AN ERROR ANALYSIS OF PREPOSITIONS AND
CONJUNCTIONS USAGE OF PROCEDURE
WRITING BY THE TENTH GRADE
STUDENTS AT SMAN 1
PANCUR BATU
A THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Pendidikan
By
SYLVIA SUZANNA BR PERANGIN-ANGIN
Registration Number. 2111521014
ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
MEDAN
DECLARATION
Except where appropriately acknowledged, this thesis is my own work, it has
been expressed in my own word and has not been previously submitted for
assessment.
I understand that this paper may be screened electronically or otherwise for
plagiarism.
Medan, May 2016
Sylvia Suzanna Br P
i ABSTRACT
Perangin-angin, Sylvia Suzanna. 2016. 2111521014. An Error Analysis of Prepositions and Conjunctions Usage of Procedure Writing by the Tenth Grade Students at SMA N 1 Pancurbatu. A Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Languages and Arts. State University of Medan.
This study aimed at analyzing the errors of prepositions and conjunctions usage on students’ procedure writing. It was conducted by using qualitative descriptive method. The population of this research was the tenth (X) grade students of SMA N 1 Pancur Batu. The number of samples were taken from class X-1 which consisted of 37 students. The instrument for collecting data was writing procedure text. The result of the study showed that there are many preposition and conjunction errors found in the students’ procedure writing. The analysis showed that the most common type of preposition and conjunction errors made by the students was selection errors (45.2%) with 91 cases of preposition and 9 cases of conjunction. From the data analysis, it was found that the main causes of preposition and conjunction errors was Interference (35.7%).
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For the first and foremost, the researcher would like to express her deepest
gratitude to Almighty God, Jesus Christ for His amazing grace, for the blessing
and love so the researcher has finally completed this thesis. This thesis is aimed to
fulfill one of requirements for the degree of Sarjana Pendidikan of English
Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, State University of Medan
(UNIMED). For which the researcher would like to express her extremely grateful
to the following:
 Prof. Dr. Syawal Gultom, M.Pd., the Rector of State University of Medan.
 Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M.Hum., the Dean of Faculty of Languages and Arts, State University of Medan.
 Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M.Pd., the Head of English Department, Nora Ronita Dewi, S.Pd., S.S., M.Hum., the Head of English
Education Study Program.
 Dr. Anni Holila Pulungan, M.Hum., her First Thesis Consultant, and Rita Suswati, S.Pd., M.Hum., her second Thesis Consultant, for
their valuable advice, precious time, guidance, their patient,
suggestions and support as long as the process of finishing thesis.  Dra. Meisuri, MA and Dra. Masitowarni Siregar, M.Ed her
Examiners for their kindness, suggestion, support and information to
improve her writing.
 All the Lecturers of English Teaching Department.
 Eis Sri Wahyuningsih, M.Pd and Sir Pantes, the administration staff of English and Literature Departement for giving information in
completing her thesis.
iii
 Asbon Pardosi, S.Pd., the English teacher of SMAN 1 Pancur Batu for the support and guidance along the reasearch.
 Her beloved parents, dr. Mission Perangin-angin and Kasta Jenny Br Tarigan, for giving her everlasting love, affection, time, prayer,
advice and great motivation especially in the time of completing this
thesis.
 Her brother, dr. Senior Tawarta Perangin-angin, Sp.PD and her dearest sister, Siska Apulina Br Perangin-angin, S.Pd, for giving her
support, prayer and motivation so that she able to finish her study.  Her friends from Extension C 2011, for the togetherness until 8
semesters and also her friends from PPLT 2014 in SMAN 1
Tigapanah.
 Her best friends, Monica, Bimbim, Bang Heri and Elkana, for giving her support and motivation, also her friends in Kost Panglima 26
(Loso, Novia, Sinta, Kak Septa, Kak Win, Tanti, Leha, Kak Der).  Her weird-best friends, Putri Ester Tarigan and Santa Mutia Manik,
for their weirdness, their kindness, precious time, prayers and endless
love.
