Difficulties Facing English Majors in Writing Difficulties Facing English Majors in Writing Research Papers at the Islamic University of Research Papers at the Islamic University of

GazaGaza

Statement of the ProblemStatement of the Problem

What are the difficulties facing English majors in What are the difficulties facing English majors in writing research papers at I.U.G.?writing research papers at I.U.G.?

Questions of the StudyQuestions of the Study

A- What are the main difficulties in technical skills A- What are the main difficulties in technical skills facing English majors in writing research papers facing English majors in writing research papers

at I.U.Gat I.U.G?.?.B- What are the main difficulties in research skills B- What are the main difficulties in research skills facing English majors in writing research papers facing English majors in writing research papers

at I.U.Gat I.U.G?.?.C- What are the causes of the main difficulties in C- What are the causes of the main difficulties in technical skills from the point of view of writing technical skills from the point of view of writing

teachers at I.U.Gteachers at I.U.G?.?.D- What are the causes of the main difficulties in D- What are the causes of the main difficulties in research skills from the point of view of writing research skills from the point of view of writing

teachers at I.U.Gteachers at I.U.G?.?.

Purpose of the StudyPurpose of the Study

The purpose of the study isThe purpose of the study is : :

- -to identify, classify and analyze the main to identify, classify and analyze the main difficulties in technical skills and research skills difficulties in technical skills and research skills by analyzing English majors’ research papers by analyzing English majors’ research papers

and testing them by the diagnostic testand testing them by the diagnostic test , ,

- -to reveal the causes of these difficulties by to reveal the causes of these difficulties by interviewing the writing teachers at I.U.Ginterviewing the writing teachers at I.U.G ,. ,.

and to give recommendations to overcome these and to give recommendations to overcome these difficultiesdifficulties..

Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study

A.A. English majors: because it highlights the difficulties English majors: because it highlights the difficulties in writing research papers, which they face, and the in writing research papers, which they face, and the

related causes in order to help them to overcome related causes in order to help them to overcome these difficulties. these difficulties.

B.B. Teachers of English because it reveals the writing Teachers of English because it reveals the writing difficulties and their causes which represent difficulties and their causes which represent

problems for English majors in order to conduct problems for English majors in order to conduct remedial work.remedial work.

C.C. Textbook writers and curricula designers to Textbook writers and curricula designers to concentrate on these difficulties, and to give more concentrate on these difficulties, and to give more

recommendations to solve these problems.recommendations to solve these problems.

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

Difficulty: difficulties (n)Difficulty: difficulties (n) “A difficulty is a problem ... “A difficulty is a problem ... if you have difficult doing something, you are not if you have difficult doing something, you are not able to do it easily … if you are in difficulty or able to do it easily … if you are in difficulty or difficulties, you are having a lot of problems”. (BBC difficulties, you are having a lot of problems”. (BBC Dictionary, 1992, p. 313)Dictionary, 1992, p. 313)..

Difficulty: difficulties (n) Difficulty: difficulties (n) is a problematic issue that is is a problematic issue that is uneasy to understand or achieve correctly from the uneasy to understand or achieve correctly from the first time for (50%) of English majors (operational first time for (50%) of English majors (operational definition). The researcher adopts the operational definition). The researcher adopts the operational

definitiondefinition . .

WritingWriting is “a complex … is “a complex … process involving the process involving the construction of recorded messages on paper or on construction of recorded messages on paper or on some other material, and, more recently, on a some other material, and, more recently, on a computer screen” (Swales and Feak 1994: 34)computer screen” (Swales and Feak 1994: 34)..

Writing Writing means “to form (letters, words, or symbols) on means “to form (letters, words, or symbols) on a surface such as paper with an instrument such as a a surface such as paper with an instrument such as a pen … to trace or form letters, words, or symbols on pen … to trace or form letters, words, or symbols on paper or another surface, to produce written material, paper or another surface, to produce written material, such as articles or books, to compose a letter; such as articles or books, to compose a letter; communicate by mail” communicate by mail” ((The American Heritage® The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language 2000). The Dictionary of the English Language 2000). The researcher adopts thisresearcher adopts this definition, because it is simple definition, because it is simple and wider than Swales and Feak’s definitionand wider than Swales and Feak’s definition..

Research paper Research paper “can be an engrossing, creative “can be an engrossing, creative activity. By gathering information, analyzing activity. By gathering information, analyzing its separate elements, and composing a its separate elements, and composing a synthesis of them, you come to know your synthesis of them, you come to know your subject deeply” (Troyka 1999: 505)subject deeply” (Troyka 1999: 505)..

Research paper Research paper means preparing the necessary means preparing the necessary information to answer a question or to solve a information to answer a question or to solve a problem. And it needs to analysis and interrupt problem. And it needs to analysis and interrupt primary information to reach the fact (Al-primary information to reach the fact (Al-Agha, 2002, p. 3). The researcher adopts Al-Agha, 2002, p. 3). The researcher adopts Al-Agha’s definition, because it is more suitable Agha’s definition, because it is more suitable to her studyto her study..

