The present study aims to investigate the effect of collaborative writing practices based on the jigsaw technique on the writing skills of students learning Turkish as a foreign language. The research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach and an explanatory sequential design. Quantitative data were obtained through a pre-test-post-test control group quasi-experimental design, while qualitative data were obtained through focus group interviews. The study group consisted of a total of 48 B2-level students learning Turkish as a foreign language (YFL) at a foundation university in Istanbul (experimental = 25, control = 23). Quantitative data were collected using the “Written Expression Graded Scoring Key” and analyzed using the ANCOVA method in the SPSS 27.0 program. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. According to the research findings, the corrected final test mean of the experimental group (𝑋̄ = 17.78) was found to be statistically significantly higher than the mean of the control group (𝑋̄ = 16.20) (F_(1,45)=10.308, p=.002). The effect size obtained (η² = .186) indicates that collaborative writing practices based on the Jigsaw technique have a moderate effect on writing success. Qualitative findings demonstrate that students actively participated in the writing process and showed significant improvements in information gathering, planning, text editing, and sharing skills within the group. Furthermore, it has been determined that students' writing anxiety decreased, their self-confidence increased, and group interaction strengthened their motivation. The findings suggest that collaborative writing practices based on the jigsaw technique also improve the quality of written products and the interactive and social dimensions of the writing process. Future research could investigate the applicability of this technique at different language levels, in different cultural contexts, and in AI-supported digital writing environments.

Jigsaw technique, collaborative writing, writing skills, teaching Turkish as a foreign language