The last, but not the least, the writer hopes this thesis will be useful
and give positive impact for those who read it. Especially for the students
iv
E. The Significances of the Study ... 3
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 4
A. Theoretical Framework ... 4
1. Errors and Mistakes ... 4
a. Error Analysis ... 5
b. The Causes of Errors ... 6
c. Types of Errors ... 7
d. The Advantages of Error Analysis ... 9
v
g. Conjunctions ... 15
h. Interjections ... 17
3. Genre ... 17
a. Procedure Text ... 18
b. The Example of Procedure Text ... 20
B. Relevant Studies ... 21
C. Conceptual Framework ... 22
CHAPTER III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ... 24
A. Research Design ... 24
B. The Source of Data and Data ... 24
C. The Procedure of Collecting Data ... 25
D. The Technique of Analyzing the Data ... 26
CHAPTER IV. THE DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS ... 27
A. Data ... 27
B. Data Analysis ... 28
C. Discussion ... 29
1. Types of Preposition and Conjunction Errors ... 29
2. The Causes of Students’ Preposition and Conjunction Errors on Procedure Writing ... 35
D. The Research Finding ... 39
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS A. Conclusions ... 40
B. Suggestions ... 41
REFERENCES ... 42
vi
LIST OF TABLES
Pages
Table 2.1. The Example of Procedure Text ... 18
Table 2.2 Types of Prepositions ... 20
Table 2.3. Types and Examples of Conjunctions ... 22
Table 4.1.Total of preposition and conjunction errors ... 29
Table 4.2. Examples of Students’ Errors in Selection ... 32
Table 4.3. Examples of Students’ Error in Addition ... 33
Table 4.4. Examples of Students’ Error in Miss-ordering ... 34
Table 4.5. Examples of Students’ Error in Omission ... 36
vii
LIST OF FIGURES
Pages
Figure 4.1. Types of Error ... 31
viii
LIST OF APPENDICES
Pages
Appendix A. Writing Test ... 46
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. The Background of the Study
Writing as one of four language skill is not easy. It requires much
concentration, practice in composing and it should be comprehended well
by the students. Students are expected to able write types of writing such
as recount, narrative, descriptive, etc. As one of the basic language skills
and productive skill, writing has a very complex process.
It is a comprehensive ability which consists of grammar, vocabulary,
punctuation, appropriate content, word selection, topic, occasion and
punctuation. Before we write, we need to follow a series of process.
Therefore, in a process there must be some errors made by students.
Based on the writer’s observation in SMAN 1 Pancurbatu, the errors
were also made by students there. In addition to these errors, usually it
happened in choosing prepositions and conjunctions, especially writing
procedure. They made errors in putting the wrong prepositions and
conjunctions so it will change the meaning. Even most of students forgot
and did not know about prepositions and conjunctions sometimes teacher
did not aware about these mistakes and just remind the students when they
made such error without any correction (Fang, 2007).
Related to the problems, some researchers analyzed errors in students’
2
by students in writing genre. But, the fact is not all errors were specifically
analyzed.
The writer chooses to analyze errors in prepositions and conjunctions
usage of students’ writing procedure because it is specific and according to
the previous study, not only students in junior high school made errors in
prepositions and conjunctions but also students in senior high school.
B. The Problem of the Study
Based on the background of the study on the previous, the problems
were formulated as follows.
1. What types of preposition and conjunction errors which is the mostly
common on students’ procedure text?
2. What are the causes of prepositions and conjunctions error found in
procedure writing of the tenth grade students at SMAN 1 Pancurbatu?
C. The Objective of the Study
Based on the statement of the problems above the writer had some
purposes.
1. To identify and classify the types of prepositions and conjunctions error in
procedure writing by the tenth grade students at SMAN 1 Pancurbatu.
2. To find out the causes of prepositions and conjunctions error in procedure
3
D. The Scope of the Study
The study dealed with the errors anaysis. The study focused on the
identification, classification the types of errors, to know the most error that
students commit, and to find out the causes of errors on using prepositions
and conjunctions in procedure writing by the tenth grade students at
SMAN 1 Pancurbatu.
E. The Significance of the Study
The study was expected to have both theoretical and practical
perspectives.
1. Theoretical Perspectives
The writer hopes that this research wiil be inspiring English teacher to
give correction and more exercises about prepositions and conjunctions
clearly.
2. Practical Perspectives
a. For the Teachers
The result of this research can be useful for teaching prepositions and
conjunctions in writing procedure text.
b. For the Students
The students can use prepositions and conjunctions better, in writing
40 CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusion
Based on the data analysis, it was found that the students made many
errors in their procedure writing.
1. The total of errors and the number of Error causes showed that every
students made errors in their writing. Selection was the mostly
common error on students’ procedure text with the total was 100 .
2. The Interference was the mostly cause of errors with the total was 79.
So, from the calculation of the data, it can be concluded that there were
221 in total of errors of prepostitions and conjunctions usage of
procedure writing by 37 students on the tenth grade at SMAN 1 Pancur
Batu.
B. Suggestions
After the writer carried out the research, she would like to give
suggestions related to the result of this research. Hopefully it can be applied easily
in teaching and learning activity and decrease the errors.
1. The teachers should keep teaching and explaining more to students how to
use appropriate preposition and conjunction especially on writing
procedure text.
2. Writing is a skill which needs process and practice. Therefore, the students
should practice writing not only in the simplest one such as writing daily
41
must learn more about applying preposition and conjunction on their
writing.
3. This reseacrh is not too complete yet and needs additional explanation. It
still need elaboration from other researchers who are interested on
studying preposition and conjunction also but of course in the different
42
REFERENCES
Ary, D. Jacobs. 2002. Introduction to Research in Education. Sixth Edition.United States of America: Wadsworth Group.
Brown, H.D. 2000. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Fourth Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc
Dirgeyasa, Dr. I Wy. 2015. College Academic Writing : A Genre Based Perspective. Revised Edition. Medan: Unimed Press.
