Importance of Exploratory Writing in Critical Thinking and Learning

Abstract

In recognition of the importance of exploratory writing to improve critical thinking for students, a presentation project that incorporated exploratory writing for two weeks in a course about social, psychological, and cultural aspects of dress in Fall 2014 was developed at a Southern university in the United States. The purpose of this study was (1) to share the curriculum development and content behind the project, and (2) to analyze student reflective essay about exploratory writings after the final presentation to identify students’ learning processes and outcomes in terms of improving critical thinking. Utilizing comparative thematic analysis (Glaser, 1965) of students’ reflective essays regarding exploratory writings for their final presentation, this research analyzed student learning outcomes