How Do Students Discuss a Literary Text on the Basis of their Interpretations?

An Analysis of Students' Group Discussions

Abstract

Literature can be one of the media for delivering certain information and messages to readers. In literary texts, meanings are usually more implicit than in news and nonfiction articles, which makes the role of the readers more important as they have to engage in reading to make sense of the world. Given the nature of literature, the authors have incorporated literary texts not just to teach English but also to enhance students' thinking skills through group discussions; these have been well-received by the students. In this research, the authors analyze all of the 23 students' utterances during their 30-minute discussions. This article examines how and what the students actually discussed, and explores how assignments and tasks using literature as a medium to improve students' reading ability and thinking skills can be improved.