A Study of Grammar and Cohesion Errors in English Writing among Eighth-Grade Students at MTs Miftahul Ulum Magersari
Abstract
Abstract— Writing in English is regarded as a crucial skill for secondary school students, as it is through writing that grammatical proficiency and coherence in text construction are demonstrated. However, many students still struggle with constructing accurate and cohesive texts. This study aims to analyze grammatical and cohesive errors in the English writing of eighth-grade students at MTs Miftahul Ulum Magersari. A qualitative descriptive method was applied, using students’ writing samples as data. This research utilized the surface strategy taxonomy to classify and examine the types of errors present in students’ written work. The findings indicated that the most common grammatical mistakes involved incorrect use of tenses, mismatches between subjects and verbs, and improper application of articles. Cohesion errors mostly include the misuse of conjunctions and reference words. These errors reflect students’ insufficient mastery of grammatical structures and cohesive devices, thereby hindering the overall clarity and effectiveness of their writing. The findings emphasize the need for focused teaching on grammar and cohesion to improve writing skills. The findings provide pedagogical implications for educators, particularly in diagnosing common writing issues and formulating more effective instructional methods.
Keywords -- grammar, cohesion, writing, error analysis
Abstrak—Menulis dalam bahasa Inggris merupakan keterampilan penting bagi siswa sekolah menengah pertama karena mencerminkan pemahaman tata bahasa dan kohesi. Meskipun pembelajaran telah dilaksanakan, sejumlah siswa masih mengalami hambatan dalam menyusun teks berbahasa Inggris yang benar secara gramatikal dan memiliki keterkaitan antar kalimat yang baik. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkaji berbagai kesalahan yang berkaitan dengan tata bahasa dan unsur kohesi dalam tulisan bahasa Inggris siswa kelas VIII di MTs Miftahul Ulum Magersari, dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Metode yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan menganalisis tulisan siswa. Kesalahan diklasifikasikan menggunakan taksonomi strategi permukaan. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa kesalahan gramatikal yang dominan meliputi ketidaktepatan dalam penggunaan waktu kerja (tenses), ketidaksesuaian antara subjek dan kata kerja, serta penggunaan artikel yang tidak sesuai. Sementara itu, kesalahan kohesi umumnya berupa penggunaan konjungsi dan kata rujuk yang tidak tepat. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa siswa masih memiliki keterbatasan dalam menguasai struktur gramatikal dan perangkat kohesif yang memengaruhi kejelasan tulisan. Temuan ini menekankan pentingnya pengajaran yang terfokus pada aspek tata bahasa dan kohesi dalam menulis. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi sumber acuan yang bermanfaat bagi para guru dalam mengidentifikasi permasalahan umum yang dihadapi siswa serta dalam merancang strategi pembelajaran yang lebih efektif
Kata Kunci - tata bahasa, kohesi, menulis, analisis kesalahan
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