Error Analysis of the Writings of Undergraduate Students of COMSATS

Lahore: A Comparative Study

Muhammad AzamResearch Scholar

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

• This study explores the errors in writing of undergraduate students of COMSATS University Lahore, who have completed their English compulsory courses up to 3rd semester. – Computer Science, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences

and Engineering• Errors are categorized and adapted from the

frameworks of Corder (1974), James (1998), Brown (2001) and Gayeta (2002) for the written essays as: Syntax, Lexical, Morphology, Grammar, Orthography and punctuation.

Abstract

• This study consists of two parts. The first part is to identify the frequency of errors of different departments in writing a paragraph. The second part is to compare the errors committed by all the departments.

– Key words: Error analysis, Second language learning and teaching, Errors

Introduction

• This chapter presents;• the rationale,• the background,• the objectives of the study,• research questions,• the hypotheses,• the significance,• research methodology and research procedure of

the study.

Introduction

• Importance of English in Pakistan and its role in education

• Communication skills • Writing: it needs fluency and accuracy• Second or foreign language learners use two

kinds of background knowledge; native language and the knowledge of what they have learned from the new language.

Introduction

• Objectives of the Study• The aim of this research is to identify and

compare the types of English language errors in the writing of the students of COMSATS Lahore.

• The frequency at which these errors occur in each group.

Introduction

• 1.4 Research Questions • The present study sought to answer the

following questions:• What are the most common language errors

made in English writing by the undergraduate students of COMSATS Lahore.

• How frequent do these errors occur in their English L2 written work?

Introduction

• 1.5 Hypothesis• The undergraduate students of COMSATS

Lahore have error profiles in their English L2 written work that differ;

• (1) From each other, and • (2) In their frequency

Introduction

• Research Methodology• This study adopts a quantitative research

method. • Statistics, tables and graphs are often used to

present the results of these methods. • Quantitative research is therefore measurable

and quantifiable.

Introduction

• Research Methodology• This study adopts a quantitative research

method. • Statistics, tables and graphs are often used to

present the results of these methods. • Quantitative research is therefore measurable

and quantifiable.

Introduction

• The research procedure• The researcher has selected 45 writing samples from

five deferent departments; nine terminal-exam-scripts from each department. The short sample size represents the population well as there are three scripts of the top position holders, three from the middle and other three are of lower students. After collecting the sample size, the errors of the students are identified and analysed by the help of proposed methodological frameworks of Corder (1974), James (1998), Brown (2001) and Gayeta (2002).

METHODOLOGY

• Research Participants– The participants of the study are the students of

undergraduate programs; Computer Science, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering, at COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology, Lahore. The terminal-exams-transcript were used and population for the study and a total of 45 transcripts; nine from each discipline were selected.

– English Comprehension and Composition, Report Writing Skills and Communication Skills

METHODOLOGY

• Data Analysis and Classification of Errors• An adapted model from the frameworks of Corder (1974),

James (1998), Brown (2001) and Gayeta (2002) for the

• Categorization of errors:

– Grammatical (prepositions, articles, reported speech, singular/plural, adjectives, irregular verbs, tenses, concord and possessive case)

– Syntactic (nouns and pronouns, and word order)– Lexical (word choice)– Semantic and substance (capitalisation, and spelling)

DATA PRESENTATION

• This chapter displays and discusses findings on:

– 1. Types and number of errors made by each group;

– 2. Frequency of error types made by each group; and

– 3. Examples and comparison of errors made by each group

Conclusion