Erdogan, V. 2005. Contribution of Error Analysis to Foreign Language Teaching : Mersin University Journal of the Faculy of Education, I(2) 261-270
Fang, X and Jiang X. 2007. Error Analysis and the EFL Classroom Teaching: US- China Education Review Journal, IV(9) 10-14
Harmer, Jeremy. 2003. The Practice of English Language Teaching. New York: Longman.
Hourani, Y.T. 2008. An Analysis of the Common Grammar Errors in the English Writing made by 3rd Secondary Male Students in the Eastern Coast of the UAE. Dubai
Hussain, Z.et.al. 2013. An Error Analysis of L2 Writing at Higher Secondary Level in Multan, Pkistan: Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, IV(11) 828-844
Hyland,K. 2002. Teaching and Researching Writing. Great Britain: Longman
James, C. 2001. Errors in Language learning use: Exploring error analysis. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
Khansir, A.A. 2012. Error Analysis and Second Langauge Acquisition: Journal of Theory and Practice in Language Studies. II(5) 1027-1032
Khurriyati, N. 2013. An Error Analysis of Prepositions of Place of The Eight Year Students in SMPN 3 Ampel in The Academic Year of 2012/2013. Published by STAIN : Salatiga.
Knapp,P., and Watkins, M. 2005. Genre, Text, Grammar : Technologies for Teaching and Assesing Writing. Australia: University of New South Wales Press Ltd
43
Morley, G. 2000. Syntax in Functional Grammar. New York: Continuum Wellington House
Prasad, M and Sinha,R. 2007. Objective English for Competitive Examinations. Third Edition. India : Tata McGraw-Hill
Richards, J.C. 1973. Error Analysis. London: Longman.
Sanjono, B.Ponco. 2007. An Error Analysis of Preposition Used by The Second Year Students of SMP 9 Pekalongan in 2006/2007 Academic Year. Published Thesis. Surakarta : Muhammadiyah University.
Sawalmeh,M.Hasan. 2013. Error Analysis of Written English Essays: The Case of Students of the Prepatory Year Program in Saudi Arabia: English for Spesific Purposes World Journal, 14(14) 1-16
Valero,A.L. et.al. 2008. Teacher’s Attitudes Towards Correcting Students’ Errors
and Mistakes: Teacher Research Journal of the Muria University, pp.21-30
44
REFERENCES
Ary, D. Jacobs. 2002. Introduction to Research in Education. Sixth Edition.United States of America: Wadsworth Group.
Brown, H.D. 2000. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Fourth Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc
Dirgeyasa, Dr. I Wy. 2015. College Academic Writing : A Genre Based Perspective. Revised Edition. Medan: Unimed Press.
Erdogan, V. 2005. Contribution of Error Analysis to Foreign Language Teaching : Mersin University Journal of the Faculy of Education, I(2) 261-270
Fang, X and Jiang X. 2007. Error Analysis and the EFL Classroom Teaching: US- China Education Review Journal, IV(9) 10-14
Harmer, Jeremy. 2003. The Practice of English Language Teaching. New York: Longman.
Hourani, Y.T. 2008. An Analysis of the Common Grammar Errors in the English Writing made by 3rd Secondary Male Students in the Eastern Coast of the UAE. Dubai
Hussain, Z.et.al. 2013. An Error Analysis of L2 Writing at Higher Secondary Level in Multan, Pkistan: Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, IV(11) 828-844
Hyland,K. 2002. Teaching and Researching Writing. Great Britain: Longman
James, C. 2001. Errors in Language learning use: Exploring error analysis. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
Khansir, A.A. 2012. Error Analysis and Second Langauge Acquisition: Journal of Theory and Practice in Language Studies. II(5) 1027-1032
Khurriyati, N. 2013. An Error Analysis of Prepositions of Place of The Eight Year Students in SMPN 3 Ampel in The Academic Year of 2012/2013. Published by STAIN : Salatiga.
Knapp,P., and Watkins, M. 2005. Genre, Text, Grammar : Technologies for Teaching and Assesing Writing. Australia: University of New South Wales Press Ltd
45
Morley, G. 2000. Syntax in Functional Grammar. New York: Continuum Wellington House
Prasad, M and Sinha,R. 2007. Objective English for Competitive Examinations. Third Edition. India : Tata McGraw-Hill
Richards, J.C. 1973. Error Analysis. London: Longman.
Sanjono, B.Ponco. 2007. An Error Analysis of Preposition Used by The Second Year Students of SMP 9 Pekalongan in 2006/2007 Academic Year. Published Thesis. Surakarta : Muhammadiyah University.
Sawalmeh,M.Hasan. 2013. Error Analysis of Written English Essays: The Case of Students of the Prepatory Year Program in Saudi Arabia: English for Spesific Purposes World Journal, 14(14) 1-16
Valero,A.L. et.al. 2008. Teacher’s Attitudes Towards Correcting Students’ Errors
and Mistakes: Teacher Research Journal of the Muria University, pp.21-30