An Analysis of Writing Tasks Included in The English Textbook for Grade Eight

Abstract

The present study on An Analysis of Writing Tasks Included in the English Textbook for Grade Eight aimed to identify and analyze the writing tasks included in the English textbook for grade eight and to explore how far the writing tasks are designed based on Nunan (2004) taxonomy of task types. Keeping the objectives in centre, I incorporated all the writing tasks included in the textbook as a sample. In order to collect the data, I prepared two sets of checklist on the basis of the theoretical framework given by Harmer (2007), River (1978) and Nunan (2004). Only secondary sources of data were used in this research. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted both statistically and descriptively in different sections. From the result of the study, it has been found that the textbook has included the variety of writing tasks, which were categorized under controlled, guided and free writing tasks. Similarly, it was found that guided writing tasks were frequently used writing against controlled and free writing tasks in the textbook. On the other hand, analyzing the total 46 guided, controlled and free writing tasks, it was found that 40 writing tasks (about 90%) were designed based on Nunan's (2004) taxonomy of task types. Among the five categories of tasks types as: cognitive, interpersonal, linguistic, affective and creative tasks, linguistic tasks were frequently used task type while designing the writing tasks in the textbook. This study has been divided into four chapters. The first chapter deals with background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitations of the study and operational definitions of the key terms. Similarly, second chapter of the study consists of review of the theoretical and empirical literature, implication of the study and conceptual framework. in addition the third chapter incorporates the method and procedure of the study followed by design of the study, sample and sample procedure, research tools, source of data, data collection procedures, data analysis procedure and ethical considerations. Similarly, the forth chapter consists analysis and interpretation of the result. Lastly, fifth chapter deals with the findings, conclusion and recommendations in policy related, practice related and further research related.