Uso del análisis del discurso para mejorar las habilidades de pensamiento crítico de los estudiantes

Abstract

This paper presents our proposal on how to use critical discourse analysis to improve students’ critical thinking skills. Initially we briefly outline some concepts of critical thinking and critical discourse analysis, and then we propose a reading activity in which students analyze two different and contrasting texts that deal with oil spill issues. the activity is divided into three sections. In the initial section we suggest a pre-reading activity, in which students answer some questions to activate background knowledge. Secondly, we present a reading activity; in this reading activity students complete a table using a system for analyzing discourse, which is known as “appraisal”. In turn “appraisal” is divided into affect, judgment, and appreciation, and each one can be either positive or negative; they show how the author feels about people and things. Finally, we suggest a post-reading activity in which students draw some conclusions based on their “appraisal” analysis. the objective of the activities proposed here are to make students aware of the way authors use language to manipulate media in order to express their point of view.