International Journal of Language Education Volume 8.
Number 4, 2024, pp.
ISSN: 2548-8457 (Prin.
2548-8465 (Onlin.
Doi: https://doi.
org/10.
26858/ijole.
Critical Thinking in Authentic Assessment: An Exploration into Argumentative Writing Non-English Department in Higher Education Erwin Akib Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar.
Indonesia Email: erwin@unismuh.
Muh.
Arief Muhsin Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar.
Indonesia Email: arief.
m@unismuh.
Sitti Maryam Hamid Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar.
Indonesia Email: st.
maryamhamid@unismuh.
Nico Irawan Thai Global Business Administration Technological College.
Thailand Email: dr.
nico@tgbc.
Received: 3 January 2023 Reviewed:2 June 2024-25 October 2024 Accepted:15 November 2024 Published:30 December 2024 Abstract This research aims to thoroughly explore how authentic assessment methods, designed to emulate real-life challenges, contribute to enhancing the abilities of students to construct logical arguments, critically evaluate evidence, and articulate thoughts coherently in writing.
In order to achieve the stated objective, a qualitative research design was adopted, and content analysis was utilized systematically for the examination of the quality of argument, evaluation of evidence, and logical reasoning in the argumentative writings of the observed students.
The results obtained from the data analysis conducted showed that all the arguments were relevant in general discussions and added precision through the use of Accordingly, the examples given provided clear insight into how each application related to the general discussions, hence each example was considered relevant in improving the understanding of the topic in question.
In an effort to ensure the conducted analysis was carried out thoroughly, deep essays in the expansive coverage of the details relevant to the different aspects of the research were reviewed.
Each of the essays threw forward the central contention or stance taken with strength and the support of quality evidence including concrete examples from life, findings from previous research, and case studies.
As a recommendation, future research should be conducted with a specific focus on analyzing critical thinking and argumentation skill development in the students along longitudinal lines, with the primary aim of Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Akib.
Muhsin.
Hamid, & Irawan observing how the skills change with different teaching methodologies, curriculum structures, and educational interventions.
Keywords: Argumentation.
authentic assessment.
critical thinking.
and writing Introduction Research into critical thinking is significantly imperative because it typically represents a very important competency for students navigating the age of information (Muhsin et al.
, 2.
According to previous research, critical thinking refers to a structured process of analysis, evaluation, and reasoning that enables students to construct sound arguments and make decisions based on thorough assessments (Simonovic et al.
, 2.
Despite its importance, the development of critical thinking skills in higher education has often been a secondary focus, particularly in non-English-medium instruction departments (Double et al.
, 2023a.
Sokhanvar et , 2.
Therefore, this area of research holds significant relevance for enhancing the success of educational systems, particularly in Indonesia (Fernandes et al.
, 2.
The research area is also significant because by understanding how authentic assessment can be effectively applied across diverse disciplines, educational institutions can design more comprehensive and impactful learning programs (Singh et al.
, 2.
As a result, it is very important to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of authentic assessment in enhancing critical thinking, particularly in the domain of argumentative writing (Bayley, 2.
Students in the contemporary world can easily access information to construct arguments, however, the ability of the demographic to accurately develop critical thinking skills remains limited (Ba & Gyrsoy, 2.
This issue has been observed and primarily attributed to the fact that students often lack the ability to conduct content analysis of the extensive literature available (Hyytinen et al.
, 2.
The majority of the demographic tends to accept information at face value without critically evaluating its credibility or relevance, which undermines the inherent ability to write coherent and persuasive arguments (Yilmaz-Na & Synmez, 2023.
In order to effectively address this issue, lecturers have introduced authentic assessment as a tool to train students in critical thinking, particularly in argumentative writing, which is a genre that necessitates logical reasoning and evidence-based construction.
Beyond Indonesia, critical thinking in language learning is also gaining prominence in Thailand.
This competence is increasingly being viewed as an essential pathway for cultivating discerning students (Tungkasamit & Junpeng, 2.
