Analyzing the Errors in Personal Writing Recount of Non-Major and Major English Students

Abstract

The present research focuses on two aspects; one is the types and percentages of errors that students make in writing recount text in comparison with Major English and Non-Major English students. Secondly, the researcher analyzes the student’s beliefs about problems and errors in writing in a second language. Here in this research, the researcher’s primary focus is on the types and percentages of errors that students make in using the second language concerning error analysis (Surface Strategy taxonomy). In this research, the instrument is a test item managed for two motives. The first one is a written recount text and the second one is a questionnaire to analyze students’ perceptions and beliefs. To achieve this purpose, the elicitation method is adopted. The population of this research consists of Major English and Non-Major English students. The work utilizes a random probability sampling design to collect data from students. The subject of this work is 100 students from the University of Sargodha. The findings have been processed through SPSS software. From this research, it can be deduced that students have confusion in writing well-formed sentences because of misformation and omission errors usually found in the first two ranks and addition and misordering in the last two. Based on the findings, suggestions for the teachers and students are given. The findings of the study are expected to assist theoretically and practically to the readers and researchers.