1. Critical thinking Criteria in EFL Writing Assessment among Chinese University Students
Dr. Jia Li
UOIT, Faculty of Education
Jingfeng Han
Xinzhou Teachers University, visiting Researcher
2015 Education Symposium
January 16, 2015

2. Outlines Research Background
Literature Survey at CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure)
Categorizations of the articles reviewed
Results
Conclusion

3. Research Background Definition of Critical Thinking Skills (CTS)
We understand critical thinking to be purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which that judgment is based. (Facione, 1990, p.2)

4. Three major CTS tests used
CCTST (California Critical Thinking Skills Test)
Interpretation, Analysis, Evaluation, Inference, Explanation, Self-Regulation
CCTDI (California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory )
Truthseeking, Open-mindedness,   Analyticity, 
Systematicity, Confidence in Reasoning, Inquisitiveness and Maturity of Judgment
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, (WGCTA) Watson & Glaser, 1980)。
Inference, Recognition of assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation and Evaluation of arguments

5. The Necessity to train CTS
Zhang (1995): the scarce of content in composition
Qian (1996): interrelation between language and thinking
Huang (1998, 2010): reasons of CTS lacking in English education in China.

6. Hierarchy theory of CTS Wen Qiufang (2009)

7. Meta-CTS (self-regulation) CTS Cognitive Affective
Criteria
Skills
Clarification
Relevance
Logic
Depth and width
flexibility
Curiosity
Open-mindedness
Self-confidence
Integrity
firmness
Analysis
Inference
Evaluation

8. CTS involvement in writing
Theme
Topic
Argumentation
Conclusion
Structures …
Requirements in Large-Scale tests
TOEFL, IELTS,
CET 4 &6, TEM 4 &8, PETS 5
Postgraduate English Test

9. Literature Survey in CNKI
Key words involved
CTS (various term translations in Chinese)
English, foreign, or second language and writing
English majors, TEM 4&8 CET 4& 6.
Empirical studies in writing

10. Articles Found

11. Results 1. Theoretical CTS introduction
2. CTS teaching strategies in English writing
CTS explanation and practice
Data collection by students
Peer assessment
Online writing assessment software
Rating criteria perfection
3. Empirical studies in English writing
Rating articles by criteria in CTS
Questionnaires and interview
Action research in CTS teaching of writing

12. 13 Empirical-study articles
1. Statistical analyzing the CTS in students’ compositions
a. Self-designing the rating criteria and scale
b. Applying analytical rating scale abroad
2. Directly applying the CTS test and questionnaires overseas
CCTST, CCTDI, WGCTA, Stapleton’s Questionnaire (2002)
3. Action Research: CTS teaching practice

13. Rating CTS and counting the frequency of each criterion used

14. Further study CTS rating criteria
How to improve students knowledge and to support their views with substantial evidence
English language proficiency and CTS skills in writing

15. Using the overseas tests and questionnaires

16. Further study Teaches’ CTS instructional roles
More SPSS analyses to illustrate CTS and writing competence
Encouraging students to have more creative ideas and improving their inference and evaluation skills (Zhu, 2013, Yan, 2014)

17. Action Research — CTS writing teaching practice

18. Further Study More detailed practice in CTS teaching
Teaching and syllabus designs,
Assessment methods
Teaching methods
Students’ roles in teaching
Questionnaires and interviews
Ways of evaluating students’ improvement
Roles of Writing samples

19. Conclusion CTS rating criteria Follow-up CTS research
CTS involvement in writing process
Relationship between CTS and writing competence
CTS teaching designs

20. Thank you!