Increasing Critical Thinking Skill Through Class Debate

Abstract

Students need critical thinking skills in deciding the various issues that arise with rapid and complex. Critical thinking skills students can thrive in a learning process that encourages their active involvement; both physically and psychologically. Active learning encourages students to listen, speak, read and write. Active learning in the classroom debate, because this method addresses the new theme and controversy, the development of verbal abilities, and writing. This paper intends to examine whether the debate class students' critical thinking skills can be increased? This study uses the one-group pretest-posttest design with a sample of 35 students, and treat use debate method performed 5 times. Data collection techniques using critical thinking skills tests and rating scales. Data analysis using descriptive statistics and test different. The results of this study were (1) that the debate group 4 scored 3.40 keep the first position, followed by group 1 with a value of 3.25, group 2 with a value of 3.10 Group 5 with a value of 2.93 and group 3 with a value of 2.60; and (2) the ability of critical thinking by 78.93% students thought exercise categories, with the following indicators: the clarity of information = 80%, the depth of ideas = 75.47%, the breadth of viewpoints = 75.23%, and accuracy in the inference = 85%. Students studying in classroom debate will improve their critical thinking skills with an average difference of pretest and posttest 11.30% with t = 4.225 and p =. 000 <.05.