Students’ Problems with Cohesion and Coherence in EFL Essay Writing

Abstract

The current study attempts to investigate students’ problems with cohesion and coherence in English as foreign language essay writing. This research aims at exploring students’ attitudes and perceptions concerning the issues and struggles encountered when using cohesion and coherence in writing EFL essays. The present research adopts the descriptive method, which is manifested through a questionnaire and an analysis of students’ essays. The sample of this research was chosen randomly from Master one students at the Department of English, University of 8 Mai 1945, Guelma. Sixty (60) students participated in answering the questionnaire and other fifty (50) students participated in writing the essays. The derived findings reveal that Master one students encounter serious problems with cohesion and coherence when writing EFL essays. Consequently, the necessity of including cohesion and coherence lessons as well as providing opportunities for students to practice to write EFL essays through the use of cohesive devices and coherence in all the modules should be taken into serious consideration.