Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Writing is no longer given emphasis by teachers in college. For them, since the students

reach college, they already knew how to write a composition. There is no need to discuss it from

the very start. They may correct it but most of the time, it was not given focus. They choose to

discuss all the topics listed in the syllabus than to give time on recalling the lessons taught in

elementary and in high school because, that is what they should do. But, for the students

especially those who are taking English majors, the rules in grammar and the proper way of

writing should be mastered. Not because they choose English as their specialization, they knew

everything. Still, they have to reminded from time to time so it would be easy for them to catch-

up with the lessons especially in their majors.

One of the most difficult aspects in second language acquisition is the knowledge and

mastery of the grammar rules. Grammar enables expressions and it aids the person in eloquently

expressing thoughts and is commonly known as the system of syntax that decides the order and

patterns in which words are arranged in sentences. Grammar is defined as the life of every single

sentence in a paragraph, meaning to say that the correctness in writing any composition depends

on grammar. Despite of the learnings regarding grammar taught in primary and secondary

schools, students in tertiary level still tend to make grammatical errors. Students lack the ability

to make a good writing is believed that it is due to the influence of their mother tongue and

insufficient knowledge of grammatical rules and concepts.

Grammar is viewed as the most essential aspect of language learning for second language

learners in the Philippines, the American English language is used in majority of the disciplines

especially in schools. This means that Filipinos, though are all considered as second language

learners only, have learned the basics of English and other alternatives which are very
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convenient especially when assessing grammatical content and concepts. However, Filipinos

have not fully learned the competencies.

Camarines Norte is one of the provinces in Bicol region. This province is known for its

excellence in terms of sports and most particularly in academics. The high level of

competitiveness is visible in the schools inside this province like: Camarines Norte State College

(CNSC) for they offer AB English, BSED and BEED which enables them to present English

works like poems, writings and Extemporaneous speaking (Daet), Camarines Norte College

(CNC) for performing so well when they prepare and taking up the Licensure Examination for

teachers LET and able to showcase the student skills in terms of debates and write-ups in either

written and spoken in English (Labo), and Mabini Colleges Inc. (MC) for the high passing rate in

LET and high participation on journalism and critical thinkers on English unprepared speeches

and writing compositions.

Daet is one of the municipalities of Camarines Norte which is known for its excellent

projects related to educational programs and activities held at the Little Theatre and Agro Sports

Centre. Some of the common events are Extemporaneous speaking, debate, writing essay, and

journalism.

The researchers will conduct their study in Mabini Colleges Inc. because of proximity

and accessibility in gathering data. This study presents the grammatical errors made by tertiary

students in their writing and determines how well a learner mastered the rules in grammar and be

able to use it in making writings such as essays, manuscripts and other write-ups.

The number of respondents for their research will be based from the total sample size of

population given by surveysystem.com of English major second year students. Some of the

previous studies had strong recommendations regarding the beneficial approach of facilitating

the learner’s way of commanding grammar. One of which is to employ students’ writing as the

starting point for the discussion of grammatical concepts by which the study emphasizes om

finding the errors in which colleges students usually commit as writing is a common task and

seatwork that is viewed as a complex and challenging activity for many students given by the
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difficulties of finding the appropriate words and choosing the most suitable punctuation,

sentence variety, and usage in the context of writing so that students need to master how to

transfer the knowledge of grammatical concepts to their written work regardless of the many

exercises done in school.

From the mentioned reasons above, these students are still unsure about the choice of

tenses appropriate for report writing and other written works so that they will not commit many

grammatical errors in writing and to gain resiliency and increase the proficiency in terms of the

students performance in the writing compositions the need to examine the grammar lapses of the

Filipinos, who are learning and still learning the grammatical rules and concepts English

language.

Statement of the Problem

The general objective of this study is to determine the grammar errors in English written

compositions by the 2nd year English major students in Mabini Colleges Inc.

Specifically, this study will seek to answer to the following questions:

1. What are the common grammar errors commonly committed by the students in written

compositions?

2. What are the factors contributory to their grammatical errors in writing composition?

3. Is there a significant relationship between the grammatical errors in writing composition

of the second year college students and the factors contributory to their grammatical

error?

4. What intervention can be designed to lessen the grammatical errors in writing

composition of the second year college students?

Significance of the Study

The result or the final output of this study will be great benefit to the following:
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Students. The result of this study will help them in determining the common errors

committed in writing compositions which needs an action. They will be more aware of their

mistakes and can possibly assess themselves regarding the grammar rules they must follow.

