A Study of Errors in the use of Question Tags Committed by Grade Nine Students

Abstract

The title of this thesis is “A Study of Errors in the Use of Question Tags Committed by Grade Nine Students”. The main purpose of the present study is to find out the errors in the use of question tags committed by grade nine students and to describe the errors as well as to point out the pedagogical implications. In order to carry out this study, four secondary level schools, two private and two public, were purposively selected from the Kathmandu valley, only eighty students of grade nine, twenty from each of the selected schools were chosen purposively. The main tool of the research was a written test. It consisted of ten different types containing five questions in each. The responses of the students were counted and data were analyzed to find the errors. The main findings of this present study are that the statements having 'have' verb as main verb were found most difficult and statements having auxiliary verb were somehow easy for the students. The statements having I am(not), Imperative sentence and statements having negative marker words were equally difficult for the students. All the errors were classified under expressive, local, overt, intralingual and grammatical errors. On the basis of the findings some recommendations have been made to improve the existing pedagogical situation. This thesis consists of four chapters, which are as follows: Chapter one deals with the introduction. It consists of general background, importance of the English language, the English language in Nepal, an introduction to errors, error analysis, an overview of question tags, framework for the study, objectives, significance and limitations of the study. Chapter two deals with the methodology applied in order to carry out this research which includes the sources of data (primary and secondary), sample population and sampling procedures, tools for data collection and process of data collection.

Chapter three deals with the analysis and interpretation of data. This chapter consists of two parts. Part one deals with the typewise analysis of errors by using percentage, analysis of the errors in different types in terms of average and percentage, itemwise analysis of errors in each types by using percentage and interpretation of unattempted items. Part two deals with the description of total errors made by the students.

Chapter four presents the summary of findings and recommendations.

Finally, references and appendices are included.