EFFECT OF THE USE OF PUNCTUATION MARKS ON THE ESSAY PERFORMANCE OF SS2 STUDENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN KANO STATE
EFFECT OF THE USE OF PUNCTUATION MARKS ON THE ESSAY PERFORMANCE OF SS2 STUDENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN KANO STATE
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-06
Authors
SANI, Kabiru
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Writing is a very important aspect of English language development. The importance of this skill makes it a determining factor in the academic and the social life of the students. The incessant complaints of teachers and other stakeholders of the inability of the students to express themselves in writing nowadays was the impetus that propelled this research work This research was an attempt to explore the impacts of the effect of the use of punctuation marks on the written performance of SS2 students in Kano State. The schools selected were Rumfa college and Government Senior Secondary School Gwammaja The population was one thousand (1000)while the sample was one hundred (100). The instruments were teacher constructed objective test and an un-punctuated passage to be punctuated. The variables tested were the fulstop, comma, colon and semi-colon. The choice of these variables was based on the belief that it was hardly if not impossible for one to write appropriately in English or understand the same without properly applying these punctuation marks. The subjects of this research study were randomly selected The data for the research were mainly collected from the tests given to the students.T-test and ANOVAs were used to analyze the data collected in testing of the four hypotheses formulated.. The hypotheses were formulated to investigate the effect of the said variables on the essay performance of the subjects. The finding indicated that there was significant effect of the variables on essay performance of the subjects, as T calculated was greater than T critical. Practice based approach be used, effective teaching strategies be applied to remedy the problems NECO and WAEC be setting questions on punctuation marks and stakeholders be accessing new findings via university authorities.
Description
BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE TESL SECTION, DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF EDUCATION, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, FOR EXTERNAL DEFENCE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER DEGREE IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (TESL)
Keywords
EFFECT,, USE,, PUNCTUATION MARKS,, ESSAY PERFORMANCE,, SS2 STUDENTS,, SELECTED SCHOOLS,, KANO STATE,