The effect of creative writing RAFT strategy on the writing anxiety and skills of 4th grade students

This study aims to investigate the effects of the RAFT (Role, Audience, Form, Topic) strategy on the writing anxiety and writing skills of 4th-grade students studying in rural and urban schools. The RAFT strategy is a teaching method that encourages students to actively engage in the writing process, organize their thoughts effectively, and enhance their creative thinking skills. The research was conducted during the 2023-2024 academic year with a total of 70 students from a rural school and an urban school in Amasya province. The study employed a mixed-methods design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. In the quantitative phase, the Writing Anxiety Scale and Writing Self-Efficacy Scale were administered as pre-tests and post-tests to experimental and control groups. Students from rural and urban schools were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental groups participated in weekly writing activities designed using the RAFT strategy for eight weeks, while the control groups engaged in traditional writing activities. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 students from the experimental groups to gain deeper insights into their perceptions, experiences, and attitudes toward the RAFT strategy. The findings revealed that the RAFT strategy is an effective method for reducing writing anxiety and improving writing skills. Significant decreases in writing anxiety levels were observed in the experimental groups, along with notable improvements in writing skills and self-efficacy perceptions compared to the control groups. In addition to quantitative findings, qualitative data also demonstrated the positive impact of the RAFT strategy on students. During the interviews, students reported that the RAFT strategy made the writing process more enjoyable and engaging, helped them organize their writing tasks more effectively, and boosted their confidence in expressing themselves in written form. The study also highlighted differential effects of the RAFT strategy in rural and urban school contexts. Rural students showed a more pronounced decrease in writing anxiety, suggesting that the RAFT strategy can compensate for limited resources in such settings. On the other hand, urban students demonstrated significant progress in writing skills and self-efficacy perceptions. In conclusion, the RAFT strategy was found to be effective in reducing students' writing anxiety, enhancing their writing skills, and fostering a positive attitude toward writing. Integrating the RAFT strategy into Turkish language education programs is recommended, particularly as a means to develop innovative approaches to improving writing skills.