Grammatical errors in the written compositions of the SHS 3 students of methodist senior high technical school, Berekum in Bono Region, Ghana

Abstract

This work is a qualitative study that analyses grammar errors in the written essays of SHS graduate in Ghana, specifically Berekum Methodist Senior High/Technical School. The research sought to establish the types and causes of grammar errors in the written composition of SHS graduates and how it could be addressed. A total of two (2) teachers and one hundred and forty (140) students out of four hundred and fifty six (456) population, were selected through purposive sampling technique for the study. The data used for the analysis comprised written essays/exercises of the students, interviews, and observations from teachers. Five major error types were identified and they include; agreement errors, morphological and lexical omissions, capitalization errors, spelling errors and intralingua transfer. From this, agreement errors had the highest frequency with specific errors on word omission being the lowest. Based on the findings of the study, causes of errors in learners’ writings were identified as incomplete learning of rules, ignorance of rule restrictions, and context of instruction as well as L1 interference. Suggestions to minimize the errors of students are given with emphasis on teachers’ attitude towards the teaching of English language. Other suggestions are made to various stakeholders to ensure effective teaching and learning of the English Language through supervision and those teachers of English language show mastery in the teaching of the language