AN ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN WRITING SIMPLE SENTENCES IN SIMPLE PAST TENSE AT SMA ADABIAH PADANG

Abstrak

Abstract

This research attempted to describe the difficulties of the first year students who registered in academic year 2013/2014 to write simple sentences in simple past tense. The design of this research was descriptive research. The total number of population was 288. They were distributed in nine classes. The number of samples was 32 students. The researcher used cluster random sampling technique to choose sample. Based on the result of data analysis, the researcher found that the students’ difficulties of the first year students at SMA Adabiah Padang to write simple sentences in simple past tense is 16 students (51,07%). It was proved by the fact that 15 students (46,89%) had no difficulties in writing affirmative sentences. It was proved by the fact that 19 students (58,8 %) had difficulties in writing negative sentences. It was proved by the fact that 15 students (46,91%) had no difficulties in writing interrogative sentences. Based on the result of data analysis, a simple conclusion could be drawn that the of the first year students at SMA Adabiah Padang had difficulties to write simple sentence in simple past tense. Dealing with the conclusion, the teachers and the students were suggested to give more attention to the aspect of grammar because there were (51,07%) students got difficulties. For students, they were suggested to do exercises to increase their ability in writing simple sentence in simple past tense.    

Key words: Students’ Difficulties in Writing Simple Sentence in Simple Past Tense