Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate the problems of clause subordination
among students of Opoku Ware Senior High School in the Kumasi Municipality of
the Ashanti Region. The study specifically investigated some prevalent errors and
mistakes committed by students and the source(s) of problems for the errors and
mistakes. To address the objectives of the study, the descriptive survey design was
adopted for the study. One hundred and two (102) participants were selected through
stratified and systematic sampling techniques. Itemized tests constituted the main
instrument for data collection while the study further interviewed five (5)
underperformers in the test. The results revealed that some of the common errors and
mistakes committed by students were misapplication of rules, misidentification of
types of adverbial clause and misidentification of subordinators. The findings also
indicated that lack of students’ attention in class and after lessons on the subject
matter, lack of revision, bad learning style through adoptability to one format of
multiple choice questions on a subject and less recognition and attention given to
English as subject as some of the major sources of problems for students’ poor
performance in clause subordination. The findings further revealed a strong and
positive correlation between the scores of students and their mistakes and errors in
identifying subordinators and misapplication of rule. The study concluded that the
correct identification of subordinators, impact positively on the academic performance
of students (scores in test). The study recommends that Opoku Ware School provide
students with textbooks that have practical examples of clause subordination to
complement teachers’ and students’ efforts. The study also recommends a
collaboration between curriculum designers and classroom teachers in structuring the
syllabus to meet the educational needs of students.
Description:
A DISSERTATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS OF
THE FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGESEION AND
COMMUNICATIONS SUBMITTED TI THE SCHOOL OF FRADUATE
STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE
MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE (TESL) DEGREE
DECEMBER, 2017
