Discourse Analysis of Students’ Writing: The Interplay Between Critical Thinking and Academic Vocabulary Use in Two Indonesian EFL Universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26877/eternal.v7i1.3155Keywords:
Academic vocabulary, Critical thinking, Discourse analysis, EFL writing, Rhetorical organizationAbstract
This study examines how critical thinking and academic vocabulary (breadth and depth) influence the discourse features of undergraduate essays at Universitas PGRI Semarang and Universitas PGRI Madiun. Using a comparative qualitative design with quantitative indicators, the research analyzed student texts, vocabulary assessments, and interviews to evaluate coherence, cohesion, and argumentative clarity. Findings indicate that higher critical engagement correlates with more stable rhetorical sequencing and a clearer authorial stance. Furthermore, students with stronger vocabulary resources demonstrated more precise lexical choices and varied academic expressions. The comparison reveals that systematic scaffolding at Universitas PGRI Semarang fosters more coherent discourse, whereas irregular instruction at Universitas PGRI Madiun leads to greater variability in writing quality. The results underscore the necessity of an integrated pedagogy that combines critical-thinking development, explicit vocabulary enrichment, and discourse-focused instruction to enhance academic writing in Indonesian EFL contexts.
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