There are some factors contributing to students‟ errors, such as interlingual transfer errors caused by using language pattern of first language into a second
language or the interference of the learner‟s mother tongue and intralingual transfer
it reflects learner‟s competence at a particular stage and the outcome from partial learning of the target language.
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These factors referred to as the source of errors or causes of errors.
Error lies in language performance, and it usually happens on students‟ speaking or students‟ writing, because speaking and writing are productive skills
which are susceptible of error. As Dulay, Burt, and Krashen noted that errors itself are the flawed side of student speech and writing. Errors are parts of conversation or
composition that diverges from some selected norm of mature language performance.
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Based on the error made by the writer and some of her friends while they were at seventh semester and some problems that has been described above, the
writer will conduct an error analysis to investigate students‟ ability in identifying and writing independent clause and dependent clause in an argumentative essay at
seventh semester of Department of English Education of Faculty Tarbiyah and Teachers Training of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta.
B. Identification of the Problem
According to background of the study above, the writer identifies some problems:
1. Students use double clause connectors in a sentence. 2. Students usually translate the sentence from Indonesian language into
English language. 3. Students make errors in writing independent clause and dependent clause
in their argumentative essay.
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Vacide Erdogan, Contribution of Error Analysis to Foreign Language Teaching, Mersin University Faculty of Education, Vol. 1, Issue 2, December 2005, p. 263.
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Heidi Dulay, et al., Language Two, New York: Oxford University Press, 1982, p. 138.
C. Limitation of the Problem
Based on the identification of the problems above, the writer limits the problem only on students‟ errors in writing independent clause and dependent clause
in argumentative essay.
D. Formulation of the Problem
The formulation of problem involves these research questions: 1. What types of error the students commonly made on their argumentative essay?
2. What are the causes of the students‟ error on their argumentative essay?
E. Objective of the Study
The objective of this study is to find out the types of error which the students commonly made on their argumentative essay and causes of their errors in writing an
argumentative essay.
F. Significance of the Study
This study would be beneficial especially to the writer who will conduct this research to find out the answer of the research questions. The study would also
provide valuable input for lecturers about their students‟ ability in identifying and
writing independent clause and dependent clause in an argumentative essay. It would also be beneficial to the other readers who are interested in doing further researches
related to the error analysis on students‟ ability in identifying and writing independent clause and dependent clause in an argumentative essay.
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CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
