Furthermore, Asti realized that there have been some significant changes in her life after having problems in writing academic papers. She used to be unaware
of what should she write in her academic papers. In contrast, she preferred to read several related articles first in order to dig ideas of her writing. Not only that,
having self-correction helped her in checking her writing quality no matter she had no feedback in details from the lecturers.
2. Cahyo’s Story
Cahyo pseudonym is a Graduate student of English Language Studies in Sanata Dharma University. His main interest is in Literature. Adit was born in
June 27
th
1989. His educational background was in Yogyakarta. After graduated from SMAN 7 Yogyakarta, he continued his study to Sanata Dharma University
in English Letter. Then he continued to pursue his master degree in English Language Studies of Sanata Dharma University.
According to Cahyo’s experience when he was undergraduate students in English Literacy of Sanata Dharma University, it was the first time for him
dealing with writing academic papers, something that he did not have previously in senior high school. In addition, he faced problems like structure in academic
writing and grammar. As being mentioned previously, it was his first time dealing with academic writing. Meaning that, he was unfamiliar with the structure and
style of academic writing. In that time, he had a little exposure in practicing English. He added that most of the courses were done using Bahasa Indonesia.
Before entering English Language Studies in Sanata Dharma University, he had almost no experience in writing academic papers. He mentioned that the
last academic paper that he wrote was his undergraduate thesis. During his study PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
in ELS Sanata Dharma University, he learned not only theoretical subjects but also skills, to be specific writing academic papers. Therefore, he was shocked
when entered ELS, a lot of academic writing tasks. As the first semester, he had a problem in writing respond papers. In other
word, he had no idea what should be written in his respond papers. Cahyo shared that he had to choose one theory as the topic. Unfortunately, he had to change the
topic twice because he could not find the gap among the similar research topic 7- CO-95-PLN-PCS. The first step he did before writing his academic paper, Cahyo
had to decide the topic, a particular theory to be analyzed for the final paper. He read several articles related to the topic and figured out the issues of the topic.
After that, he picked a drama script entitled “A View from The Bridge” to be analyzed using new historicism.
After having a particular topic of writing, then Cahyo searched any similar or related research articles to the topic given 7-CO-54-DRA-PCS. Thus, by
following related articles format and style, Cahyo changed and added his own ideas. However, having the format did not mean all the problems were solved
automatically. He had struggles with the grammar of his own writing. Cahyo argued that he was lack of language exposure. He added that it had been a long
time for using English. “A lot of mistakes in grammar. Because it had been a long time for using English.” At that time he only used simple present tense and simple
tenses for his writing. Another problem raised in other class. He had a disappointing experience when he took comparative theory class.
Cahyo did not have any ideas what to write in the beginning. He added that the lecture did not explain how to compare one literary work with another
appropriately. “The lecture did not show us how to compare. Just respond. Again, we students were not being taught how to compare at all.” 7-CO-84-EXP.
Then, he had to browse the example of comparative article and follow the structure and style of writing from it.
Unfortunately, he just analyzed it as best as he could no matter that it was far from the lecturer expectation. Being asked the reason why he did so, Cahyo
just simply answered “well, just submitted to fulfill the course requirement. Getting a score.” 7-CO-99-ATT. He argued that he had a problem in adjusting
himself with the classrooms atmosphere. “It was getting pretty demanding. We were required to write and submit many papers. As the result, I have no choice.
Finally, I had to do it just to fulfill the requirements. Even I was not really into it.” 7-CO-113-EXP.
In addition, he had to revise based on the lecturer’s feedback. In the meantime, his lecturer asked him to improve his writing, especially using complex
sentence and technical terms in the context 7-CO-161-EDI-PCS. Later, he explained that in the previous semester he only used a simple sentence and
common terms to express his ideas. In order to overcome this problem, Cahyo used dictionary to check a particular academic term in his paper.
Reflecting on his problem during writing academic paper, Cahyo admitted that he got several lessons. “During the process itself, well, how to use the
appropriate format, references and of course the theory. How to write appropriately. Like that.“ 7-CO-195-EXP. He believed that it would be very
beneficial for him right after he graduate from Sanata Dharma University. “I can apply those skills right after I graduate, for writing articles and others.” 7-CO-
196-EPN. Having a huge number of mistakes in structure and vocabulary, made him realize that he was unaware in details of his own writing. Therefore, he used
dictionary to solve the problem. Cahyo mentioned that his attitude toward academic writing was changed while
reflecting on his experience in writing academic papers. He could make himself familiar with the style and structure in academic writing from published journals
and articles. He had to force himself to write appropriately, based on the style and structure in academic writing, as close as possible with the expectation. He wished
that he could get enough examples, explanation related to guidance or standard in writing a particular academic paper.
3. Jaya’s Story
Jaya pseudo name is a Graduate student of English Language Studies in Sanata Dharma University. His main interest is in English Education. He comes
from Pangkal Pinang, South Sumatra. Right after graduated from SMAN 1 Pangkal Pinang, he continued his study in undergraduate program of Sanata
Dharma University. He had teaching experience for almost 32 years until 2014. In addition, he is a senior student who focuses in pursuing his master degree in
English Language Studies in Sanata Dharma. Before entering English Language Studies in Sanata Dharma University,
most of his writing experiences were dealing with writing emails, students’ reports. In other words, he is familiar with business writing. As stated previously,
he had teaching experiences almost 32 years. However, he had only a little exposure in teaching writing, such as TOEFL writing preparation tests. Jaya said
that Joining English Language Studies was quite shocking at the beginning. He PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
did not expect for having so many writing assignments and working so hard. On the other hand, he added that it was challenging since he had to adjust his English
style from social English to academic English. Not only that, for Jaya, it was 32 years ago that required him to deal with academic writing, such as his
undergraduate thesis. Therefore, if he had had known that he got his self into before he entered ELS, then he would not have entered.
“it was quite shocking experience because first I joined this semester at ELS, not expecting that I had to work so hard on myself with the
assignments and so many writing assignments… Therefore, when I had to write and then there was a gap with the teaching methodology. It was
strange to me because, you know, I mostly taught in the non-formal sector of English Teaching. That was challenging. I had to adjust my English style
from social English and moved them to academic English.” 9-JA2-11-EXP
In the first semester, he had to write the assignments and to use his cognitive ability as well. It means that he should be able to argue and describe really well in
order to connect ideas better. “I had to write the assignments, I had to use my cognitive, ability as well. Have to be able to argue, and describe really well and
have to think things over and try to connect ideas. Things like that.” 9-JA2-11- EXP.
At the beginning, the time was so pressing. Jaya had to decide the topic and make it narrow down. He had to dig up any possible ideas 9-JA2-26-PLN-
PCS. Jaya also added that the most challenging was how to understand something and link it with other concepts in order to come up with another idea.
According to him, making the draft for his paper was challenging. As the second stage in writing process, he needed to understand the topic and link with another
concept 9-JA2-11-DRA-PCS. He tried to do his best and to be closed to the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
