The development of writing skills in students in the fourth year of GBE

Abstract

The development of writing skills in Language and Literature is essential for developing students capable of expressing ideas in a clear and structured manner. This study, based on a mixed-method approach and a pre-experimental design, was conducted with fourth-year students of Basic General Education at the Alonso de Mercadillo Educational Unit in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, during the 2024-2025 academic year. Its objective was to propose and validate a teaching strategy that promotes the comprehensive improvement of these skills. The initial diagnosis revealed a predominance of medium and low levels in key competencies such as textual coherence, use of logical connectives, and literary resources. In response, a strategy composed of eight sequential phases was designed that integrate traditional and technological methods, encouraging active participation, independent practice, and critical reflection. The validation of the strategy, through expert panels and its subsequent practical application, showed positive results. Students achieved significant improvements in the organization of ideas, creativity in the use of literary resources, and textual revision skills. Guided and independent activities, along with adjustments based on qualitative feedback, helped consolidate learning and address contextual needs. These findings reinforce the importance of structured teaching strategies adapted to educational realities for the comprehensive development of writing skills.