Research conducted in Thailand highlights the critical role of fostering critical thinking in shaping students into wise decision-makers (Le et , 2024.
Tungkasamit & Junpeng, 2012.
Hossain, 2.
As previously noted, critical thinkers tend to have a broad and deep knowledge base, cultivated through regular reading and the exploration of reliable online sources.
This process strengthens literacy, which serves as a key foundation for intellectual growth (Tungkasamit & Junpeng, 2.
Recent research by Luquin & Mayo .
gave strong evidence supporting how effective integrated authentic assessment methods, like collaborative online debates and realworld case studies, can be in improving critical thinking in argumentative writing.
The experiments they conducted showed that the interactive assessment activities didnAot just assess the logical argumentation skills of students, but also helped them get more engaged and understand complex topics better.
WhatAos more, the study pointed out the crucial role that authenticity and constructive feedback play in helping students develop their critical thinking skills in argumentative writing (Kuyyogsuy, 2019.
Salafia, 2.
It was clear that timely and constructive feedback was especially good at promoting reflective thinking, encouraging Vol.
No.
4, 2024
International Journal of Language Education students to improve step by step, and giving instructors a solid framework to guide students in refining their reasoning and crafting stronger arguments.
Then.
Zhao et al.
conducted their own study aimed at investigating how multimedia for example videos, infographics, and interactive slides can be used in authentic assessment tasks for argumentative writing.
They found that multimedia-driven assessments did a great job grabbing students' attention and motivated them to stay more focused, which led to more sophisticated and well-rounded This approach really seems to reflect the dynamics of live interaction, allowing students to better use multimedia tools in academic and professional settings (Wilson, 2.
The integration of critical thinking and authenticity in multimedia-based assessments, especially in non-English higher education settings, has been drawing increasing attention from Many academics, both at the university and pre-university levels, have argued that assessments in higher education should align with real-life situations in order to nurture the creative aspects of critical thinking (Beresova, 2015.
Tumilty et al.
, 2.
These scholars have stressed the importance of authentic assessments that do more than just enhance critical thinking skills across various disciplines.
They also pointed out how these assessments should be designed to fit naturally into other activities within the curriculum.
A notable study was conducted by Burton .
to explore how authentic assessments were implemented in faculties where instruction was given in languages other than English.
The findings from this study revealed that integrating authentic assessments into the curriculum had a significant, positive effect on the critical thinking skills of the students involved, highlighting its importance in various educational settings.
Evaluations conducted in the publications reviewed throughout this research were partly carried out through argumentative writing, as shown in A Critical Attitude in Academic Argumentative Texts: A Critical Textual Analysis in Various Academic Fields Among Students (Jodoi, 2023.
ynzdemir, 2.
The authors of these publications argued that authentic assessment not only promotes critical thinking but also encourages meaningful learning and helps students become more engaged in the learning process.
Similarly.
Hassanpour et al.
looked into the challenges and benefits of applying authentic assessment in non-English subjects at the higher education level and offered practical suggestions for its effective use.
Another relevant study by Garcia.
Buddy, & Hooper .
examined ways to integrate critical thinking skills into assessments in higher education.
Their findings revealed that authentic assessment tools could effectively measure and improve critical thinking, especially in disciplines that require argumentative writing.
In addition.
Barnet & Bedau .
and Gleason et al.
focused their research on how authentic assessment, involving both English and non-English content, played a significant role in boosting critical thinking and postgraduate competencies.
Together, these studies emphasized the importance of authentic assessment in developing critical thinking skills, providing a solid foundation for future research in this field.
The focus on critical thinking really does go hand in hand with the larger aim of higher education, which is all about nurturing those kinds of skills, as talked about in the literature by Double et al.
and Gojkov et al.
Based on what the authors said, the main point of this research is to highlight just how important it is to develop critical thinking, which should be one of the key outcomes in higher education.
