A comparative study of how Chinese ESL students and American students work on the same writing assignment that involves critical thinking

The paper compares and contrasts how Chinese ESL students and American students work on a same descriptive English writing assignment that requires critical thinking. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the similarity and difference between English composition teaching in China and English composition teaching in America in regarding to incorporating critical thinking, as reflected in the use of this assignment. The study uses descriptive analysis of student writings as well as quantitative analysis of questionnaires, student grades given both from the author and several other researchers who are invited to participate in the study. The cognitive abilities in critical thinking basically consist of logical thinking, dialectical thinking, and creative thinking abilities. The study reveals that Chinese students＇ works generally flow well and they use a language that is coherent and clear. However, the study also reveals that Chinese students have difficulties in implementing critical thinking at English composition learning, and the difficulties lie in creative and dialectical thinking. To cultivate critical thinking, we need to employ affective strategies, meta-cognitive strategies-macro-abilities, and cognitive strategies-micro-abilities. The paper concludes by giving concrete examples in the area of cognitive strategies-micro-abilities in order to cultivate critical thinking.

Contrastive Study of Thinking Modes between Chinese and English and Thinking Training of English Writing for Chinese Students

Based on the relationship between language and thinking, this paper is designed to inform that Chinese mode of thinking has great effect on college students＇ English writing from the perspective of contrastive study of thinking modes between Chinese and English. In addition, one specific measure about training English mode of thinking is put forward.

Effect of Teacher Feedback, Peer Review and the Combination on EFL Writing Study Proposal

Since the result of effect comparison is important for teacher's decision making,roles teacher feedback and peer review play respectively and collaboratively in tertiary-level EFL writing context should be addressed via quantitative study as this paper proposed.Quantitative data should be collected from students'first drafts,second drafts and written comments from teachers and peers.Gains for overall scores between the first and second drafts and correlation between suggestions and gains should be examined.

Research on the Comparison of Critical Thinking and Logical Expression

With the advancement of globalization,university students need not only to master English language skills but also to develop critical thinking and logical expression skills,both of which are crucial for academic and professional success.As an interactive and structured learning activity,English debates provide an effective platform for enhancing these cognitive and linguistic skills.This study investigates the impact of English debates on students’critical thinking and logical expression skills by analyzing pre-and post-debate assessments,survey data,and in-depth interviews with debate participants.The results indicate significant improvements in critical thinking skills,including argumentation logic,rebuttal techniques,and problem awareness.Students also demonstrated notable progress in organizing and expressing complex ideas logically in English.These findings offer valuable insights for English teaching in higher education,suggesting that debates can serve as an effective pedagogical tool for fostering both language and cognitive development in university students.

A Case Study on the Development of Reflective Thinking Through Journal Writing

Reflective thinking and teachers' professional development has become a focus since the new curriculum reform.Based on a case study among English teachers in Zhangjiashan Middle School, this paper aims to find out the effectiveness to improve the reflective thinking by journal writing and the extent to which the journal writing is involved. From the result, a conclusion can be reached that journal writing can provide an opportunity for teachers to write reflectively about their teaching, and teachers differ in the extent to which they can write reflectively.

Cultivation of Reading,Writing,and Critical Thinking in the Teaching of Selected Readings in American Literature

Selected Readings in American Literature is a required course for the third year of English major,and it is also a compulsory course for the Bachelor Degree of English Language and Literature at School of Foreign Languages,Leshan Normal University.The course uses the combination of English literary reading and course paper writing to develop students’English reading and writing skills,while focusing on the cultivating critical thinking skills of English majors.

An Empirical Study on the Interlanguage Errors of Students English Writing in Vocational and Technical Colleges

This article develops an empirical an investigation on the errors in compositions written by students who are studying in Luzhou Vocational and Technical College （LVTC） and Luzhou Medical College （LMC） and contrasts them in order to trace the source of the errors. It finally turns out to be that there exists strong correlation between students＇ academic quality and the number of errors of various types. Compared with ordinary university students, vocational and technical college （VTC） students＇ interlanguage （IL） errors seem to be more rudimental, and more negative-transferring, most of which are influenced by their mother tongue （MT）-Chinese. VTC students＇ general error in writing is misspelling, while university students ＇ major error lies in collocation. In this thesis, some practical enlightenment about learning and teaching English writing are also proposed.

Study on the relationship between English reading and writing

Reading and writing are input and output respectively. The relation between reading and writing is closely related. Reading is the preparation for good writing. And writing theory or law can provide readers some clues for better understanding. The relation between reading and writing can help our English teaching in and out class. Also the way of thinking influences our reading and writing.

