Analysis of Prompt Patterns based on Visual Materials: Focusing on Question 53 of TOPIK II

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze and present prompt patterns in the instructions and visual materials of Writing Item No. 53 in the Test of Proficiency in TOPIK II. Methods The study established a basis to analyze prompts in instructions and visual materials by analyzing the “evaluation criteria” for writing items and the “2017 Methods to Write Answers to Writing Questions”. Results The demand to check a visual material was made with a direct expression such as “Look at the next graph” or emphasized the visual material with a demonstrative. Topics were proper for the generational changes in South Korean society such as “household changes.” The most popular text structure type was a “causal structure(6),” which was followed by a “correspondence structure(2)” and “classification structure(1).” Instructions contained the writer's elements such as “State your opinion about it,” and all the instructions limited the length of an answer. Visual materials were provided in various ways based on the mixture of “graphs, graphic organizers, and graphs+graphic organizers.” The content information of visual materials was provided with a sentence in a graphic organizer in many cases. Signs(↓, ��, ↑, or >) were used to organize the content information of a graphic organizer to increase visual concentration. Conclusions The study analyzed prompts in Writing Item No. 53 of TOPIK II specifically and provided the scaffolding elements that could help learners with their writing in detail.