EFFECTS OF CONCORD ERRORS IN THE ESSAYS OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS

EFFECTS OF CONCORD ERRORS IN THE ESSAYS OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS

Abstract:

This study is on effects of concord errors in the essays of SS II students in selected secondary schools in Kaduna metropolis. One hundred and twenty scripts ranging from tests and assignments were collected from Government Girls Secondary School Kawo, Government College Kurmin Mashi (boys), Rimi College Tafawa Balewa (boys), Government Secondary School Narayi (mixed), Queen Amina College (girls) and Government Secondary School Sabon Tasha. Thirty concord errors were analysed using the structuralist paradigms of SVCOA. Students’ good and bad usage of concord were highlighted and discussed. The research revealed that students have difficulties in subject verb concord, tense concord, pronoun antecedent, subject object concord, complementation, prepositions, comparisons etc. especially as they narrate or report events in sequence and time. It is also evident that students try to avoid making complex or compound complex sentences even in the simple sentences, they have faulty concord. The study finally recommends methods and approaches that could be adopted by teachers and learners to ameliorate the prevalence of such concord error. One of these methods is to expose students to a lot of writing drills.

EFFECTS OF CONCORD ERRORS IN THE ESSAYS OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS