Analysis ofErrors in English Writing of Grade 9 Students’ at GilgelBeles Secondary School in Metekel Zone, BenshangulGumuz Region.
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Date
2024-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze errors of grade nine students in writing English language with the reference to GilgelBelesSecondary School.The study was employed a survey method both mixed method design which includes both quantitative and qualitative research analysis methods. The students wrote a paragraph about (their autobiography and the use of water) with a range of 100-150 words approximately. They also completed the questionnaire that was adopted from Hourai (2008, p65-67) regarding their views on their writing skills. The teachers completed the questionnaire and replied to open-ended questions. A systematic sampling technique was implemented to select 10 students in each section from the total population of 216 students. 40 students completed the questionnaires. An available sampling technique was used to select teachers. Among four English teachers, three teachers completed the questionnaire formally and returned it to the researcher.The findings of the study showed different types of errors: mechanics, spelling of words, and grammatical errors (subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, pronouns, the use of articles and conjunctions, passive voices, word orders, and auxiliaries). Especially, mechanics (the use of punctuation marks) and word spelling were the most common problems in students’ paragraph writing in English. Besides, incomprehensibility of grammar rules has other additional negative effects on students' compositions. It has been found that the students made errors due to many reasons: lack of practice daily, lack of motivation, problem of methods of teaching, lack of writing activities,skipping of writing lessons, lack of supplementary writing materials and lack of knowledge of creating situations to practice writing skills.