Abstract
The aim of this study is to analyse argumentative essay errors made by Moroccan students in Preparatory Classes of Higher Engineering Schools (Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles) ( CPGE).The participants of this study were 1st year Physics, Chemistry and Engineering Sciences (PCSI ) students in CPGE Omar Ibn Al Khattab, Meknes . 68 students participated in the study which means that all PCSI students were involved. The study uses a mixed method design. In the quantitative method, the data was gathered from students’ argumentative essay tests. Students’ errors were quantified numerically and the contents of teachers’ interviews were analyzed qualitatively. The results of the study demonstrate clearly that CPGE students’ difficulties in essay writing are aligned to many factors . Firstly, CPGE Students’ lack language proficiency. They have serious language problems accumulated from previous years of study. Secondly , students lack motivation as they do not find pleasure in writing and perceive it as a tiring and boring task. Thirdly, they do not read a lot which makes the task of writing very hard. Fourthly , students do not master the techniques of writing a structured essay. In fact, it is a process that requires many steps to be followed from introduction to conclusion . The study ended up by suggesting possible solution to overcome such difficulties.
Highlights
Academic writing is a skill that enables students to apply the acquired linguistic and cognitive abilities in contexts to generate a structured and meaningful piece of writing
Through the analysis of the students’ errors in argumentative essay, it can be noticed that CPGE students encounter major difficulties in the argumentative essay components that are the result of many factors
It is clearly deduced that CPGE students face many difficulties in argumentative essay which are aligned to many factors:
Summary
Academic writing is a skill that enables students to apply the acquired linguistic and cognitive abilities in contexts to generate a structured and meaningful piece of writing. Training students to write academically is not an easy task. Writing coherently and effectively demands language proficiency and argumentative skills. An Analysis of Major Difficulties Moroccan Engineering Students Encounter in Argumentative Essay Writing : The Case of Preparatory Classes of Higher Engineering Schools. Students are supposed to develop a well structured 5 paragraph essay that bears in mind the form and the content. Such task needs much practice and continuity. Refutation Summarising main ideas Writer’s opinion and suggestion for chang e Sentence clarity and correctness
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