PROBLEMS FACED BY STUDENTS OF WRITING WHILE
COMPOSING ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT IN ENGLISH
LANGUAGE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF
MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
THESIS
By:
Anindra Widya Acintya
201410100311017
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
2019
PROBLEMS FACED BY STUDENTS OF WRITING IV CLASS WHILE
COMPOSING ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY
OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
THESIS
This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to archive
Sarjana Degree in English Education
By:
Anindra Widya Acintya
201410100311017
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
2019
This thesis was written by Anindra Widya Acintya and was approved on
Wednesday, 16th January 2019
By:
Advisor II,
Laela Hikmah N., MA., M.EdLead
Advisor I,
Dr. Hartono, M.Pd
iii
This thesis was defended in front of the examiners of the Faculty of Teacher
Training and Education of University of Muhammadiyah Malang
and accepted as one of the requirements to achieve
Sarjana Degree in English Language Education
On Wednesday, 16th January 2019
Approved by:
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
University of Muhammadiyah Malang
Dean,
Dr. Poncojari Wahyono, M.Kes
Examiners: Signatures:
1. Dr. Sri Hartiningsih, M.Pd 1. .........................
2. Aninda Nidhomil Hima, M.Pd 2. .........................
3. Dr. Hartono, M.Pd. 3. .........................
4. Laela Hikmah N., MA., M.EdLead 4. .........................
iv
MOTTOS AND DEDICATIONS
MOTTOS
DEDICATIONS
I dedicate this thesis to:
MY BELOVED MOTHER AND FATHER
MY BELOVED SISTER
MY BELOVED UMM
v
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY
I hereby declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of
my own work and has not been submitted to any other University or Institution.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, my thesis does not infringe
upon anyone’s copyright nor violate any proprietary rights and that any ideas,
techniques, quotations, or any other material from the work of other people
included in my thesis, published or otherwise, are fully acknowledged in
accordance with the standard referencing practices.
I also declare that this is a true copy of my thesis, as approved by my
thesis commitee and the English Language Education Department office.
Malang, 9 January 2019
Anindra Widya Acintya
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Alhamdulillahirrabbil‘alamin washolatu wassalamu ala asrofil ambiya
walmursalin nabihina muhammadin waala alihi wasohnihi ajmain ammabadu.
Praise and gratitude is to the Almighty Allah SWT who has given mercy and
blessing to the researcher in finishing this thesis entitled “Problems Faced by
Students of Writing IV Class While Composing Argumentative Text In English
Language Education Department of University of Muhammadiyah Malang”.
Sholawat and salam are also given to the prophet Muhammad SAW who had
brought us to the right path.
This thesis may not finish without helps by other people. Therefore, the
researcher wants to give special thanks to:
1. Dr. Hartono, M.Pd. as advisor I who has shared his knowledge and gives
advise to the researcher.
2. Laela Hikmah N., MA., M.EdLead as advisor II who has guided the
researcher in writing this present study.
3. All the lectures of English Department who has shared their knowledge and
guide the researcher.
4. My beloved mother, father, sister, and all of my big family who always give
the researcher much loves, prayers, and supports.
5. My bestfriends especially Fadila and Roro who shared lots of love, hugs,
laughs, and foods together.
6. My special boy, Afif, who helped the researcher along the way and gives the
researcher love and support.
7. My friends from a class especially Fadila, Ninis, Aprin, Mamang, Rifki,
Intan, Uvi, Bagas, Nuril, Risyad, Andi, Yayak, Ajeng, who gives the
researcher advise and spend this four years being stronger together.
8. My friends in PSM Gitasurya UMM who gives the researcher unforgettable
and amazing experiences in this four years.
vii
And all of the people who help the researcher in finishing this thesis because
it will not finish without their help.
