The purpose of this study is to analyze writing activities in three middle school textbooks of third grades which have been used since the 2009 National Curriculum revision. For this study, I selected three most widely used English textbooks and analyzed the writing activities using four criteria: controlled, guided, and free writing, individual activity or group activity, those utilizing given topics or not, and whether the writing activities relate to other language skills.
The results of this study are as follows. First, the most frequent type of writing was the controlled writing among the controlled, guided and free writing types. Middle school students become more familiar with controlled writing activities than the others. Second, in the case of the activity type, writing was performed individually rather than in groups. Third, in case of the topic, I was able to discover all topics of the writing activities are given in the textbook. Finally, I found out that writing skill is connected with reading skill. These two language skills are highly connected with each other.
Based on the aforementioned, I would like to suggest the following. First, the number of guided writings and free writings need to be increased than now. Therefore, students have more opportunities to write various types of writing in the textbooks. Second, group activities in the textbooks needed to be increased. If students did the writing activities in groups, their motivation and confidence are possibly higher and writing anxiety will be lower. Third, the students must have opportunities to choose topics by themselves. Next, integrated writing activities must be increased. Activities combining two skills was the highest in the portion. In two skills' connection, writing was mostly related to reading skills and the next most language skills were listening skills. Last, more guided and free activities should be included in the middle school textbooks. For example, 30% of the whole chapter should consist of controlled writing activities, another 30% of guided writing activities, and the rest of them free writing practice. Thus, students can gradually practice all types of writing in the textbooks.