Analysis of Errors in the Essays of Senior Secondary School Students in Akoko South-West Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

David Opeyemi Adebayo, Onyeyili Ikemefuna Nnamdi, Fagbemi Oluwaseyi Ajibola, Patience Olubukola Makinde, Bukola Jane David, Bushroh Animashaun

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of classroom activities in enhancing writing proficiency among senior secondary school students in Akoko, South-West Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Recognising the importance of English proficiency for academic and professional success, this research analyses the types, frequency, and causes of errors in students' essays, offering insights into language learning challenges. Researchers used a descriptive research design to collect data from 100 students across five schools through an essay-writing task, followed by error analysis to categorise grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and cohesion issues. Results indicate that students frequently struggle with sentence structure, cohesion, and grammatical errors, with sentence and cohesion errors rated as the most severe. Key factors influencing these errors include limited vocabulary, insufficient proofreading, and inadequate command of English. Findings highlight the importance of targeted instructional strategies, including vocabulary enhancement, grammar-focused activities, and consistent feedback to address these challenges. By identifying prevalent errors and underlying causes, this study provides actionable recommendations for educators, emphasising the need for tailored interventions to improve students' writing proficiency and overall language competence. The implications extend to curriculum development, aiming to support students' success in language acquisition and communication skills.

10.22178/pos.111-8


Keywords


Error Analysis; Second Language Acquisition; English Writing Profi-ciency

Full Text:

PDF


References


1. Adegbija, E. E. (1994). Language Attitudes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Sociolinguistic Overview. Multilingual Matters.

2. Banjo, A. (1996). Making a virtue of necessity: an overview of the English language in Nigeria. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.

3. Ajayi, L. (2009). An Exploration of Pre-Service Teachers' Perceptions of Learning to Teach Using Asynchronous Discussion Board. Educational Technology & Society 12(2), 86-100.

4. Olaofe I. A. (2013). Teaching English in Second Language Adverse situation: A SolutionBased Approach. Zaria: Applied Linguistics and Language Education Centre.

5. Olajoke, A. S., & Olamide, I. (2017). Challenges and Prospects of Implementation of Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Approaches in Nigeria. American Journal of Education and Learning, 2(2), 153–158. doi: 10.20448/804.2.2.153.158

6. Maiguero, Abdou, Tankari, M., & Adebayo Allagbé, A. (2021). An Analysis of Grammatical Errors in the Written Productions of Some Nigerien Senior Secondary School Students. Journal of Advances in Education and Philosophy, 5(3), 79–85. doi: 10.36348/jaep.2021.v05i03.004

7. Suryati, I., Koesoemo Ratih, & Maryadi. (2024). How Can Teachers Tailor Success? Innovative Strategies for Content, Process, and Product in EFL Classrooms. Voices of English Language Education Society, 8(1). doi: 10.29408/veles.v8i1.24451

8. Bamgbose, A. (2000). Language and Exclusion: The Consequences of Language Policies in Africa. LIT Verlag.

9. Egbokhare, F. O. (2003). The Nigerian Linguistic Ecology and the Changing Profiles of Nigerian Pidgin. John Archers Publishers for Programme on Ethnic and Federal Studies (PEFS), Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan.

10. Jibril, M. (1987). Language in Nigerian Education. Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics.

11. Bamgbose, A. (1991). Language and Nation: The Language Question in Sub-Saharan Africa. Edinburgh University Press.

12. Adebayo, D. O., Nduka, U. C., Onebunne, A. P., Karikari, L., & Obiri, J. A. (2024). Students' development of writing skills on grammatical units through peer and teachers' correction strategies. Path of Science, 10(9), 4001–4024. doi: 10.22178/pos.108-9

13. Langan, J. (2013). College Writing Skills with Readings (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

14. Ahmad, A. (2018). Importance of academic writing. Star Media Group Berhad

15. Febriyanti, R. H., & Sundari, H. (2016). Error Analysis Of English Written Essay Of Higher Efl Learners: A Case Study. Journal of English Language Studies, 1(2). doi: 10.30870/jels.v1i2.957

16. Khan, I. A. (2011). Learning Difficulties in English: Diagnosis and Pedagogy in Saudi Arabia. Educational Research, 2, 1248-1257.

