STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING IN WRITING ANALYTICAL EXPOSITION TEXT

Abstrak

The goal of this study is to find out how tenth-grade students show and use critical thinking when they write analytical exposition texts. Critical thinking is very important especially when it comes to making strong arguments and backing them up with proof. This study used a qualitative descriptive method that included interviews and looking at students' written work. The researcher got information from 36 tenth-grade students at a public high school in Sidoarjo. The results showed that students used critical thinking in a number of important ways, such as finding problems, weighing evidence, making logical arguments, and coming to reasonable conclusions. But their ability to think critically was different. Some students were able to reason at a high level, while others only showed a basic understanding and application. The study also found that students' ability to show critical thinking was affected by how well they knew the topic, their own experiences, and their motivation to write. The results showed that students know how important critical thinking is, but they need more structured help and practice to learn how to use these skills well in academic writing. This study suggests future researchers explore larger samples or digital platforms to support students’ critical thinking in writing This study also gives teachers ideas for how to make their lessons better at helping students think critically when they write.