Malang, 9 January 2019
Anindra Widya Acintya
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Approval .................................................................................................................... iii
Mottos and Dedications............................................................................................. iv
Letter of Authenticity ................................................................................................. v
Abstract ..................................................................................................................... vi
Acknowledgement.................................................................................................... vii
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... ix
List of Appendices ................................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1
1.1 Research Background ............................................................................... 1
1.2 Research Problems ................................................................................... 3
1.3 Research Objectives ................................................................................. 4
1.4 Scope and Limitation ............................................................................... 4
1.5 Research Significance .............................................................................. 4
1.6 Definition of Key Terms .......................................................................... 5
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ......................................... 6
2.1 Academic Writing .................................................................................... 6
2.2 Argumentative Text .................................................................................. 7
2.3. The Process of Writing Argumentative Essay ........................................ 8
2.3.1 Exploring ........................................................................................ 8
2.3.2 Drafting .......................................................................................... 9
2.3.3 Researching .................................................................................... 9
2.3.4 Revising .......................................................................................... 9
2.3.5 Editing .......................................................................................... 10
2.4 Problems in Writing Argumentative Essay ............................................ 10
2.4.1 Psychological Problem ................................................................. 10
2.4.2 Linguistics Problem ..................................................................... 11
2.4.2.1 Grammar .......................................................................... 11
2.4.2.2 Sentence Structure ........................................................... 11
2.4.2.3 Spelling ............................................................................ 11
ix
2.4.2.4 Punctuation ...................................................................... 12
2.4.3 Cognitive Problem........................................................................ 12
2.5 Solutions of the Students’ Problems ...................................................... 12
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHOD ................................................................. 14
3.1 Research Design ..................................................................................... 14
3.2 Research Subjects ................................................................................... 15
3.3 Data Collection ....................................................................................... 15
3.3.1 Technique and Instrument ............................................................ 15
3.3.1.1 Document ......................................................................... 16
3.3.1.2 Interview Guide ............................................................... 16
3.3.2 Procedure ...................................................................................... 16
3.4 Data Analysis ......................................................................................... 17
CHAPTER IV: RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ............................. 18
4.1 Research Findings .................................................................................. 18
4.1.1 Students’ Writing Problems ......................................................... 18
4.1.1.1 Linguistics Problems ....................................................... 18
4.1.1.1.1 Punctuation ....................................................... 18
4.1.1.1.2 Grammar ........................................................... 20
4.1.1.1.3 Subject-Verb Agreement .................................. 20
4.1.1.1.4 Run-on Sentence ............................................... 21
4.1.1.1.5 Fragment Sentence ............................................ 22
4.1.1.1.6 Indonesian-like Sentence .................................. 22
4.1.1.1.7 Reference Writing ............................................. 23
4.1.1.2 Cognitive Problems ......................................................... 23
4.1.1.2.1 Jumping Sentence ............................................. 23
4.1.1.2.2 Paragraph Organization .................................... 24
4.1.1.2.3 Finding References ........................................... 24
4.1.1.2.4 Problem in Choosing Topic .............................. 25
4.1.1.2.5 Blank or Writer’s Block .................................... 25
4.1.1.3 Psychological Problems ................................................... 25
4.1.1.3.1 Laziness ............................................................. 26
x
4.1.1.3.2 Bad Mood .......................................................... 26
4.1.2 Suggestions Proposed by the Teacher .......................................... 26
4.1.2.1 Suggestions for Linguistics .............................................. 26
4.1.2.1.1 Write More ........................................................ 26
4.1.2.1.2 Peer Feedback ................................................... 27
4.1.2.1.3 Using Grammarly .............................................. 27
4.1.2.1.4 Using Mendeley ................................................ 28
4.1.2.2 Suggestions for Cognitive Problems ............................... 28
4.1.2.2.1 Read More ......................................................... 28
4.1.2.2.2 More Sources .................................................... 28
4.1.2.2.3 Making an Outline ............................................ 29
4.1.2.3 Suggestions for Psychological Problems ......................... 29
4.1.2.3.1 Break ................................................................. 29
4.1.2.3.2 Push Themselves ............................................... 29
4.2. Discussion ............................................................................................. 30
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS .......................................... 33
5.1 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 33
5.2 Suggestions ............................................................................................. 34
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 35
APPENDICES ......................................................................................................... 37
xi
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX I : Students’ Document Analysis ................................................... 38
APPENDIX II : Interview Guide ......................................................................... 53
APPENDIX III : Interview Script ......................................................................... 55
APPENDIX IV : Students’ Writing IVA Class Score in the Academic Year
2017/2018 .................................................................................. 73
12
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