17. Brown, H. D. (2000). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Pearson Education.

18. James, C. (2013). Errors in language learning and use. In Routledge eBooks. doi: 10.4324/9781315842912

19. Corder, S. P. (1981). Error analysis and interlanguage. Oxford University Press.

20. Selinker, L. (1972). Interlanguage. IRAL - International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 10(1–4). doi: 10.1515/iral.1972.10.1-4.209

21. Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, R. W. (2010). Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. Routledge.

22. Johnson, K. (1999). The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Applied Linguistics: A Handbook for Language Teaching. Wiley-Blackwell.

23. Ellis, R. (2003). Task-based Language Learning and Teaching. OUP Oxford.

24. Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in Society: Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.

25. Storch, N. (2002). Patterns of interaction in ESL pair work. Language Learning, 52(1), 119–158. doi: 10.1111/1467-9922.00179

26. Gay, G., & Banks, J. A. (2010). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. Teachers College Press.

27. Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465–491. doi: 10.3102/00028312032003465

28. Cummins, J. (2000). Language, Power, and Pedagogy: Bilingual Children in the Crossfire. Multilingual Matters LTD.

29. Dörnyei, Z. (1998). Motivation in second and foreign language learning. Language Teaching, 31(3), 117–135. doi: 10.1017/s026144480001315x

30. Wood, D., Bruner, J. S., & Ross, G. (1976). The Role Of Tutoring In Problem Solving. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17(2), 89–100. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1976.tb00381.x

31. Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and classroom learning. Assessment in Education Principles Policy and Practice, 5(1), 7–74. doi: 10.1080/0969595980050102

32. Swain, M. (2000). The Output Hypothesis and Beyond: Mediating Acquisition through Collaborative Dialogue. In J. P. Lantolf (Ed.), Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Learning (pp. 97-114). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

33. Krashen, S. (1985). The input hypothesis: Issues and implications. New York: Longman.

34. Lyster, R., & Ranta, L. (1997). Corrective Feedback And Learner Uptake. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 19(1), 37–66. doi: 10.1017/s0272263197001034

35. Heydari, P., & Bagheri, M. S. (2012). Error analysis: Sources of L2 learners' errors. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2(8). doi: 10.4304/tpls.2.8.1583-1589

36. Richards, J. C. (1971). A Non-Contrastive Approach to Error Analysis. ELT Journal, 25(3), 204–219,

37. Adegbite, W. (2009). The Psycholinguistics of English Language in Nigeria. Ibadan: Kraft Books.

38. Adeyanju, D. (2009). Idiomatic variation in Nigerian English : implications for standardisation in the context of globalisation. Journal of English Studies, 7, 7–22. doi: 10.18172/jes.138

39. Adedimeji, M. (2008). Teaching Without Tears: Applying Pragmatics to Second/Foreign Language Teaching. Journal of Research in National Development, 6(1). doi: 10.4314/jorind.v6i1.42404

40. Afdaliah, N. (2022). An Analysis of Phonological, Morphological and Syntactical Errors on Teachers' Talk in EFL Classroom. JETAL: Journal of English Teaching & Applied Linguistics, 4(1), 10–18. doi: 10.36655/jetal.v4i1.790

41. Osisanwo, A. (2024). Discourse of 'Self' and 'Other' in Newspaper Editorials on Insecurity in Nigeria. Journal of Asian and African Studies. doi: 10.1177/00219096241243295


Article Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Metrics powered by PLOS ALM

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2024 David Opeyemi Adebayo, Onyeyili Ikemefuna Nnamdi, Fagbemi Oluwaseyi Ajibola, Patience Olubukola Makinde, Bukola Jane David, Bushroh Animashaun

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.