The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze writing activities
in English textbooks for 6th graders and 7th graders in the aspects of
genre and writing types. In order to accomplish the purpose, the following
research questions were addressed; 1) What kinds of genre are
implemented? 2) What kinds of writing types are presented in English
textbooks for 6th and 7th graders? Each of three English textbooks for
6th graders and 7th graders were selected for this research and writing
activities in each textbook were analyzed. The results of the study were
as follows. First, various types of genres were incorporated in both English
textbooks for 6th and 7th graders, and ‘social writing' was the most
frequent genre, ‘study writing' was the second, and‘personal writing'
was the third. However, only a tiny portion of ‘creative writing’ was
included as writing activity in the both textbooks. Secondly, more free
writing activities were included in the English textbooks for 7th graders
and more guided writing activities were included in the textbooks for 6th
graders. Lastly, writing activities in a few textbooks were offered by
proper amount of linguistic or content support. However, some other
textbooks did not provide that kind of support system. Instructional
implications for L2 writing task development and writing instruction were
suggested.