ABSTRACT

Saputra, Agustinus Bambang Balinga. 2021. The Problems Of The English Language Education Study Program Students Batch 2018 of FKIP ULM In Writing Argumentative Essay. Sarjanas’s Thesis. English Language Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin. The first advisor: Dr. Jumariati, M.Pd., the second advisor: Emma Rosana Febriyanti, M.Pd.

Keywords: Writing, Argumentative Essay, Problems

Writing is a tool for communication, therefore it is necessary to be learned. However, writingis not easy especially writing in a foreign language. Based on the preliminary study in English Language Education Study Program FKIP ULM, the majority of the students think that writing is one of the hardest subject to learn. This fact attracts the researcher to explore more about the problems that English students have in writing, particularly in writing argumentative essays.

The subjects of this research were the students at English Language Education Study Program batch 2018 FKIP ULM. A descriptive design within the quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. This research used three types of instrument namely 4-point Likert scale questionnaire, open-ended interview, and analysis guideline on student’s writings. The data then presented in number and described in descriptive form.

The results of the research indicated that the students had problems in writing argumentative essays concerning with cognitive aspects (lack of knowledge on the key features of an argumentative essay), linguistic aspects (content, grammar, organization, vocabulary, conjunctions, and word order), and psychology aspects (fear of making mistakes, low motivation, and mood condition). These aspects affected them in writing. Based on the findings, the students are suggested to do more practice in writing argumentative essays especially in the parts that they still have problems with