Analysis of common errors in students’ writing a case study of Ejisu Presby junior high school form one students in Ejisu Municipality

Abstract

In recent times, the poor performance of Junior High School pupils in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) English Language paper has evolved a number of questions as to why this has been recurring. Particularly with essay writing, which is undeniably an area of challenge, a candidate’s inability to express himself or herself with clarity and coherence in a way befitting the language, and his or her input on exposition, narration, argument and mechanical accuracy needs have been woeful. The first year pupils of Ejisu Presby Junior High School’s inability to write good essays attest to the problem. The pupils found it difficult to deal with the rules ever regulating English grammar, and are absorbed in essay writing. This is what prompted the research work. The researcher made use of test to identify the problem. The outcome of these tests essentially revealed that difficulties with mechanical accuracy, concord and tense are major factors that highlight the poor performance of students in the Junior High Schools. In spite of the challenges, students were exposed to a range of grammar lessons and teaching methods to improve their understanding of grammar skills.