Authentic assessment methods, particularly in argumentative writing, have been observed to serve as a very important strategy for evaluating and enhancing critical thinking skills (Preiss et al.
, 2.
Furthermore, the exploration of authentic assessment within non-English departments has shown the potential benefits associated with the adoption of such practices across diverse academic disciplines and addressed a shared Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Akib.
Muhsin.
Hamid, & Irawan interest in improving pedagogical approaches.
Although the current research shares similarities with previous explorations particularly in the emphasis on critical thinking and authentic assessment, it also introduces significant distinctions (Preiss et al.
, 2.
A significant distinction lies in the specificity of the title, which includes geographic and cultural terms, with a focus on Indonesia.
Typically, this emphasis introduces unique educational dynamics that are often overlooked in broader discussions.
For example, most of the existing literature tends to focus on Western contexts or other Asian countries, but thereAos something fresh about looking at the Indonesian higher education system and how critical thinking and authentic assessment can be applied there (Gao et al.
, 2019.
Villarroel et al.
, 2.
ItAos also worth pointing out that calling this research "Argumentative Writing as a Specific Form of Critical Thinking Assessment" sets it apart from other studies, which usually take a broader approach to assessment types and skill development.
The more focused approach here helps us dive deeper into how argumentative writing can serve as a tool to boost critical thinking, especially in non-English departments.
The audience weAore focusing on, students in higher education outside of English-related fields, brings up a whole different set of challenges and opportunities that previous research on other education levels or disciplines hasnAot really touched This focus, of course, makes the contributions of this study stand out more in terms of what it adds to the existing body of knowledge (Agustina et al.
, 2.
In short, the aim of this research is to figure out how authentic assessment can help promote critical thinking through argumentative writing, specifically among students in Indonesian non-English departments at the post-secondary level.
The main goal is to explore how authentic assessment can be effectively used to create real outcomes, like building strong arguments, evaluating evidence critically, and communicating ideas clearly, both in writing and speaking.
Research method Research design The design chosen for this research is quantitative, based on content analysis.
This involved looking at a variety of student essays, with the goal of providing a clear and structured account of how effective arguments, evidence evaluation, and logical reasoning show up in these At the same time, a qualitative approach is also used here, focusing on deeply exploring how authentic assessment relates to the development of critical thinking skills in essay writing.
Additionally, the research takes into account the distinct features of non-English departments in Indonesian higher education institutions, carefully considering those specifics.
Research object The research objects, which are essay samples from students in non-English faculties at an Indonesian university, were carefully analyzed.
The analysis used content analysis techniques, focusing on both the quality of the essays and the level of critical thinking the students By zeroing in on these aspects, the research aimed to assess how well authentic assessment practices help develop critical thinking skills in argumentative writing.
Specifically, the study involved selecting and looking closely at four essays written by students from nonEnglish departments at Indonesian higher education institutions.
Data collection Four essay writing assignments were selected from a diverse pool of samples drawn from students in non-English departments across universities in Indonesia.
Vol.
No.
4, 2024
International Journal of Language Education Data analysis To analyze the data through content analysis, a few systematic steps were followed.
First, the collected essay samples were thoroughly reviewed to spot recurring themes, patterns, and differences in how critical thinking skills were shown.
Then, a coding framework was put together, focusing on important aspects of critical thinking like clarity, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness.
The analysis also took into account key argumentative elements, such as the thesis statement, supporting evidence, recognizing and addressing counterarguments, and the conclusion.
Each essay was then coded according to this framework to check for the presence or absence of critical thinking indicators and key argumentative Table 1 shows a detailed explanation of the critical thinking components and argumentation elements.
Component Clarity Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Fairness Component Thesis Statement Supporting Evidence Counterarguments Conclusion Table 1.
Component of critical thinking Explanation The essay effectively communicates ideas without ambiguity.
The essay provides specific examples and avoids generalizations.
All points are directly related to the topic of social media's role in modern democracies.
The essay explores various facets of the issue, considering both positive impacts and challenges.
