The effects of cooperative learning on students' writing performance

This research investigated the effects of cooperative learning in developing students? writing performance and grammar achievement in writing. The purposes of the research were to find the differences between pre-test and post-test results in terms of overall writing quality and grammar development in the control group and the experimental group and to compare the control group and the experimental group considering the scores obtained through pre-test and post-test in terms of overall writing quality and grammar. The sample included two tenth classes comprised of 50 EFL students at a vocational high school located in Tarsus.The study lasted 12 weeks. STAD, a method of cooperative learning was implemented in the experimental group whereas traditional learning was implemented in the control group. In order to assess participants? writing performance and grammar development, they were assigned to write a narrative essay as pre-test and post-test. Considering the mistakes done by students in the pre-test, the syllabus was designed. All essays were analytically rated by two teachers.Scores obtained through pre-test and post-test were statistically analyzed by means of SPSS 17. As a result of the analysis, it was found that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test results of the experimental group in terms of overall writing performance and grammar development in writing whereas there was not any significant difference between pre-test and post-test results of the control group in terms of overall writing performance and grammar development. It was found that cooperative learning was effective in developing students? writing performance and grammar achievement.Key Words: Overall Writing Performance, Grammar Development, Cooperative Learning