This study aim at comparing the effect of writing assignments on the critical thinking of the first year high school male students of Malayer in biology and sociology. For this purpose a sample size of 105 subjects was assigned into two experiment and two control groups through random selection. ...
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This study aim at comparing the effect of writing assignments on the critical thinking of the first year high school male students of Malayer in biology and sociology. For this purpose a sample size of 105 subjects was assigned into two experiment and two control groups through random selection. A quasi-experimental pre-test post - test design in the control groups and a factorial design (2×2) in the whole experiment were applied. To assess the subject critical thinking in pre-test and post-test the California Critical Thinking Skill test (form B) was applied. Then writing assignments designed specifically for the afore-mentioned biology and sociology courses were manipulated for 4.5 month in both experimental groups; control groups followed their usual activities without receiving any writing assignment. Data analysis through ANOVA and t-test of the independent groups showed no meaningful difference in the subjects’ critical thinking pre-test mean scores. subjects post-test and changed scores analysis showed that the application of the writing assignments for teaching biology and sociology has increased the critical thinking of the students as α<0/01.However, the effect amount of writing assignments on the critical thinking of the students in biology and sociology was not statistically meaningful.