The essay covers a wide range of factors, including the influence of social media on elections, the phenomenon of the 'Post Truth Era', and the challenges and considerations related to social media in democracy.
Arguments are presented logically, with evidence and reasoning supporting each claim.
The essay presents a balanced view, acknowledging both positive impacts and challenges.
Table 2.
Component of argumentation Explanation The essay presents a clear thesis on the role of social media in modern The essay provides ample evidence to support its claims.
Counterarguments are acknowledged and addressed.
The essay concludes by summarizing the main points and offering considerations for the future.
After the coding process, quantitative analyses were done to figure out the frequency and distribution of critical thinking elements in the writing samples.
These analyses involved calculating percentages, frequencies, and other statistical measures to spot trends and patterns that could reflect how well students in non-English departments at Indonesian higher education institutions demonstrate critical thinking skills.
Alongside the quantitative analysis, qualitative methods were also used to interpret the coded data.
This approach looked into the contextual factors that affect how critical thinking shows up in essay writing tasks.
Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Akib.
Muhsin.
Hamid, & Irawan Results In this research, a qualitative approach was utilized to analyze the content of essays written by students majoring in non-English education fields, with a focus on both the critical thinking components and the structural elements of the essays.
Table 3 presents four essay samples written by non-English education major students.
Component Clarity Quality High Precision High Relevance High Depth High Breadth High Table 3.
Components of critical thinking Essay 1 Essay 2 Essay 3 Clear Clear Clear explanation explanation of explanation of of how social terms like AI, the role of social media can both robotics, and media in modern strengthen IoT.
democracies and undermine its impact on democracy.
Specific Specific Specific examples of examples of how of social media's social media is positive impact on used in election political income campaigns and engagement and the challenges it negative impact poses, such as through spreading false misinformation.
information and Every Every argument Every argument contributes to the contributes to the contributes to discussion of discussion the discussion social media's social of automation's impact on impact on political engagement and engagement and public opinion.
public opinion.
Detailed Detailed Detailed examination of examination of examination how social media how social media unemployment, can increase democratizes inequality, and participation, information and false fosters public opinion.
Considers Considers Considers perspectives from from different from different different angles, and sources and providing Essay 4 Clearly social media, its role in modern democracy, and the choosing accurate Provides specific examples of how social media is used campaigns and its impact on political Every contributes to the discussion of social media's impact on public opinion.
Discusses potential for social media to strengthen posed by fake news and echo chambers.
Considers perspectives from Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Logic High Fairness High International Journal of Language Education Logical challenges and Logical progression from role of social elections to its engagement and public opinion.
Recognizes Recognizes the of social media to increase political alongside its participation concerns about false information analysis of social media's impact on Logical progression from positive aspects of social media to analysis of social media's impact on Logical progression from discussing the definition of social media to examining its various roles and impacts in modern Recognizes potential for social media to empower individuals while challenges such as and polarization.
Recognizes potential for social media to empower individuals while challenges such as misinformation and echo chambers.
Table 3 lays out the information on the remarkable critical thinking skills demonstrated by the students in writing arguments across four essays.
All items related to critical thinking, including clarity, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness, were noted to have high ratings for each essay.
Additionally, the students were asked to dive into complex discussions about automation and social media to evaluate how clearly they could present complex topics.
Throughout the discussion, the students used relevant examples that effectively supported their arguments with precision.
The relevance of the arguments to the broader debate was clear, with each essay contributing valuable information to the issue at hand.
The essays also showed a deep understanding, backed by enough facts for an in-depth analysis that solidified the overall argument.
Each essay considered a wide range of perspectives, covering various sectors, contexts, and dimensions.
On top of that, the essays displayed logical progression, moving from benefits to challenges and proposed solutions, and fairness was clearly shown in how the potential benefits were balanced with possible risks.
In essence, the obtained data emphasized the ability of the students to critically analyze complex issues, construct coherent arguments, and effectively support the respective claims of the observed students.