Improving the Selection Model of Essential Medicines in China by Evidence-based Thinking

Objective To sort out the problems in the selection model of essential medicines in China,and to put forward some suggestions to optimize the selection model to ensure the rationality of the medicines in the essential medicines list.Methods The domestic and foreign literature on the selection of essential medicines was reviewed.Then,the opinions on the selection methods and results of essential medicines from foreign literature were investigated to make a comparison with the selection of essential medicines in China.Finally,the general and special laws of the selection process of the essential medicines were explored.Results and Conclusion It is recommended that the selection model of essential medicines in China should be further optimized,and the evidence-based thinking and methods should be utilized to enhance the scientific nature of the selection process.

The Use of LDOCE4 on CD-ROM in EFL Students' Writing: a Case Study

This case study examines the use of LDOCE4 on CD-ROM in EFL students’writing.Four participants at different proficiency levels were invited to write a composition on a given title.They were then asked to revise their compositions twice,first using the paper dictionary,and secondly using the CD-ROM.Based on a comparison of the two versions,the following conclusions were drawn:1 The CD-ROM is generally more beneficial to EFL students’writing than the paper dictionary.2 Al though the CD-ROM is helpful,it is not a panacea.3 The CD-ROM can provide little help to lower intermediate learners.

A Study of Perfecting Cognitive Structure and Improving Writing Skills

The paper is purposed to promote students＇ writing skills and help them perfect their cognitive structure at the same time by designing some writing tasks. The tasks are based on the contents of the teaching materials, and students can get involved in the activities by thinking critically.

Effects of Problem-based English Writing Instruction on Thai Upper Secondary School Students' Critical Thinking Abilities and Argumentative Writing Skills

The objective of the study is to examine the effects of Problem based English writing instruction on Thai Upper secondary school students' critical thinking abilities and argumentative writing skill.In this study,the researcher constructed 18weeks' training in a prestigious secondary school M6 level.The instruments used in this research include lesson plans,writing assignments,instructional material and topics.Critical thinking pre- test and post test were used to measure students' critical thinking development.Scoring rubric was designed to measure students' argumentative writing development.The data were analyzed using mean,t-test,correlation through SPSS system.The results of the analyses reveal that 1) students who learn through Problem based English Writing Instruction gained significantly higher average scores on the critical thinking post test than the critical thinking pre-test at the significance level of 0.05 and the mean difference is 0.5 which is referred to large effect;2) students who learn through Problem based English Writing Instruction gained significantly higher average score on their fifth argumentative writing assignment than the average score of their first argumentative writing assignment at the significance level of 0.05,with the mean of the effect size at 0.84 which referred to large effect.Problem-based English writing instruction was proved to be an effective way in improving students' Critical thinking and argumentative writing.

The Application of Pragmatic Presupposition in Developing Critical Thinking of Writing

This study aims to explore whether developing critical thinking ability from the perspective of pragmatic presupposition can help non-English majors improve their writing achievements.This empirical study employs tests as the instruments.126 non-English majors from a key university of Shandong Province participate in the study.The results of the Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test indicate that most subjects(95%)have inadequate or limited critical thinking ability,which leads to digression,repetitive and lengthy description,and unconvincing arguments,as well as illogical or incoherent structures in writing.After a ten-week teaching instruction from the perspective of pragmatic presupposition,students in experimental group improve their writing achievements,indicating that the instruction of critical thinking ability from the perspective of pragmatic presupposition may have certain effects on their writing performance.The study will promote the application of pragmatic presupposition to writing teaching and offer some implications for the teaching of English writing.

Ultrasound comparison of diffusion of local anesthetic solution after a peribulbar and a sub-Tenon's block: a pilot study

Dear Sir,Iam Dr.Emile Calenda,from the Department of Anesthesiology in Ophthalmology,Rouen University Hospital,Institute for Biomedical Research,Rouen,France.I write to present ultrasound visualization of local anesthetic spread after a sub-Tenon＇s anesthesia（3 patients）and after a peribulbar anesthesia（3 patients）.

Influences of Chinese culture and mode of thinking on English writing

Thinking patterns and the language features differ from one cultural background to another. Differences between Chinese and English culture diversify the writing patterns of the two languages. The importance of cultivating students＇ cultural awareness is obvious in college English teaching process. This paper discusses the relationship between thought based on culture and English writing, and the characters of language transition by way of contrastive analysis. It also reveals the importance of improving English thinking ability and removing the native language interference in English writing. The main premise of the paper is that effective communication is more than a matter of language proficiency and that, cultural competence can also lead to empathy and respect toward different cultures.

