AN ANALYSIS OF CONCORD ERRORS: A CASE STUDY OF PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BEGORO FORM TWO STUDENTS IN THE EASTERN REGION

ABSTRACT

Studies on English and specifically WAEC chief Examiner’s report on English Language performance annually show that the main English writing problem area of students in the second cycle institutions in Ghana relates to students violation of English concord rules. Concord rules are taught at all levels of education in Ghana, but unfortunately, most senior high school students have challenges making their sentences concordant. This situation is not different from what the researcher observed in the writing of students of Presbyterian Senior High School, Begoro. The study sets forth to ascertain the specific concord problems of students of Presec Begoro, to find out the possible factors that accounted for the errors, and to suggest ways by which they could make their sentences concordant. Data were collected from second year students of Presec Begoro using objective test, essay and interview. These were analysed using graphs. The findings revealed that the students of Presec, Begoro made all kinds of concord errors, particularly subject-verb concord errors which recorded the highest errors. The way forward has been suggested in the concluding chapter and relates to the involvement of curriculum designers, textbook writers, teachers of English and students and even teachers who do not teach English Language. It is the hope of the researcher that if the suggestions and the recommendations are implemented, students will definitely be able to make their sentences in their essays concordant and it will also reflect in the academic performance and in their speech.