Teachers. This study will help the teachers to search for more alternatives on how they

can help the students by means of interventions like review of English grammar teach strategies

to assist students in comprehending the learning difficulties and providing appropriate grammar

instruction as the key to effective teaching for ESL teachers. By that, they can make sure that

they’ve got productive students and ready to be an effective writer with the medium of English

language.

School Administration. The final output of this study can be seen by all levels of

students in college which means that the school can push the students in other course related and

higher levels of college level students to do research studies and by that they can inspire the

upcoming college and senior high school students to study hard and done something which is

like study.

Parents. The output of this study may use to: First, lighten up the minds of the dear

parents when it comes to the topic of the errors that most students in college usually commit

mistakes in writing compositions as such Second, this will let them know its effect to the level of

education that their children are having today. Third, to let them see how this improves the lives

of their children and the way it becomes effective in some way for some as writing confidently

and correct.

Future Researchers. As this research finally finished, the future researchers can

consider this study to be a reference for their research papers. This will help them especially

when doing related studies and literatures as well as referring the data gathered by the researcher

if they are somewhat alike or if there is any gap between this study and their study.

Scope and Delimitation

This research will focus in determining the grammatical errors commonly found in the

compositions made by the students and to identify the possible solutions to the problem.
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A total of seventy-nine (79) English major students of the 2 nd year college would serve as

the respondents for this study. Since this is a quantitative research, it requires an exact number of

respondents to participate with this topic.

The study will only be conducted at Mabini Colleges Inc. Main Building. Moreover, the

teachers and the other school personnel were not included or be involved in this research since

the researcher gives emphasis to the students to be their respondents. And besides, they will be

checking it, so they will be surely not involved themselves and let them be one of the

respondents.

Definition of Terms

For a clearer understanding of this study, the following terms were defined conceptually

and/or operationally as used in this study:

Compositions. In this research these are the activities or seatwork/s that are typically did

by the students to prove on how and what did they learn from the lessons. Are those written

outputs presented by the students at the end of their lesson.

Error analysis. In this research it is the basis of the finding the common errors which are

usually found on the text or sentences given by the students in written works. It is a branch of

applied linguistics, It is concerned with the compilation, study and analysis or errors made by

second language learners.

ESL students. For this research these are the students or learners that are based or

mastering English as their second language because of the required aspect and fluency to

communicate as the universal language. It is the students who are unable to communicate

fluently or learn effectively in English.

Grammar. To this research this is the term used to identify the correct use of words in a

given statement or a sentence. This composes of rules to be followed in order to be considered as

correct one. It includes the rules that govern the way of sentences are formed and words are used

to make meaning.
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Grammatical errors. In this research these are the wrong use of words and the

functions as the syntax that are used in language in a composition or writing. Is a term used in

prescription grammar to describe an instance of faulty, unconventional, or controversial usage,

such as misplaced modifier or an inappropriate verb tenses.

Notes:

Case, A. (2019). Why your students still make mistakes with grammar they know well.
Retrieved from: https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/why-your-students-still-make-
mistakes-with-grammar-they-know-well.html

Ancheta, R.F. & Simagala, E.E. (2018). Grammar errors in written composition of selected level
3 students of Gulf College: Basis for remediation.Retrieved
from:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320077533_Grammar_erro rs_in_written
composition_of_selected_level_3_students_of_Gulf_College_Basis_for_remediation?en
chId=rgreq95b9851d08647ecaa7811193613f3a2bXXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYW
OzMyMDA3NzUzMztBUzo1NDM0OTk4OTczMjc2MTZAMTUwNjU5MTg4MTI2
%3D%3D&el=1_x_3&_esc=publicationCoverPdf

Wayar, B. & Saleh, A. (2018). An analysis of the causes of English grammatical errors in
communicative genre: A case study of mathematics students at Gombe State University.
Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://sciencewebpublishing.net/jerr

Sumalinog, G.G. (2019). Common Grammatical Errors of the High School Students: The
Teacher’s Perspective. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328612436_COMMON_GRAMMATICAL_E
RRORS_OF_THE_HIGH_SCHOOL_STUDENTS_THE_TEACHERS%27_PERSPECT
IVE?enrichId=rgreq-24af09bc169d006a4b029eece03b6acb
XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMyODYxMjQzNjtBUzo2ODc0NjU3MTUyM
TIyOTBAMTU0MDkxNjAwNzQzMQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_3&_esc=publicationCoverPd
f

Singhl, C.K.S. (2017). Grammar Errors Made by ESL Tertiary Students in Writing.
Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v10n5p16

http://cnsc.edu.ph/achievement_2018