AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN PARAGRAPH WRITING AT THE SECOND SEMESTER ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
The aim of the study was to analyze the factors contributing to students’ difficulties in the paragraph writing course. The research method employed was Descriptive Qualitative, with the research population consisting of 34 second-semester students of English Education in the A1 class. The sample comprises eight students selected using a purposive sampling technique. The researcher utilized Observation and Interviews as research instruments. Data analysis techniques involved data collection, data reduction, data display, and conclusion verification. The research findings indicated four indicators influencing difficulties in writing a paragraph: Content, Organization, Grammar, and Mechanics. Determining content and organization emerged as prominent issues affecting students in paragraph writing. Students’ problems in writing a paragraph were also influenced by various factors, categorized into internal and external factors. Internal factors affected students’ low self-motivation, low self-confidence, and inadequate vocabulary mastery. Dominant internal factors were low self-confidence The external factors that influenced was teaching style, unsupportive environment, and classroom situation. The dominant external factors are an unsupportive learning environment and classroom situation. This research concluded that there were dominant indicators and factors influencing students in writing paragraphs.