Research on the reform of English writing teaching mode and its system construction under the background of information age

Today’s society has entered the information age, people’s thinking and learning methods have undergone great changes. This brings opportunities and challenges for the College English Writing Teaching. Based on the large background data in order to analyze the main problems of traditional college English teaching of writing based on proposed the idea of the University Teaching of English Writing from teaching objectives, teaching resources, teaching methods, students and life and relationships, and evaluation system. With the development of society and the times, the traditional English teaching model can not meet the needs of students. They urgently need to learn academic English knowledge for the future professional learning and research in the basic culture of academic quality. On the current status of teaching academic English at home and abroad, the author proposes a set of academic English writing class build system, and by way of comparative tests to verify the effectiveness and practicality of the system. We analyzed domestic and composition of the English examination system intelligence related applied research, put forward the theory of Constructivism basis, writing intelligent examination system to practical tools, built on Teaching of English Writing English Writing intelligent examination system so as to promote English writing teaching reform, autonomous learning ability to improve students’ English writing skills

The study of the situation of critical thinking emotional tendency of nursing teachers

Critical thinking （CT） is an important content of nursing education. It is also the important symbol of the improvementof overall quality of nursing teachers. In recent years, educational circles pay more and more attention to the cultivationof students’ CT ability, take CT and solve the problem as two basic skills of thinking. In the early 1980s, critical societytheory was led into the nursing field. After years of development, CT has become one of research hotspots in today’sinternational nursing. Numerous studies had confirmed that the CT played a significant role in nursing education, clinicalpractice and nursing scientific research. The paper studied the whole status and characteristics of CT emotional tendencyof college nursing teachers, and analyzed potential cause and discussed deeply on the corresponding factors of how toimprove college nursing teachers’ teaching ability and scientific ability. This research adopted random sampling method,in which questionnaires were distributed among some nursing teachers in six universities and 97 nursing teachers. Thestatistical results indicated that nursing teachers had a positive performance towards CT emotional tendency, but notstrong positive, and there were statistical significance among nursing teachers with different age, different length ofservice and reading habit （all P〈0.05）. In a conclusion, the managers of universities should lay stress on the importanceof critical thinking, and provide the development space to enhance the nursing teachers’ CT ability and offer betterservices for nursing student.

The Influence of Blending Learning on Undergraduates’Critical Thinking Disposition:A Quasi Experimental Study

Objective:To explore the influence of blending learning on the critical thinking disposition among undergraduates.Methods:Two undergraduate classes majoring in Applied Psychology with similar level of critical thinking disposition were selected as the research subjects.Class A(106 students)was the experimental class,and class B(131 students)was the control class.During the research period of one semester(four months),the following measures were implemented for the two classes.The control class studied Developmental Psychology under the conventional teaching methods and procedures,while the experimental class studied Developmental Psychology according to the requirements and procedures of blending learning.The two classes were investigated with Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory-Chinese Version(CTDI-CV)at the beginning and end of the course.Results:At the beginning of the course,the total scores of CTDI-CV of the two classes were(217.33±14.90)and(218.31±16.29),respectively,with no significant difference(P>0.05).At the end of the course,the total scores of CTDI-CV of the experimental class and the control class were(237.84±17.53)and(224.22±17.52),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).Conclusion:Blending learning may have a positive effect in improving the critical thinking disposition in undergraduates.

A Diary Study of the Impact of Extensive Reading on English Writing

Motivated by the continued growth of research on extensive reading and positive results from a variety of studies (e.g. Bell,2001; Nash &Yuan,1992; Nation, 1997), an investigation is conducted on the impact of extensive reading on college students’ writing per-formance over a 20-week period. Data are collected from multiple sources, mainly including teacher and learners’ diaries, together with aninterview and writing tests. The results of the study show that extensive reading can enhance learners’ writing skills and promote a positiveattitude toward writing.

The Evolving Narrative of Reminiscence: A Review on A Study of the Writing of the Memories in Philip Roth’s Fiction

Based on a detailed analysis of all the works written by contemporary American writer Philip Roth,Xin Huimin’s monograph A Study of the Writing of the Memories in Philip Roth’s Fiction divides his literary writing career of more than half a century into three phases:the Jewish writing phase,the American writing phase and the phase of“late style”writing.Drawing on related theories of memory,Xin explores how the protagonists in Roth’s seven novels use their various modes of memory to fashion and reconstruct their ethnical,national and personal identity,and further points out that these three distinct phases correspond to Roth’s shifts from a Jewish writer,an American writer,and to an aging writer.The book comprehensively manifests Roth’s ethical concerns,his political appeal and the aesthetic value of his works.