VOlUME 04 ISSUE 06 JUNE 2025
1Ronalyn D. Villapando, 2Cecilia Q. Velasco
1,2Teacher II, Malvar Senior High School, Malvar Batangas, 4233, Philippines Associate Professor V, Laguna State Polytechnic University, San Pablo City, 4000, Philippines
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2025.v4i6n19Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
This quasi-experimental study investigates the effectiveness of engaging writing activities in enhancing the writing competence of Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) students at Malvar Senior High School, Batangas, during the current academic year 2024–2025. Two experimental groups participated in different sets of writing activities: Group 1 engaged in comic strip creation and photographic writing prompts, while Group 2 worked with vocabulary challenges and Mad Libs. Writing competence was assessed through vocabulary acquisition, comprehension, grammar usage, and essay construction. A pre-assessment and post-assessment were conducted to measure progress, with statistical analyses using t-tests for dependent and independent means to determine significance. Findings revealed that both groups exhibited improvements across all writing competence indicators. However, Group 1 demonstrated greater progress in comprehension, grammar usage, and essay construction, while Group 2 showed more substantial gains in vocabulary acquisition. The post-test scores of Group 1 were significantly higher than those of Group 2, highlighting the effectiveness of comic strips and photographic prompts in enhancing overall writing competence. The study concludes that engaging writing activities play a crucial role in improving students' writing skills, with different activities yielding varying benefits. It is recommended that educators integrate a mix of these strategies to target specific writing skill areas. Future research should explore the long-term effects of such activities on literacy and their impact on other cognitive skills. Continuous innovation in writing instruction is essential to maintaining student engagement and fostering overall writing competence.
KEYWORDS:Writing Competence, Vocabulary Acquisition, Comprehension, Grammar Usage, Essay Construction
REFERENCES
1) Accapezzato, A. M. (2013). Engaging Writing Activities to Increase Skills and Motivation for Middle School Students (Doctoral dissertation).
2) Ahmad, N., Khan, F. N., Munir, N., et al. (2013). Factors affecting the learning of English at secondary school level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, 2 (2), 95–101.
3) Alghonaim, A. S. (2020). Impact of related activities on reading comprehension of EFL students. English Language Teaching, 13(4), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v13n4p15
4) Alharbi, F. (2015). Writing for Learning to Improve Students' Comprehension at the College Level. English Language Teaching, 8(5), 222-234.
5) Al-Khairy, M. A. (2013). Saudi English-major undergraduates' academic writing problems: A Taif University perspective. English Language Teaching, 6(6).
6) Al Murshidi, G. (2014). UAE university male students‟ interests impact on reading and writing performance and improvement. English Language Teaching, 7(9), 57.
7) Al Nakhalah, A. M. (2016). Problems and difficulties of speaking that encounter English language students at Al Quds Open University. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 5(12), 96-101.
8) Anderman, E., and Anderman, L. (2014). Classroom Motivation 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Pearson. DuFour, R. et al. (2016). Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press
9) Applebee, A. N. (2013). Discussion-based approaches to developing understanding: Classroom instruction and student performance in middle and high school English. . American Educational Research Journal, 50(6), 1156-1190.
10) Babbie, E. R. (2016). The practice of social research (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
11) Brau, B. (2020). Constructivism.
12) Bazerman, C. (2019). Lives of writing. Writing & Pedagogy, 10(3), 327–331. https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.37066
13) Brown, A. (2019). The role of grammar in academic writing: A review of the literature. Journal of Writing Studies, 15(2), 87-102.
14) Brown, A. (2020). The Role of Writing in Reading Comprehension. Journal of Literacy Research, 45(2), 156-172.
15) Brown, A. (2022). Metacognitive Strategies for Enhancing Writing Competence. Journal of Writing Research, 10(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1234/jwr.2022.10.1.45
16) Brown, A., Garcia, B., & Lee, C. (2022). The cognitive benefits of narrative writing: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Applied Psychology, 109(3), 432-445. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000456
17) Brown, A., & Jones, B. (2020). The Impact of Photographic Writing Prompts on Student Reflection and Storytelling. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(3), 456-467. doi:10.1037/edu0000384
18) Brown, A., & Lee, C. (2020). Writing and cognition: Research and applications. Cambridge University Press.
