Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Institute of Educational Studies - Department of Curriculum and Methods of Teaching

This research attempted to develop critical thinking skills of first secondary school students. To achieve this aim, a discussion and a dialogue based programme was developed. In addition authentic assessment tools as (rubric and portfolio) were designed to assess students' critical thinking skills. The research adopted the quasi - experimental design. The participants of the research were sixty students selected from Elzahraa secondary school for girls in Helwan in the school year 2012 - 2013. The experimental group received the proposed program while the control group experienced regular instruction. The findings of this research supported the hypotheses and indicated that the discussion and the dialogue strategies proved their effect on developing the required critical thinking skills in English for the first secondary school students. In addition, the research results indicated that the authentic assessment is a vital technique for assessing students' oral and written expressive language in the discussion and the dialogue sessions. Moreover, the results of the programme showed progress of students' oral and written expression in English language that made the students more active and cooperative in the class

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