Following the evaluation of the critical thinking competencies of the research subjects within the context of authentic assessment, the components of students' argumentation were also Table 4 presents the results of analyzing the content of the essays written by the Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Akib.
Muhsin.
Hamid, & Irawan Component Thesis Statement Quality High Supporting Evidence High Counterarguments High Conclusion High Table 4.
Components of argumentation Essay 1 Essay 2 Essay 3 Thesis:
Thesis: Social Thesis:
Social Automation media serves as media acts as both brings benefits a also alternative for engagement and challenges to political the job market.
communication and a breeding has ground on and division in elections and modern public opinion.
Examples of Examples of Examples in surveys, healthcare and research positive impact on in findings, and political real-life cases engagement and of hoaxes and negative impact misinformation through Acknowledges Acknowledges Acknowledges the argument the positive the potential for of social media to social media on empower new political also challenges such as challenges such and polarization.
Summary of Summary of Summary positive social of complex impact and the need social media on on for adaptation.
the for it responsible use.
poses, followed Essay 4 Social enables wider awareness, but it is crucial to be Examples social media's campaigns and digital literacy.
Acknowledges the potential for social media to democracy but also discusses challenges such Summary social media's role in modern democracy and the importance Vol.
No.
4, 2024
International Journal of Language Education Table 4 provides a thorough evaluation of the quality of argumentation across four different essays discussing the impact of automation and social media on various aspects of When it comes to thesis statements, all essays demonstrated a high level of clarity, with the central argument or stance being clearly expressed.
Each essay also bolstered its arguments by including solid evidence, such as real-world examples, research findings, and case studies.
Moreover, counterarguments were acknowledged and thoughtfully addressed, ensuring that opposing viewpoints were considered and promoting a more balanced approach to Finally, the conclusions in all essays effectively summarized the key points, while offering useful reflections or recommendations for future exploration.
Overall, the quality of argumentation in these essays reflected clarity, coherence, and critical thinking, providing a well-rounded and insightful analysis of the topics discussed.
Discussion The authentic assessment carried out throughout this research effectively captured the critical thinking competency of students, as demonstrated by the essays written by the observed Looking at the data presented in Table 3, itAos clear that each student consistently achieved high levels of critical thinking across key aspects like clarity, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness.
Clarity was particularly notable in each writing, as the students displayed an inherent ability to simplify complex ideas.
For instance, when discussing automation and social media, each student provided clear and precise explanations of complex This observation aligns with existing research that emphasizes the role of clarity in critical thinking.
Also, the specificity of the examples used significantly bolstered the coherence and clarity of the arguments presented by the observed students, making each explanation not only easier to understand but also more convincing and grounded.
The relevance of each argument to the central discussion further highlighted the studentsAo ability to stay on point.
Relevance is crucial in academic writing, every statement needs to meaningfully contribute to the overall discussion.
This aligns with findings from Marni et al.
and Song et al.
which stressed how relevance ensures an essay remains coherent and impactful.
In this study, the students maintained relevance by selecting and focusing on the most important information, which made their essays even more persuasive.
Furthermore, the depth of analysis in the essays indicated a solid understanding of the subject.
The students didnAot just explore the benefits of automation and social media.
they also critically examined the challenges and potential side This in-depth scrutiny aligns with the concept of deep analysis, which is often seen as a core element of critical thinking.
Previous literature, such as Castro .
and Mochales & Moens .
, recognized that depth in argumentation signals a higher level of critical engagement and requires the ability to explore issues from multiple perspectives, taking into account various dimensions.
The breadth of perspectives integrated into the essays used in this study demonstrated the studentsAo ability to incorporate a wide range of viewpoints, which are crucial for balanced argumentation.
This inclusivity is particularly important for grasping the complexity of the issues at hand.
Research by Anisa et al.
and Yaman .
further illustrated that considering diverse perspectives enhances argumentation quality by offering a more holistic view and mitigating bias.