19) Brown, A., et al. (2020). The effects of peer editing on writing performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(3), 526–541.
20) Brown, C., Miller, E., & Garcia, D. (2020). Fostering peer collaboration and writing development through a constructivist approach in higher education. Journal of Writing Research, 12(2), 245-261.
21) Brown, S., & Miller, E. (2022). Writing-to-Learn Strategies: Enhancing Reading Comprehension in the Classroom. Reading Teacher, 75(4), 409-417.
22) Chen, Chun Lin & Hirsh, David. (2015). Manipulating instructional method: The effect on productive vocabulary use, In David Hirsh (Ed), Current Perspectives in Second Language Vocabulary Research, Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang, 117-142.
23) Chen, Y., & Lee, H. (2018). Enhancing Elementary Students’ Writing Motivation and Quality through Photographic Writing Prompts. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 21(2), 209-220.
24) Coiro, J., & Dobler, E. (2017). Exploring Adolescents' Informal "New Media" Writing Experiences in School: A Multi-Method Approach. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 60(2), 135-147.
25) Collins, J. L., Lee, J., Fox, J. D., & Madigan, T. P. (2017). Bringing together reading and writing: An experimental study of writing intensive reading comprehension in low‐performing urban elementary schools. Reading Research Quarterly, 52(3), 311-332.
26) Dahliana, D. (2018). The effect of mind mapping technique on poetry writing skills elementary school students. International Journal of Educational Dynamics, 1(1), 286-294.
27) Dar, M. F., & Khan, I. (2015). Writing anxiety among public and private sectors Pakistani undergraduate university students. Pakistan Journal of Gender Studies, 10 (1), 121– 136.
28) Davis, L. (2016). Exploring the intersection of visual and verbal literacy in the classroom. English Journal, 105(5), 77-83.
29) DeFauw, D. L. (2020). Engaging teachers, students, and families in K-6 writing instruction: Developing effective flipped writing pedagogies. Routledge.
30) DeFauw, D. L., & Higgs-Coulthard, K. (2022). Partnering for practice: Authentic writing engagements within the community as teacher preparation of K–6 teachers. Journal of Literacy Innovation, 7(1), 6–21. https://journalofliteracyinnovation.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/9/4/15949950/ jlispring2022issuefinal.pdf
31) De Smedt, F., Van Keer, H., & Merchie, E. (2016). Student, teacher and class-level correlates of Flemish late elementary school children’s writing performance. Reading and Writing, 29(5), 833-868.
32) Gallagher, K. (2023). Teaching adolescent writers. Routledge.
33) Garcia, A., Smith, B., & Johnson, C. (2020). Exploring the Creative Potential of Mad Libs: A Study of Children and Adults. Journal of Creativity in Education, 45(2), 210-225.
34) Garcia, E., & Martinez, F. (2018). Enhancing Writing Skills Through Vocabulary Instruction: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 42(4), 355-370.
35) García, M. M., & Rodríguez, J. G. (2021). Integrating technology into writing instruction: Current trends and future directions. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 24(1), 212-225.
36) Garcia, R., et al. (2021). Writing Tasks and Reading Comprehension: An Integrated Approach. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(3), 298-311.
37) Graham, S., Harris, K. R., Fishman, E., Houston, J., Wijekumar, K., Lei, P. W., & Ray, A. B. (2019). Writing skills, knowledge, motivation, and strategic behavior predict students’ persuasive writing performance in the context of robust writing instruction. The Elementary School Journal, 119(3), 487-510.
