What is Worth a Thought? Encouraging critical thinking through Postmodern Literature in Secondary Education

Abstract

[eng] In a world flooded with information and a wide variety of sources of input, critical thinking has become an essential issue to consider in secondary education. Students need to analyse the information they get and be able to ponder whether it is reliable enough as a standpoint for building their view of reality. This master’s dissertation is aimed at developing critical thinking skills through the use of postmodern literature. The main ideals in which the cultural movement of Postmodernism is based upon paves the way for a new approach to teaching; one which not only includes cultural content, but also it conceives it as a source of reflection and questioning. A teaching proposal has been designed considering postmodern literature to develop critical thinking abilities. The proposal has been applied with a group of 1 st of bachillerato students in secondary education to analyse their responses and to check whether this approach is applicable in a classroom context. The postmodern novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières has laid at the core of both material and character selection for the reinforcement of critical thinking. It is a suitable fictional setting that prompts students into deconstructing stereotypes. Ultimately this work encourages its audience to reconsider aspects like war or disagreements between nations which do not only occur in fiction, they are the constant reality in the twenty-first century. Results show that if the character and chapter selections are appropriate and adapted to the students’ interests, they can be tackled with conviction in class. Furthermore, the novelty provides the students with an enriching experience and increases their motivation to analyse and think critically about the world that surrounds them.