In this case, by integrating viewpoints from different sectors, contexts, and angles, the students enriched their arguments and showcased their comprehensive critical thinking abilities.
It is also worth noting that the logical coherence of the essays ensured a smooth flow of ideas, guiding the reader from one point to the next.
This logical Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Akib.
Muhsin.
Hamid, & Irawan structure is considered key to maintaining clarity and reinforcing the strength of the overall The coherence of the essays showed a logical progression of ideas that guide the reader effortlessly from one point to the next.
This logical structure is, in fact, vital for maintaining clarity and enhancing the impact of the argument presented.
As Figueroa et al.
mentioned, a well-structured argument is not only easier to follow but also more convincing, making the overall point much stronger.
For instance, the students' ability to transition from discussing the benefits of automation and social media to tackling the associated challenges, followed by proposing solutions, exemplifies a logical approach that contributes, no doubt, to a more coherent narrative.
Fairness, another fundamental element, was apparent through the recognition of both potential benefits and risks.
This balanced approach highlighted the studentsAo impartiality and thorough engagement with the topic, thus fulfilling the fairness requirement for building a credible case.
By examining different perspectives and offering a well-rounded exploration of the issues, the students demonstrated their commitment to fairness.
As noted by Yassin .
, justice is key in critical thinking, and acknowledging both sides of the argument helps boost trust and credibility, ultimately strengthening the overall essays.
Moving on.
Table 4 lays out a detailed evaluation of the quality of argumentation across the four essays, which explored the impact of automation and social media on various societal aspects.
The analysis indicated that each of the essays displayed high-quality argumentation, as shown by their clarity, wellstructured thesis statements, effective use of evidence, thoughtful counter-argument recognition, and insightful conclusions.
These aspects seemed to work together, creating a coherent, wellorganized, and thorough analysis that reflected the students' critical thinking abilities.
Upon closer inspection, the clarity and conciseness of the thesis statements stood out, as they helped sharpen the focus of the essays, laying a solid foundation for the arguments that would follow.
A good thesis statement plays an incredibly important role in guiding readers through the main argument, helping them follow the content and better understand its trajectory.
This finding seems to align with Hanusova et al.
, who pointed out that a clear and concise thesis statement is fundamental to academic writing, often serving as the backbone of a well-organized How students articulate key points really shows their ability, or lack thereof, to communicate their positions clearly.
A key component of the findings presented in Table 4 involves the use of high-quality evidence throughout the essays.
Students effectively supported their arguments with real-world examples, research findings, and case studies, providing a solid and persuasive foundation for each claim.
The inclusion of such evidence played a significant role in transforming abstract ideas into more credible and convincing arguments.
This observation is in line with earlier research by Yilmaz-Na & Synmez .
and Kaeppel .
, who emphasized that well-supported arguments tend to be more persuasive and robust.
In this research context, the ability of the observed students to integrate various types of evidence into their discussions highlighted their competence in research and analysis, ultimately adding credibility and depth to the issues discussed.
Additionally, the essays recognized and addressed counterarguments thoughtfully, which showed that the students were aware of and engaged with opposing viewpoints, a crucial aspect of academic argumentation.
This balanced approach seems crucial in solid argumentation, particularly because it reflects the studentsAo ability to engage in dialogue and understand the complexity of the issues being discussed.
Lupton .
supported this by saying that addressing counterarguments not only deepened the analysis but also made the argument more well-rounded and fair.
Thus, by considering opposing views, the students in this research were able to enhance their critical Vol.
No.
4, 2024
International Journal of Language Education thinking and use the evidence they gathered to build stronger, more balanced arguments.
The results showed that the students possessed high levels of competence and critical thinking skills, which are considered essential for academic and intellectual development.
Earlier studies have suggested that a studentAos ability to analyze complex issues and synthesize diverse sources of information signifies intellectual maturity (Ngajie et al.
, 2.
