2。3 A Literature Review on Error Analysis 4

2。3。1 Theoretical Foundation of Error Analysis 4

2。3。2 Error Analysis and the L2 Learner’s Interlanguage 5

2。4 Related Studies on Error Analysis of Writing 6

2。4。1 Related Studies abroad 6

2。4。2 Related Studies at Home 7

Chapter Three Research Methodology 9

3。1 Research Questions 9

3。2 Participants 9

3。3 Instruments 9

3。3。1 Writing Task 9

3。3。2 Questionnaire 9

3。4 Research Procedures 9

3。4。1 Data Collection 10

3。4。2 Error Identification 10

3。4。3 Error Description 10

3。4。4 Error Explanation 10

3。4。5 Error Evaluation 10

Chapter Four Data Analysis and Academic Discussion 11

4。1 Analysis on the Errors from the Writing Samples 11

4。1。1 Classification of Errors 11

4。1。2 Explanation of Errors 15

4。2 Analysis on the Data from the Questionnaire 16

Chapter Five Conclusion 18

5。1 Major Findings 18

5。2 Pedagogical Implications 18

5。2。1 Strategies of Error Correction 18

5。2。2 Strategies for the Teaching of Writing 18

5。3 Limitations of the Present Study 19

References 21

Appendices 23

Appendix I Writing material 23

Appendix II Questionnaire 24

Chapter One Introduction

1。1 Background of the Study

As is known to all, writing is one of the four basic skills in the process of learning a second language。 Concerning the English teaching in junior middle schools, writing, to some extent, ranks after the other three language skills, which are listening, speaking and reading。 Therefore, English writing has always been a weak point in junior middle schools’ English teaching。

As a matter of fact, writing ability reflects learners’ comprehensive ability in the use of a language, thus English writing should be more and more important。 The latest English Curriculum Standard (2011) presents some general instructions and basic demands on English learners and teachers。 Altogether, there are five levels, representing different requirements towards junior students’ four language skills, and those graduates have to reach the fifth level。 First, students should be able to collect and prepare some writing materials。 Second, students are supposed to draft a short essay and a note by themselves, and modify them with the help of teachers。 Third, students should be capable of using some common conjunctions to express order and logical relationship。 Fourth, students are supposed to simply describe people or events。 Fifth, students should be able to write a simple paragraph or operating instructions based on the given graphic or table。 In addition, according to the entrance examination of senior high school, and in terms of the English examination, students in junior middle school are asked to write a composition about 80 words cohesively and coherently。 They are also required to use smooth language without grammatical errors。 Meanwhile, their handwriting should be tidy and correct。