Analysis of Errors in Paragraph Writingon Saudi EFL Students

Abstract

The rapid growth of the software communications and usage of electronic gadgets is one of the major developments in the industry of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There is a strong emphasis on global co-operation, conversation and exchange of information for which the knowledge of English is essential for all students of any discipline; as English is a living, growing, social and a global language. The purpose of this current study was to analyze the errors in paragraph writing skills of English among Undergraduate students of Jazan University. Both analytical and descriptive methods have been used to analyze and describe the errors committed by the students. An English paragraph writing test has been administered to the sample of the study. The data was analyzed by using the measures of central tendency, standard deviation and standard error. The findings from this study indicated that the participants do not have the desired paragraph writing skills in English. As most of preparatory classes are overcrowded, the students are less motivated in learning a foreign language like English. English language instructors should take the responsibility to motivate the students in a way to create interest towards learning English and it should be a stress free environment. They are requested to take steps to diagnose the different kinds of errors committed by students so as to improve their paragraph writing skills in English. Orientation programs should be conducted to all the language instructors in the