An Analysis of Major Difficulties Moroccan Engineering Students Encounter in Argumentative Essay Writing

The Case of Preparatory Classes of Higher Engineering Schools

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse argumentative essay errors made by Moroccan students in Preparatory Classes of Higher Engineering Schools (Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles) ( CPGE).The participants  of this study  were  1^st  year Physics, Chemistry  and Engineering Sciences (PCSI ) students in CPGE Omar Ibn Al Khattab, Meknes . 68 students participated in the study which means that  all PCSI students  were involved. The study uses a mixed method design. In the quantitative method, the  data was gathered  from students’ argumentative essay tests. Students’ errors were  quantified numerically and  the contents of teachers’ interviews  were  analyzed qualitatively. The results  of the study demonstrate clearly  that CPGE students’ difficulties  in essay  writing are aligned to many factors . Firstly,  CPGE Students’  lack language proficiency. They have serious language problems accumulated from previous years of study. Secondly , students  lack motivation as they do not find pleasure in writing and perceive it as a tiring and boring task. Thirdly, they do not read a lot which makes the task of writing very hard. Fourthly ,  students do not master the techniques of writing a structured essay. In fact, it is a process that requires many steps to be followed from introduction to conclusion . The study ended up by suggesting possible solution to overcome such difficulties.