AN EVALUATION OF STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN ESSAY WRITING IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Background to the study
Statement of the problem
Hypothesis
Basic Assumption
Purpose of the study
Scope of the study
Limitation of the study
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE
Research Methodology
Research Design
Population
Sampling Techniques
The Research Instruments
Validity and Reliability
Data Collection Procedures
CHAPTER FOUR
Results of Data Evaluation
Research Questions
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and
Recommendation
Summary
The implication of the study
Recommendations
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
The importance of English language in
the life of a developing nation like Nigeria cannot be over
emphasized. More so Essay writing is
very important in English language.
Before one can pass English to entice
the markers. In order to justify the
importance attached to English language by the Federal Government all hands
need to be on deck and everybody has to contribute positively to achieve a
better goal.
Teachers are believed to a force to
be redconed within this task hence, the future of the success of English
language depends on the efforts of the teachers. West African Examination council (W.A.E.C) in
its regulation for prospective candidates for school certificate or General
certificate of Education (G.C.E) makes English language compulsory and essay
writing used to take the lion share of the total marks. It is in line with the above assertion on
that this investigation attempts to find out the performance of students in
Essay writing of English language. Most
especially. It is based on the students
in selected senior secondary school (two) in IKOLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF
EKITI STATE.
1.1
Background to the Study
For any essay writing to be
meaningful, it must be carefully planned and well written down. Students non – challeat attitude to work
earns them failure in essay writing.
This also affect the students self
concepts social relationship and his motivation since that students see
themselves as a failure, in the sense that they could not express themselves in
English language correctly either verbally or in written form.
The students do not have self
confidence in themselves and therefore, they feel inferior to others in the society
and this may have negative effects on them to the extent that they develop poor
social relationship as a result of their poor self concept.
The students neglect the extensive
reading aspect which affects them in writing good essay.
They should learn how to read
journals, novels, magazines and other books and they should be participating in
debate programmes properly arranged by schools or media houses. The students also neglect physical grooming
of having a conversation with each other in English language and by not
identifying this aspect can lead to performance of the students in Essay
writing.
Performance of a student in essay
writing has a major effect on parents in selected school in Ikole local
government. This failure can also have
effect on the family name. as a result
of performance in essay writing which is the major aspect of English at the
West African Examination Council level, student have forced.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
One of the problems is lack of
qualified teachers, which is a significant factor responsible for the
performance of students in Essay writing.
Another problem is lack of interest on the part of the students, they
don’t create the idea of reading journal, magazine, novel and other books that
can make them read fluently and write down a good essay.
1.3
Hypothesis
Lack of interest on the part of the
students is a significant factor responsible for their performance in Essay
writing in English language. Lack of
qualified English teachers is another factor responsible to the student
performance and this have to be looked into.
1.4
Basic Assumption
In this study the following
assumption were made for easy collection of Data.
i.
It
is assumed that teachers of the same qualification have the same knowledge and
as such, their work will be the same.
ii.
It
is assume that environment, has no influence on the teaching and learning of
English language.
iii.
It
is also assumed that the student responses are the same, likewise the teachers
responses too themselves to join gangs and cliques thereby engaging in
antisocial activities this thereby make life unsuitable for community
member. Since English language is the
key to all other subject the performance of students in Essay writing usually
affect the result of these selected schools in Ikole local Government. It is pertinent therefore to say that the
academic failure of student year in year out would have a great effect in the
nations economy. This write – up is
aimed at looking critically into the causes of performance of students in essay
writing in the underlisted schools.
1)
Comprehensive
high school Ijesa Isu Ekiti
2)
Egbe
– Oba high school Ikole Ekiti
This work also aims at investigating
the effects of and reasons for students performance in Essay writing in general
to suggest possible solution.
1.5
Purpose of the Study
The essence of this study is to
investigate the factors responsible for performance of students in Essay
writing using the selected schools in the Ikole local Government Area of Ekiti
State. The study also investigates
whether or not students often benefit more from lessons backed up with essay
writing.
1.6
Scope of the Study
The study is intended to cover six
secondary schools in Ikole local Government Area and to deal with the crucial
problems facing the students and experienced English language teacher. Lack of teaching aid, and bad method of
teaching, it will also confine itself to the use of only English teachers and
students in the schools and school certificate result. This is aid through investigation.
1.7
Limitation of the Study
The researchers would have loved to
cover all the secondary schools in Ikole local Government, because of the
important contribution of this work could make to the teaching and learning of
English language.
But this is not possible because of
some of the following reason.
i.
The
time factor was a major constraint since no time is set aside for the exercise
the researcher has to use their teaching periods in school.
ii.
The
financial constraint was also on inherent limitation especially with current
increase in transport fare.
iii.
Finally,
student scores or percentage pass at W.A.E.C Examination were taken as a
measure of performance without properly dia grosing the circumstances
surrounding the students scores.