The consistently high scores achieved across all critical thinking subscales, including clarity, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness, indicated that the students had effectively internalized these This finding aligns with educational theories which assert that critical thinking should be nurtured to deepen understanding within disciplines and promote independent, reflective thought.
As further supported by research, the ability to construct well-supported arguments and consider diverse viewpoints are vital skills, both for academic success and for future professional roles (Tyas et al.
, 2.
These findings have significant implications for educational practices and curriculum First, the high level of critical thinking mastery demonstrated by the students suggests that teaching strategies and educational interventions seem to be effective in cultivating these important skills (Broadbear, 2.
For educators, this implies that there is a need to continuously enhance instructional methods to improve studentsAo critical thinking and argumentation abilities.
However, the findings also hint at how well students are prepared to confront real-world problems, as the ability to analyze complex issues and create logical arguments is a key skill sought by employers across various sectors (Deane et al.
, 2.
This is particularly relevant to professions like business, law, medicine, and public policy, where critical thinking and the capacity to develop sound arguments are core to daily tasks.
To effectively prepare students for addressing intricate problems, the results suggest that continuous efforts to foster critical thinking in education are necessary for equipping learners with the skills they need to succeed, both academically and professionally.
From these insights, it would seem advisable for institutions to prioritize integrating critical thinking and argumentation into their curricula.
This could involve introducing more complex writing assignments that motivate students to critically assess multifaceted issues, incorporate evidence-based reasoning, and consider multiple However, teachers are also expected to offer specific feedback on critical thinking elements such as clarity, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness, all of which may assist students in identifying areas for improvement and help guide them toward ongoing skill enhancement.
Additionally, workshops on effective argumentation techniques, including addressing counterarguments, could further improve studentsAo argumentative abilities.
ItAos also important to note that reinforcing these skills across a range of subjects and contexts may better prepare students to apply critical thinking both in academic settings and real-world situations, thereby expanding their analytical and argumentative capacities overall.
Conclusion In conclusion, authentic assessment was observed to play a significant role in the development of critical thinking skills among students, particularly in supporting claims.
The results of this research indicated that students in non-English faculties at Indonesian universities demonstrated notable competence in handling the abstract qualities inherent in argumentative essays, such as clarity, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness.
This suggests that, through real-world writing tasks and meaningful evaluation criteria, authentic assessments effectively fostered critical thinking skills in argumentative writing.
Furthermore, the impact of authentic assessment on the quality of argumentation within non-English departments in Vol.
No.
4, 2024
Akib.
Muhsin.
Hamid, & Irawan Indonesian higher education institutions was clearly evident.
The high quality of argumentative writing reflected the students' proficiency in formulating strong thesis statements, effectively utilizing evidence, considering counterarguments, and drawing insightful conclusions.
Based on these findings, it was inferred that authentic assessment enhanced the ability of students to argue convincingly, analyze complex issues, and approach subjects with a critical Accordingly, the obtained results emphasized the importance of integrating authentic assessment practices into curriculum design, particularly in departments where English is not the primary language of instruction in Indonesian higher education institutions.
Future research can be carried out to further emphasize and thoroughly explore the mechanisms underlying the development of critical thinking and argumentation skills.
Furthermore, longitudinal studies tracking the progression of these skills over time could offer valuable insights into how each competence evolves in response to various teaching methodologies, curriculum designs, and educational interventions.
Comparative studies across diverse student populations and educational settings could also provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the acquisition and mastery of critical thinking abilities.
Lastly, complementing these quantitative approaches, qualitative investigations can be performed to explore the perceptions of students about critical thinking instructions to provide a strong foundation for refining pedagogical strategies.
Declaration of conflicting interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this work.
Funding acknowledgements We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar for generously granting us research funding under the International Collaboration Research Scheme.
This invaluable support, as outlined in Contract Number 004-KOP-PEN/PENGABD/IV/1443/2022, has provided us with the opportunity to conduct meaningful and impactful research.
We deeply appreciate the trust and commitment shown by Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar in fostering academic excellence and international collaboration.
References