Critical Thinking in the Classroom : Using Fiction and the Topic of Global Warmingto Develop Critical Thinking Skills

The main purpose of this essay is to show the importance of teaching critical thinking. Thisessay looks at how teachers can use a topic such as global warming, where critical thinking isrequired, in the classroom to improve the general knowledge of their students and also theirability to learn. This will be done with help of two books, Forty Signs of Rain by Kim StanleyRobinson and State of Fear by Michael Crichton.In society it is the school’s responsibility to prepare children for their future, to make themable to adapt to society and cooperate with other people. In order to prepare the children,communication between the students themselves has to work, but more importantly thecommunication between the teachers and the students have to work. This essay argues thatteachers have a responsibility to create an environment that gives the students the opportunityto practice their communication skills.