Writing strategies skill (EWSS) for Makassar students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to English writing strategies skill for Makassar students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The prospects and challenges of writing in English language as the main language for writing thesis, projects and desertations as well as carrying out other assigmnets. The study identified both postgraduates and undergraduate students in UTM lack proficiency in writing skills. 20 postgraduates’ students and 10 undergraduates’ students were sellected randonmly to carry out a simple text on writing skills and were ask to answer a set of questionnaires. Relative important index was used to evaluate the questionnaires. The results shows clearly that the skill need for writing English language by Makassar students in UTM needed improvements as only 30% of the students whom carry out the the writing skills test sucessfully complete the task while the remaining 70% could either complete the task. In spite of the challenges, numerous prospects exist for improving writing skills in UTM as there is a language centre that could assit in improving these skills.