The use of connotation technique for the development of primary school students' writing ability

Developing the ability of written expression in the framework of Turkish education has gained more importance nowadays. Individuals with powerful ability of expression can leave behind permanent works of art as long as they convey their thoughts and knowledge into writing in the most permanent way. Written expression is used not only as a means of presenting knowledge but also as a means of developing creativity nowadays. It is evident that creative thinking and generating different ideas will cause individuals to earn many things either in work life, in the future of the country or in the international arena. Creative writing has arisen because of all these needs. Among creative writing techniques as for connotation technique that can make unbelievable connections among synapses which activates almost all of the neurons of the brain is not applied at schools most of the time and even it is applied, the activities it includes and its results can not be set forth. In our study to overcome this insufficiency we made students write compositions by experimental method at three schools that show different and same sociocultural characteristics. In some of the classes we taught the students the connotation technique and in others we did not and Arts and Science Centers which give education to gifted students were among these schools. We evaluated the compositions in terms of both the effectiveness of the connotation technique and the influence of socioeconomic status in the success of writing, we tried to have similar experimental and control groups with respect to teachers (that attended the classes were the same), family background and etc. Since each school had different socioeconomic properties each one had different experimental and control groups. As a result of our study the following is set forth: an activity list to teach connotation technique, a scale to evaluate written expression, findings indicating that connotation technique develops written expression of the students and a comparison of socioeconomic status and these findings. Key Words: Gifted, Writing Education, Turkish Education, Connotation