ASSESSMENT OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN ENGLISH COMPOSITION OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLIS, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the Grammatical Errors of senior secondary school students in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno state, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to identify the types of grammatical errors and their frequencies in student’s English composition. Two research questions were raised and answered. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprises of 3918 students in three public schools in Maiduguri Metropolis. Krejcies and Morgan Sampling table was used to sample 351 students. The instruments used for study was an adopted SSCE past question paper on English composition with some modification. Content analysis using simple frequency and percentages were used in answering the two research questions. Findings of the study reveals that there are four major types of Grammatical errors, in students written composition : tense errors, subj./verb errors, pronoun errors, and preposition errors. It’s also revealed that tense errors are most frequent errors. Based on findings of the study, it was recommended that more emphasis should be given to the study of Grammar than literary studies, to adequately equip the teacher trainees to teach English language effectively. In addition, curriculum planners of English language should include assessment of Grammatical; errors in secondary school curriculum to enable teachers of English ascertain the learning progress for their students English and address student’s language needs.