Skill Skill “refers to systematic and coordinated “refers to systematic and coordinated patterm of mental and physical activity, patterm of mental and physical activity, involving both receptor, processes, and involving both receptor, processes, and effector processes. Skills may be perceptual, effector processes. Skills may be perceptual, motor, manual, intellectual, social etc” motor, manual, intellectual, social etc” (Taneja 1998: 246)(Taneja 1998: 246)..

SkillSkill is the ability to do something easily, is the ability to do something easily, precisely, and successfully by using mental or precisely, and successfully by using mental or physical activity (Operational definition). The physical activity (Operational definition). The researcher adopts the operational definitionresearcher adopts the operational definition..

Difficulties in Writing Research Papers Difficulties in Writing Research Papers are the are the problems in the skills of writing research problems in the skills of writing research papers, whether these are technical skills or papers, whether these are technical skills or research skills, which appear: in the analysis of research skills, which appear: in the analysis of English majors’ research papers, the experts’ English majors’ research papers, the experts’ responses, the diagnostic test; and prevent responses, the diagnostic test; and prevent (50%) of students from writing an academic (50%) of students from writing an academic research papers, (Operational definition). The research papers, (Operational definition). The researcher adopts the operational definitionresearcher adopts the operational definition..

Technical Skills Technical Skills are not just needed for writing are not just needed for writing research paper, but also for all writing typesresearch paper, but also for all writing types..

Research Skills Research Skills are especially needed for are especially needed for writing research papers. The researcher must writing research papers. The researcher must use them in writing research papersuse them in writing research papers..

I.U.G.I.U.G. means the Islamic University of Gaza means the Islamic University of Gaza..

Limitation of the StudyLimitation of the Study

The study will be applied on and limited to the The study will be applied on and limited to the English majors (males and females in two English majors (males and females in two colleges: Arts and Education) of the third level colleges: Arts and Education) of the third level who enrolled at the academic year 2001 - 2002 who enrolled at the academic year 2001 - 2002 at I.U.G. The study is concerned with the main at I.U.G. The study is concerned with the main difficulties in technical skills and research difficulties in technical skills and research skills. It is also concerned with the causes of skills. It is also concerned with the causes of these difficulties according to the point of these difficulties according to the point of view of writing teachers in the English view of writing teachers in the English Department at I.U.GDepartment at I.U.G..

Population of the StudyPopulation of the Study

The population of the study consisted of (156), The population of the study consisted of (156), who were enrolled to Advanced Writing in the who were enrolled to Advanced Writing in the first semester at (2001 – 2002). (138) English first semester at (2001 – 2002). (138) English majors were enrolled to the sample of the majors were enrolled to the sample of the studystudy

Tools of the StudyTools of the Study

The researcher used five different tools to fulfill The researcher used five different tools to fulfill the aims of the study: list of skills, analysis the aims of the study: list of skills, analysis card, open questionnaire for the teachers of card, open questionnaire for the teachers of writing, diagnostic test, and interview with writing, diagnostic test, and interview with teachers of writingteachers of writing..

Statistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis

- -Percentages, means, relative means, and Percentages, means, relative means, and frequencies were used to determine the level frequencies were used to determine the level of English majors achievement and the of English majors achievement and the importance of each skillimportance of each skill..

- -And Pearson correlation was used to count the And Pearson correlation was used to count the validity of the test by internal consistencyvalidity of the test by internal consistency . .

Research MethodologyResearch Methodology

The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical approach. The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical approach. Descriptive researchDescriptive research “is designed to obtain pertinent and “is designed to obtain pertinent and

precise information concerning the current status of precise information concerning the current status of phenomena and, whenever possible, to draw valid phenomena and, whenever possible, to draw valid general conclusions from facts discovered” (Koul, 1999, general conclusions from facts discovered” (Koul, 1999, p. 432). p. 432).

Analytical ResearchAnalytical Research “draws general conclusions from “draws general conclusions from facts and basic evidence. [The researcher] must analyze facts and basic evidence. [The researcher] must analyze information-record the facts, comment on them, and information-record the facts, comment on them, and come to conclusions about meaning, causes, come to conclusions about meaning, causes, consequences, and relationships” (Wright, 1995).consequences, and relationships” (Wright, 1995).

Procedure of the StudyProcedure of the Study To fulfill the study, the researcherTo fulfill the study, the researcher::

11 - -collected and reviewed the previous studies to avail from collected and reviewed the previous studies to avail from their: procedures, tools, results, and recommendationstheir: procedures, tools, results, and recommendations;;

22 - -prepared the theoretical framework through searching in the prepared the theoretical framework through searching in the literature reviewsliterature reviews;;

33 - -prepared the list of skills through the literature reviews and prepared the list of skills through the literature reviews and juries’ opinionsjuries’ opinions;;

44 - -analyzed English majors researcher papers descriptively and analyzed English majors researcher papers descriptively and quantitativelyquantitatively;;

55 - -constructed the diagnostic testconstructed the diagnostic test,,66 - -applied the test after I. U. G. gave her permissionapplied the test after I. U. G. gave her permission,,

77 - -interviewed the teachers of writing in the English Department interviewed the teachers of writing in the English Department at I.U.G. to ask them about the causes of difficultiesat I.U.G. to ask them about the causes of difficulties,,

88 - -analyzed the collected data statisticallyanalyzed the collected data statistically,,99 - -and gave recommendations and suggestionsand gave recommendations and suggestions . .