thinking. Findings of a study of 45 Japanese undergraduate students indicate that the quality of critical thought depended on the topic content, with a familiar topic generating better critical thinking. Results also suggested that differing assumptions between the L1 and L2 culture may lead to misinterpretations of the critical thinking ability of L2 learners.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2001-10-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088301018004004
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
graduate education teacher development argument multilingual writers
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Arias-Hermoso et al. (2024)
    A comparison between input modalities and languages in source-based multilingua…
    Assessing Writing
  2. Raign (2023)
    Decentering the History of the Writing Center: A Case for the Mesopotamian Edub…
    College Composition and Communication
  3. Liu et al. (2018)
    Connecting writing assessment with critical thinking: An exploratory study of a…
    Assessing Writing
  4. Abdollahzadeh et al. (2017)
    Argumentative Writing Behavior of Graduate EFL Learners
    Argumentation

References (63) · 3 in this index

  1. 10.2307/3587975
     ↗
  2. Browne, M. N.
    Asking the right questions
  3. 10.2307/3586498
     ↗
  4. 10.2307/3588005
     ↗
  5. Clancy, P. M.
    Language socialization across cultures
Show all 63 →
  1. CRAMMOND (1998)
    The Uses and Complexity of Argument Structures in Expert and Student Persuasive…
    Written Communication
  2. 10.2307/3587906
     ↗
  3. Davidson, B. W. (1997)
    JALT Journal
  4. Dewey, J.
    How we think
  5. 10.1016/S1060-3743(99)80120-9
     ↗
  6. 10.5840/teachphil19982113
     ↗
  7. Ennis, R.
    The Ennis-Weir critical thinking essay test
  8. Executive Summary
    Ending California's water crisis: A market solution to the politics of water
  9. Fox, H.
    Listening to the world: Cultural issues in academic writing
  10. Franklin, A. J.
    Thinking and learning skills: Vol. 2. Research and open questions
  11. French, J. N.
    Teaching thinking skills: Theory and practice
  12. 10.1037/0003-066X.39.2.93
     ↗
  13. 10.5840/inquiryctnews199515222
     ↗
  14. Heath, S. B.
    Handbook of reading research
  15. Hendry, J.
    Understanding Japanese society
  16. Japan almanac 2000
  17. Johnson, C.
    Japan: Who governs? The rise of the developmental state
  18. 10.1111/j.1467-1770.1966.tb00804.x
     ↗
  19. Kennedy, M.
    Educational values and cognitive instruction: Implications for reform
  20. Kettle, M. (2000)
    Guardian Weekly
  21. 10.2307/3588189
     ↗
  22. Landes, D. S.
    The wealth and poverty of nations
  23. Leki, I.
    Academic writing: Exploring processes and strategies
  24. Li, X.
    “Good writing” in cross-cultural context
  25. Lipman, M.
    Thinking in education
     ↗
  26. Mallaby, S.
    The Economist
  27. 10.1037/h0054346
     ↗
  28. 10.17763/haer.66.3.n47r06u264944865
     ↗
  29. McPeck, J. E.
    Teaching critical thinking
  30. 10.2307/3588003
     ↗
  31. Nickerson, R. S.
    Dimensions of thinking and cognitive instruction
  32. Norris, S.
    Evaluating critical thinking
  33. 10.1016/S1060-3743(97)90007-2
     ↗
  34. Ramage, J.
    Writing arguments
  35. 10.1016/S1060-3743(99)80112-X
     ↗
  36. 10.1016/S1060-3743(96)90013-2
     ↗
  37. Ramanathan, V. (1996)
    10.5070/L472005242
    Issues in Applied Linguistics  ↗
  38. Reischauer, E. O.
    The Japanese today
  39. Resnick, L.
    Education and learning to think
  40. Rumelhart, D. E.
    Understanding understanding
  41. Said, E. W.
    Orientalism
  42. Scollon, R.
    Narrative, literacy, and face in interethnic communication
  43. Shen (1989)
    The Classroom and the Wider Culture: Identity as a Key to Learning English Comp…
    College Composition and Communication
  44. Siegel, H.
    Teaching critical thinking
  45. Siegel, H.
    Rationality redeemed
     ↗
  46. Simmons, W.
    Thinking and learning skills: Vol. 2. Research and open questions
  47. Sokal, A.
    Fashionable nonsense: Postmodern intellectuals' abuse of science
  48. 10.2307/3587886
     ↗
  49. SPACK (1997)
    The Acquisition of Academic Literacy in a Second Language: A Longitudinal Case Study
    Written Communication
  50. 10.2307/3587759
     ↗
  51. Stapleton, P.
    ELT Journal
  52. Sternglass, M.
    annual meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication
  53. Sugimoto, Y.
    An introduction to Japanese society
  54. Toulmin, S. E.
    The uses of argument
     ↗
  55. Van Wolferen, K.
    The enigma of Japanese power
  56. Wilson, E. O.
    Consilience
  57. Yanabu, A.
    Honyakugo seiritsu jijou [How foreign words came to be translated]
  58. 10.2307/3588050
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 79 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Pedagogy Oct 2024
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy basic writing writing across the curriculum graduate education two-year college service learning teacher development revision argument collaborative writing assessment writing program administration multimodality multilingual writers literacy studies race and writing disability studies community literacy editorial matter
  2. Pedagogy Oct 2021
    When the Writing Classroom Is a Lab for Democracy ↗
    Moira A. Connelly
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy graduate education teacher development revision argument collaborative writing writing centers peer tutoring digital rhetoric multimodality multilingual writers race and writing gender and writing editorial matter
  3. Advances in the History of Rhetoric Sep 2019
    The Oxford Handbook of Rhetorical Studies ↗
    Glen McClish
    classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism feminist rhetorics decolonial rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy graduate education teacher development argument multilingual writers gender and writing disability studies editorial matter
  4. Pedagogy Jan 2013
    Teaching Literature Like a Foreign Language; Or, What I Learned When I Switched Departments ↗
    Catherine Mainland
    graduate education teacher development argument multilingual writers
  5. Journal of Academic Writing Sep 2011
    Reviewing Critical Reviews in Postgraduate Teaching in Tertiary Institutions ↗
    Rajeswary Appacutty Sargunan; Mohana Nambiar
    graduate education teacher development argument empirical research multilingual writers book reviews