Investigating students' challenges in writing descriptive text: A case study at one of Junior High School in Garut, Indonesia

Yuliyanti, Nati Nursyahidah (2025) Investigating students' challenges in writing descriptive text: A case study at one of Junior High School in Garut, Indonesia. Sarjana thesis, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung.

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Abstract

Writing was one of the essential language skills that students needed to master, especially in learning English as a foreign language. Descriptive text was the first type of text taught in junior high school, but many students still faced difficulties in writing it, particularly in grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. Previous studies revealed similar challenges and emphasized the need for effective teaching strategies.This study investigated the challenges students faced in writing descriptive texts and how they tried to overcome them at one junior high school in Garut, Indonesia. This study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design to explore in depth the challenges students faced in writing descriptive texts at a junior high school in Garut, Indonesia. As qualitative research was suitable for understanding individual experiences within a specific context, this method allowed the researcher to gather detailed data through interviews and questionnaires. The case study focused on the specific difficulties students encountered in writing, providing a comprehensive view of the writing process in a real educational setting. This approach offered valuable insights and contributed to improving writing instruction for junior high school students.The analysis revealed that students faced several key challenges in writing descriptive texts. The most significant difficulty was grammar, with 48% of students struggling to apply correct grammatical structures. Organization was the second major issue, as 21% of students had trouble arranging their ideas logically and coherently. Limited vocabulary also posed a problem for 15% of students, while 11% faced challenges in developing relevant content. These difficulties were largely due to a lack of understanding of text structure, limited vocabulary, and insufficient writing experience. To address these challenges, students often sought help from teachers, peers, and dictionaries to improve their vocabulary and understanding. They also relied on consistent writing practice to enhance their skills. Teachers played a crucial role by using visual media, providing text models, and enriching students’ vocabulary. These strategies supported the development of students’ descriptive writing abilities, which significantly contributed to their overall literacy, including reading comprehension, critical thinking, and written communication. The study that the main challenges students faced in writing descriptive texts were grammar, idea organization, limited vocabulary, and content development, mostly due to a lack of understanding of text structure and writing experience. Students overcame these issues by seeking help, using dictionaries, and practicing regularly, while teachers supported them through visual media and text examples. For future research, it is recommended to explore the effectiveness of specific teaching strategies or media, such as digital tools or visual aids, in improving students’ descriptive writing skills.

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