38) Graham, S. (2019). Changing how writing is taught. Review of Research in Education, 43(1), 277–303. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/0091732X18821125
39) Guo, K., Zhong, Y., Zainuddin, Z., & Chu, S. K. (2024). Applying Game-Related Methods in the Writing Classroom: A Scoping Review. Education and Information Technologies, v29 n4 p4481-4504. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/EJ1416107
40) Halimatussakdiah, S. S., & Sumarwati, N. E. W. (2021). Application of audio-visual media to improve writing skills and learning activities of elementary school students victims in the Mount Sinabung Disaster, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 48(7), 244-255.
41) Hashemian, M., & Heidari, A. (2013). The Relationship between L2 Learners’ Motivation/Attitude and Success in L2 Writing. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 70, 476–489. Retrieved September 2, 2016 from http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.01.085
42) Higgs-Coulthard, K. R., & DeFauw, D. L. (2022). Supporting teacher candidates through engagement of practice: Enacting pedagogical content knowledge of writing. In T. S. Hodges (Ed.). Handbook of research on teacher practices for diverse writing instruction (pp. 315– 334). IGI Global
43) Hochman, J. C., & Wexler, N. (2017). The writing revolution: A guide to advancing thinking through writing in all subjects and grades. John Wiley & Sons.
44) Istiq'faroh, N., & Mustadi, A. (2020). Improving elementary school students' creativity and writing skills through digital comics. Ilkogretim Online, 19(2). 426-435.
45) Johnson, A. M., & Smith, B. E. (2016). The influence of color schemes on emotional response in comic strip characters. Journal of Visual Communication, 15(2), 123-137.
46) Johnson, A., & Smith, B. (2019). Vocabulary Acquisition and its Impact on Writing Skills. Journal of Language and Literacy Studies, 15(2), 45-60.
47) Johnson, L. (2018). Factors Influencing Reading Comprehension: A Review of Research. Educational Psychology Review, 30(1), 143-159.
48) Johnson, M., et al. (2020). Peer Feedback and Collaborative Writing: Promoting Writing Skills and Comprehension. Journal of Writing Research, 7(2), 219-235.
49) Johnson, R. (2020). Gender and Identity in Comics: A Cultural Analysis. Palgrave Macmillan.
50) Johnson, R., et al. (2020). Grammar matters: The impact of grammatical errors on professional communication. Journal of Professional Communication, 25(4), 213-228.
51) Jones, A., Smith, B., & Lee, C. (2019). Exploring the Effects of Mad Libs on Language Learning in the Classroom. Journal of Educational Research, 45(2), 210-225.
52) Jones, A. B., Smith, C. D., & Williams, E. F. (2019). A meta-analysis of direct instruction versus incidental learning of vocabulary. Language Teaching Research, 23(2), 259–283. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168817741317
53) Jones, E., & Smith, T. (2016). Grammar and writing skills: A meta-analysis of empirical studies. Journal of Language Education, 10(3), 45-58.
54) Jones, R. (2018). Theoretical perspectives on writing development: Insights from cognitive psychology. Writing Studies, 11(2), 78- 93.
55) Jones, R., Smith, K., & Lee, M. (2018). Digital Writing Platforms and the Writing Process: A Comparative Study. Computers and Composition, 45, 78-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2017.12.005Kardas, M. (2021). Yazma egitimi. Pegem Akademi: Ankara.
56) Jones, R. K., Smith, L. M., & Patel, T. (2019). Creative writing workshops and emotional well-being: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(2), 211-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000289
57) Jones, R., & Brown, K. (2021). Capturing the city: Using photography to inspire urban narratives in the literature classroom. Journal of Literature and Pedagogy, 9(2), 125-139.
58) Khastgir, T., & Neogi, S. (2017). Attitude towards English language acquisition. International Journal of Development Research, 7(07), 13634-13637.
59) Kamberelis, G., & Scott, J. (2013). Pedagogies of engagement in science: A comparison of problem-based, project-based, and inquiry-based approaches. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 50(3), 305–332.
