Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature

Shaheera Jaffar

Journal of Research (Languages and Islamic Studies), Vol # 5, Issue # 1
Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature

Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature

Shaheera Jaffar/
June 30, 2004

Keywords

Critical Thinking Literature Comminication Nadine Gordimer Learning Students Skill Congnitive

Abstract

Students of literature are expected to think critically and apply their critical and analytical kills to the texts they study. It is generally assumed that students who have red the text and attended the lectures would be able to appraise it critically when in reality the case is quite the contrary. Critical thinking involves the use of different cognitive skills, which do not come automatic and have to be taught and developed. This paper would argue for critical thinking as an important area of teaching as it helps students become self -motivated and autonomous learners who can apply their acquired modes of inquiry both inside and outside classroom situation. Critical thinking can be developed through critical reading, rather the two come together. It involves training the students what to look for and how to think about what they find. Leading the students through different reading practices such as inference, interpretation and also questioning the ideologies embedded within the text can do it. The paper uses the text of a short story Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer to illustrate teaching critical thinking through literature.

References

Jump and Other Stories, Gordimer, Nadine (London, 1991)

How to cite

Jaffar, S. (2020). Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو, 5(1), 15–26. https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page

Retrieved from https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page

More citation formats

ACM SIG Proceedings

[1]Jaffar, S. 2020. Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو. 5, 1 (Mar. 2020), 15–26.

ACS Nano

(1)Jaffar, S. Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو 2020, 5 (1), 15–26.

ABNT

JAFFAR, Shaheera. Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو, v. 5, n. 1, p. 15–26, 31 Mar.2020.

Chicago (author-date)

Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Jaffar, S. (2020) “Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature”, (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو, 5(1), pp. 15–26. Available at: https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page (Accessed: 4 May 2026).

IEEE

[1]S. Jaffar, “Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature”, (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 15–26, Mar. 2020, Accessed: May 04, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page

MLA

Jaffar, Shaheera. “Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature”. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو, vols. 5, no. 1, Mar. 2020, pp. 15–26, https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page.

Turabian (full note bibliography)

Jaffar, Shaheera. “Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature”. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو 5, no. 1 (March 31, 2020): 15–26. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page.

Vancouver

1.Jaffar S. Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو [Internet]. 2020 Mar. 31 [cited 2026 May 4];5(1):15–26. Available from: https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page

AMA

1.Jaffar S. Teaching Critical Thinking through Literature. (جرنل آف ریسرچ (اردو. 2020;5(1):15–26. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://jorurdu.bzu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/5e83d7e645a86/page

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