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Using fiction in class to promote critical thinking skills on the example of The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

Publication date: 16.02.2018

Glottodidactic Journal, 2017, Issue 7 (2017), pp. 22 - 34

Authors

Dorota Lubińska-Pyla
Jagiellonian Language Centre
, Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6878-2729 Orcid
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Titles

Using fiction in class to promote critical thinking skills on the example of The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

Abstract

Critical thinking is a fundamental component of academic life in today’s world. In this article I discuss the possibility of practicing and strengthening university students’ critical thinking skills by means of a novel, The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing, in the course of an ELT class. Drawing from experience, I show how this particular novel, due to its problematic, yet universal, subject matter as well as the author’s enigmatic presentation of the said, becomes a useful resource for this purpose. It confronts the reader with perplexing questions and dilemmas without off ering defi nite answers. I offer a lesson plan in order to help the teacher to involve and guide students throughout this fascinating novel, one which never leaves anyone indiff erent.

References

Elder, L. (2007). A Brief Conceptualization of Critical Thinking. Retrieved December 23, 2016 from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defi ning-critical-thinking/410/.

Lessing, D. (1989). The Fifth Child. New York: Vintage International.

Nicholas, M.C. (2011). Faculty Conceptualizations and Approaches to Assessing Critical Thinking in the Humanities and Natural Sciences – A Grounded Theory Study. (Doctoral Dissertation). ERIC database.

Vdovina, E. (2013). Developing Critical Thinking in the English Language Classroom: A Lesson Plan. Retrieved January 10, 2017 from http://eltajournal.org.rs/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/VII-Developing-Critical-Thinking-in-the-English-Language-classroom.pdf

Information

Information: Glottodidactic Journal, 2017, Issue 7 (2017), pp. 22 - 34

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

Using fiction in class to promote critical thinking skills on the example of The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

English:

Using fiction in class to promote critical thinking skills on the example of The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

Authors

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6878-2729

Dorota Lubińska-Pyla
Jagiellonian Language Centre
, Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6878-2729 Orcid
All publications →

Jagiellonian Language Centre
Poland

Published at: 16.02.2018

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Dorota Lubińska-Pyla (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English

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Number of downloads: 1172