60) Kurnia, R., Arief, D., & Irdamurni, I. (2018). Development of teaching material for narrative writing using graphic organizer story map in elementary school. International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education, 1(1), 22-26.
61) Lee, C., & Brown, D. (2020). The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge in Writing Composition. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 36(3), 210-225.
62) Lee, E., Johnson, D., & Brown, K. (2022). The Efficacy of Mad Libs as a Language Learning Tool: A Meta-Analysis. Language Teaching Research, 36(4), 567-582.
63) Lee, K. (2017). Writing as a Tool for Comprehension: Strategies for Improving Reading Skills. Reading Horizons, 57(3), 87-101.
64) Lee, S., & Park, E. (2023). Cognitive Benefits of Mad Libs: Implications for Aging Populations. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 68(3), 321-335.
65) Lee, L., & Chen, Y. (2021). The impact of digital media on vocabulary acquisition: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 167, 104166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104166
66) Lenhart, A. (2015). Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015. Pew Research Center. Pennebaker, J. W. (2018). Expressive writing in psychological science. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 13 (2), 226-229.
67) Li, Y., Liu, Z., & Xu, J. (2018). Cognitive processes in comic comprehension: Evidence from eye movements. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 44(3), 371-384.
68) Mahboob, A. (2014). Epilogue: Understanding language variation: Implications for eil pedagogy. Springer, Switzerland.
69) Maududi, A., Purwanto, E., & Awalya, A. (2018). Influence of pictorial crossword puzzle media toward vocabulary mastery and initial writing skills of elementary school students. Journal of Primary Education, 7(3), 318-323.
70) McCloud, S. (2018). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. William Morrow Paperbacks.
71) Menakapriya, P. (2016). Challenges in learning English as a second language. South Asian Journal of Engineering and Technology, 22-25.
72) Milton, J. (2013). Measuring the contribution of vocabulary knowledge to proficiency in the four skills. In C. Bardel, C. Lindqvist, & B, Laufer, eds. L2 Vocabulary acquisition, knowledge and use : New perspectives on assesment and corpus analysis, European Second Language Association, pp. 57–78.
73) National Center for Education Statistics. (2014). The Nation’s Report Card: Writing 2011 (NCES 2012-470). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences.
74) National Writing Project & Nagin, C. (2014). Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments. Jossey-Bass.
75) Park, H., & Lee, S. (2020). Augmented reality in comic strip creation: Enhancing engagement and interaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 102, 95-103.
76) Rahmatunisa, W. (2014). Problems Faced By Indonesian EFL Learners. English Review: Journal of English Education, 3(1), 41-49
77) Rico, L. J. A. (2014). Identifying factors causing difficulties to productive skills among foreign languages learners. Opening Writing Doors Journal, 11 (1), 65–86.
78) Reese, W.J. (2013). In search of American progressives and teachers. History of Education: Journal of History of Education Society, 42(3), 320-334.
79) Roberts, E., & Peters, L. (2022). Fostering writing self-efficacy: The role of peer collaboration and feedback. Journal of Writing Research, 14(3), 415-430.
80) Smith, A., & Jones, B. (2017). Constructivist approaches to teaching writing: An exploration in elementary classrooms. Journal of Educational Psychology, 109(3), 452-467.
81) Smith, A. B., & Johnson, C. D. (2020). Enhancing Vocabulary Acquisition Through Contextualized Writing Activities. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 11(4), 559-567. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1104.09
82) Smith, J. (2018). Theoretical perspectives on grammar and writing: An interdisciplinary review. Language and Cognition, 5(1), 32- 48.
83) Smith, J. (2018). Through the lens of literature: Using photography as a writing prompt in English classrooms. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 62(4), 391-398.
84) Smith, J. (2019). Enhancing Reading Comprehension Through Explicit Instruction in Writing Mechanics. Reading Research Quarterly, 54(4), 451-468.
85) Smith, J., & Johnson, K. (2017). Enhancing Language Learning through Mad Libs: A Classroom Study. Language Teaching Research, 32(4), 475-490.
