Expert Opinions on Improving Informative Text Writing Skills Through Descriptive Writing Practices

Abstract

This current study aimed to reveal expert opinions on the development of informative text-writing skills through descriptive writing practices. The methodological design of this study is a case study that is one of the qualitative research types. In the process of data collection, 65 expert opinions were sought, 55 of whom were Turkish Language teachers, 5 English Language teachers, 3 Turkish Literature teachers, and 2 Primary-School teachers. In the formation of the study group, it was ensured that the participants were either Turkish Language teachers or had a master’s degree or doctorate in the field of Turkish Language Education. In the data collection phase, expert opinions were obtained on the development of informative text-writing skills through descriptive writing practices via the expert opinion form and then the data obtained were thematized and divided into categories and codes. As a result of the study, the first five informative text types recommended by the experts were essays, autobiographies, petitions, travel writing, and diaries, respectively. Among the activity suggestions of the experts for the development of informative text writing skills are the use of appropriate materials, frequent writing activities, asking students to do research before the writing activity, and paying attention to the principles of writing. Based on the findings obtained from this study, it was seen that the first five themes chosen by the participants for descriptive writing practices were nature, books, culture, travel, and friendship, respectively. According to the expert opinions, it is recommended to organize trips for descriptive writing practices, to describe the places visited, to have students write travel essays, and to create descriptive writing activities by using objects. In addition, it is also suggested to have a description of people, characters, or anyone else in the class.