LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:9 September 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Error Analysis and Paragraph Writing

Ali Akbar Khansir, Ph.D.
Masomeh Ahrami, M.A.

Abatract

Writing is a highly complex process for native and non-native speakers of English language. Today, English language has become a necessity all over the world. The main focus of the research presented in this monograph is to present the form and function of the paragraph and the errors committed at the paragraph level. The present study attempts to reveal paragraph errors of English learners at the under graduate level in Bushehr University of Medical Sciences and Health Services in Bushehr City, Iran. The areas of the problem to be probed are as follows:

1-What is the role of errors in remedial measures?
2-Why do students commit errors in paragraph writing?
3-Which type of errors should the researcher study in this research?
4-What is the purpose of error analysis in learning language?

Key words: English as a foreign language in Iran, paragraph writing, errors and error analysis

Introduction

Writing is a highly complex process for native and non-native speakers of English language. Today, English language has become a necessity all over the world.

English is used as an international language among all nations in the world. No doubt, learning English requires mastering the four language skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing. Writing requires thinking and cognitive processes to be produced. It is considered the most complex skill because it goes through different stages i.e., prewriting, writing and editing, to reach its final product.

Paragraph Writing

A paragraph is the fundamental unit in a composition. A paragraph is a sentence or group of sentences that develop one idea or one point. Thus, a paragraph is built around that central idea. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence. The topic sentence presents the main idea of the paragraph. It is also called the controlling idea because it limits the subject of the paragraph. It suggests ways of developing the thought. In a unified paragraph all sentences relate to the topic sentence by explaining it with facts, examples, and supporting details. Paragraph writing is the first step towards any form of writing. A suitable teaching of paragraph writing will help the learners to write a good writing Essay and Thesis.

Focus of This Monograph

The main focus of this research is to express opinions at the paragraph level. Therefore, paragraph writing or the organization of a paragraph is of primary importance. However, writing builds larger units from smaller ones; that is, writers use words to make sentences, sentences to make paragraphs, and paragraphs to make such compositions as letters, reports, and college themes (Hart & Reinking 1990:11). Rajatanun (1988:95) said that a paragraph is a unit of writing which expresses one central idea and consists of two kinds of sentences: a topic sentence and a number of supporting statements.

The present study attempts to reveal paragraph errors of English learners at the under graduate level in Bushehr University of Medical Sciences and Health Services in Bushehr City, Iran. It seems worth mentioning that English is considered as foreign language in Iran. To probe this problem, this study requires of the present researcher to visit the universities, discuss with teachers, and study prescribed text books and syllabus.

The areas of the problem to be probed are as follows:

1-What is the role of errors in remedial measures?
2-Why do students commit errors in paragraph writing?
3-Which type of errors should the researcher study in this research?
4-What is the purpose of error analysis in learning language?

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Ali Akbar Khansir, Ph.D.
Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
ahmad_2004_bu@yahoo.com

Masomeh Ahrami, M.A.
Science and Research Branch
Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran
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