Edy Bambang Irawan

Analysis of the Students’ Argumentation based on the level of Ability: Study on the Process of Mathematical Proof

Argumentation is one important component in building an understanding of mathematics students. Argumentation is concerned with a persons ability to give reasons based on the facts to make a conclusion and is frequently used in mathematical proofs. Argumentation produce arguments that cannot be categorized right or wrong but it is valid or not, so a persons ability does not guarantee the validity of arguments, depending on his thinking process. This research aims to analyze the arguments using the Toulmin argumentation consists of: data, claim, warrant, backing, qualifier and rebuttal. The researchers grouped students based on skill level high and low then analyze the sixth component of argumentation used students and validitasnya in the process of proof. Qualitative Research methods are used to collect data in the form of the results of the work of students, think aloud, field notes, and the results of the interview. The results showed that students with low ability can make valid arguments with true claims whereas students with high ability can also produce a valid argument with wrong claims. Each component of the argument has different characteristics based on the students ability level.

Characteristics of Thinking Processes abstraction Reflective of Students in Solving limits Problems

This research was aimed to describe the thinking processes of students in problem solving limits by reflective abstraction. This research was classified as exploratory research with qualitative descriptive approach. Subjects of this research were 21 students of IAIN Ambon and Pattimura University of Ambon. The data of test results or problem-solving task limit function by incorporating student think aloud and interviewing transcripts. The combination of these data further was created a structure diagram of thinking that is based on study framework according to Piaget by the researchers. The results showed that: 1) Track student thinking in solving the problem limits by construction of study is the path of the ordered most of the track: 1 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 2 – 4 – 3 – 1 – 4 – 2 – 3. and 2) Characteristics of the thinking processes of students in solving problems limit based construction study with lines that are not consistent can be explained as follows: the activities of reflection occurs in the absence of coordination process between the components of cognitive structure is already complete.