Assessing Turkish language books used for the first and second echelon in primary education in terms OS principles of creative writing

Abstract

Learning is a progress beginning with birth, and continuing for a lifetime. Primary education is the most important step where basic knowledge and skills are gained. Sound foundations in this stage will play an important role in one's lifetime achievements. In our age, where everything changes and develops with great speed, individuals; who can adapt to this speed, think, question, criticize, create solutions, always look forward, create multiple points of view, express his/her emotions independently, use his/her language effectively; are needed. There are two dimensions of language; understanding and expression. Speaking and writing is the dimension of expression; listening and reading is the dimension of understanding. Writing is an activity which develops later than reading. For the healthy development of writing skill in the manner our age requires, a versatile support is needed. Curriculum, teacher, family, books, especially the textbooks used in mother tongue lessons have important responsibilities in order to have the student express his/her emotions, thoughts, dreams independently. The reason is that books play an important role in the development of both oral and written expression skills. Are books being prepared in a way to fulfill this important responsibility they undertake? In this descriptive research, the sections and instructions of texts on written expression, included in Turkish Language textbooks (6-8) studied in school in Turkey during 2009-2010 education year. The data of the research have been gathered by document examination method, among qualitative research methods. A total of 638 activities and instructions in Turkish Language textbooks have been reviewed separately; the activities and instructions are evaluated according to our purpose. Direct quotations were taken and interpreted from the examined texts by presenting the findings with frequencies in tables.