First Year University English Students' Writing Ability: A Diagnostic Analysis

The ability to write effectively has an important role in second and foreign language. In education, writing skill is needed to communicate the ideas and information. Therefore, English students are required to have ability and proficiency in written language. This study diagnoses writing ability of first year English students at university. To answer research question, the study analyses English students’ work using content analysis. The assessment rubric divides as four categories such as organization, coherence cohesion, grammar and mechanic. The finding showed that English students’ writing ability in term of organization was in average category in independent descriptive writing. Students were poor in guided writing and coherence cohesion. It was different result from guided writing which average. Students were poor in using correct grammar and mechanic but they are excellent in the use of context verb in guided writing. The finding indicates that the majority of students’ ability in English writing ranges from average to poor category.