What is it about?
How to train your students' critical thinking skills? Our exercise builds on the assumption that writing is thinking. The six sentence argument (6SA) method focuses on enhancing critical thinking skills through structured writing and guided peer-review and involves several feedback loops.
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Why is it important?
For instructors, the exercise's key strength is that it can be administered online and is scalable for large courses with little additional workload. Training critical thinking can be integrated into existing courses to let students systematically reflect on lecture content or have them prepare for case study discussions. Students learn to formulate their position with clarity to convince a critical audience, and they learn to assess arguments and give constructive feedback as critical readers.
Perspectives
Our method introduces framework for crafting an argument in only six sentences. This is an example: #1 Critical Thinking Skills are of increasing relevance for today's students who need training instructions and coaching to develop these skills. [Introduction] #2 With the 6SA method, we train students in case analysis, clear reasoning and writing, giving constructive feedback, and guided reflections. [Position] #3 The method applies "writing is thinking" and lets students gain experience as writers to become expert reviewers for their peers. [Reason] #4 Sceptics may question the training effect since drafting 6 sentences with max. 20 words each simply emphasizes style over content. [Challenge] #5 However, the formalized style requires students to clarify their reasoning and lets critical readers assess the quality of an argument. [Rebuttal] #6 The 6SA method allows students to refine their critical thinking and find more resonance with course contents through peer assessments. [Conclusion]
Dr Erik Jentges
ETH Zurich
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Six-Sentence Argument: Training Critical Thinking Skills Using Peer Review, Management Teaching Review, November 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/2379298117739856.
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