Keywords: Error Analysis, Grammatical Errors, Writing, Recount Text

This research is conducted to find out the most frequent grammatical
errors in writing recount text and the main cause of error performed by the
eleventh grade students of SMKN 1 Banjarmasin. It is believed that the eleventh
grade students had learnt about recount text when they were in the eighth grade
and tenth grade. However, they still produced various types of errors in writing
recount text. In this research, the researcher investigated the students’ errors in
writing English recount text based on Dulay’s theory and the cause of error by
Norrish’s theory.
The researcher used a descriptive qualitative method in conducting this
research. The population of this research was 420 students. The sample was taken
by applying purposive cluster sampling technique in order to narrow down the
population of this research. The researcher took Tata Niaga course based on the
teacher recommendation. There were two classes out of three taken as a sample.
The classes were used as the sample; class XI B and XI C with total 63 students.
The research result showed that the most frequent error is omission (36%).
It followed by addition (19.5%), misinformation (35.6%), and misordering (8.9%)
The research result also showed that the main cause of error is translation
(44.6%). It followed by first language interference (31.9%), and carelessness
(23.5%).
Based on the data analyzed, it can be concluded that the students made all
types of the errors based on Dulay’s theory such as omission, addition, selection,
and ordering. And based on the data analyzed the researcher conclude that the
error made by students based on Norrish’s theory is caused by carelessness, first
language interference, and translation. Therefore, it is suggested that the students
should learn more about grammar and earn more vocabulary. Also, the teacher
should pay more attention to the problems about grammatical error and give more
emphasis in their teaching process. Additionally, it is suggested for the other
researchers to develop it in further research by analyzing the errors based on the
resource of the error occurrences.