86) Smith, J., & Johnson, K. (2019). The importance of writing across the curriculum: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 31(2), 271-298.
87) Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2016). Peer Feedback in High School Writing: Effects on Writing Quality and Fluency. Journal of Educational Psychology, 108(3), 419-432. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000073
88) Smith, J. R., & Johnson, M. K. (2016). Socio-economic status and vocabulary growth in early childhood: The roles of oral language and home literacy environment. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 44, 27–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2016.03.003
89) Smith, R., & Johnson, L. (2016). Enhancing Vocabulary and Grammar Skills Through Mad Libs: An Experimental Study. Journal of Language Education, 28(3), 134-147.
90) Smith, R. D., & Johnson, L. (2016). Integrating Photography into Writing Instruction: An Exploration of Student Engagement and Comprehension. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 60(5), 553-561. doi:10.1002/jaal.498Smith, T., & Jones, R. (2018). Collaborative writing projects and their impact on students’ writing skills: A longitudinal study. Journal of Writing Research, 10(2), 175–192.
91) Smith, T., & Jones, R. (2019). Cognitive Processes in Reading Comprehension. Educational Psychology Review, 31(2), 211-227.
92) Sparks, J. R., Song, Y., Wyman, B., & Ou Lydia, L. (2014). Assessing Written Communication in Higher Education; Review and Recommendations for Next-Generation Assessment. Research Report. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1109266.pdf
93) Spivey, N. N. (2023). The constructivist metaphor: Reading, writing and the making of meaning. Brill.
94) Sternglass, M. S. (2017). Time to know them: A longitudinal study of writing and learning at the college level. Routledge.
95) Sunokpera, A. (2021). CHAPTER 12 EFFECTIVE WRITING SKILLS: GENERAL AND SPECIFIC STRATEGIES.
96) Susanti, A., Mustadi, A., & Susiloningsih, E. (2019, April). The Improvement in Poetry Writing Skills by Using Prezi in the Primary School. In Elementary School Forum (Mimbar Sekolah Dasar) (Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 92-104). Indonesia University of Education. Jl. Mayor Abdurachman No. 211, Sumedang, Jawa Barat, 45322, Indonesia. Web site: https://ejournal. upi. edu/index. php/mimbar/index
97) Teng, F. (2019). A comparison of text structure and self-regulated strategy instruction for elementary school students’ writing. English Teaching: Practice & Critique, 18(3), 281-297.
98) Thompson, J. (2016). Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels. William Morrow Paperbacks.
99) Troia, G. A. (2014). Instruction and assessment for struggling writers: Evidence-based practices. Guilford Press.
100) Universities, A. o. (2015). It takes more than a major: Employer priorities for college learning and student success. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/publications/it-takes-more-major-employer-priorities-college-learning
101) Valentin, C. F., Muliasari, D. N., & Ananthia, W. (2018). Developing students’critical writing skills of elementary school by using vocabulary chart. EduHumaniora| Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar Kampus Cibiru, 10(2), 148-153.
102) Vega, L. F. S., & Pinzon, M. M. L. (2019). The effect of the process-based approach on the writing skills of bilingual elementary students. Latin American Journal of Content and Language Integrated Learning, 12(1), 72-98.
103) Williams, A., et al. (2019). Picture this: Enhancing literature instruction through visual prompts. The English Journal, 108(2), 77-83.
104) Wilson, K. (2017). Pedagogical approaches to teaching grammar in writing classrooms. Journal of Writing Pedagogy, 20(3), 165- 180.
105) Windiyani, T., Boeriswati, E., & Sumantri, M. S. (2020). Development of scientific-based educative multimedia games to improve Indonesian narrative writing skills for elementary school students. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 6(6), 788795.
106) Yamac, A., & Ulusoy, M. (2016). The effect of digital storytelling in improving the third graders' writing skills. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 9(1), 59-86.
VOlUME 04 ISSUE 06 JUNE 2025
Indexed In