ANALYSIS OF THE DIFFICULTY OF WRITING DESCRIPTIVE TEXT FOR STUDENTS IN ENGLISH LESSONS

Students often have difficulty finding ideas and have limited vocabulary, and do not
understand the structure of the text well. Low self-confidence and difficulty in organizing
thoughts also often become obstacles.Through in-depth analysis, this research aims to
contribute to a better understanding of the difficulty, as well as provide suggestions that can
help in overcoming this challenge.The approach used in this research is through a qualitative
approach. This research was conducted with the involvement of 10 students from grade 7 at
SMPN 3 Abab. These students were carefully selected based on a range of criteria, including
variations in their writing abilities as well as their willingness and enthusiasm to participate
in the study. From the results of the analysis of written tests and interviews, it is clear that
there are several main challenges faced by students, including difficulties in text structure,
vocabulary use, grammar, and text cohesion. The research subjects were composed of an
equal number of male and female students, specifically 5 females and 5 males, ensuring
gender balance in the sample. The students’ ages ranged from 12 to 14 years, representing a
typical age group for seventh-grade students. Apart from that, motivational factors and
teaching methods applied in the classroom also play a significant role in influencing
students'' writing abilities. The findings of this research indicate that although students may
have the potential to write good descriptive texts, the various obstacles they face require
serious attention from educators. Difficulties in text structure and vocabulary use indicate
that current teaching approaches may not be fully effective in helping students overcome
these challenges. In addition, low motivation and interest in writing indicates the need for
changes in the way students are approached and encouraged to actively participate in writing
activities.Overall, this research provides valuable insight into the challenges students face
in descriptive writing and offers recommendations that can be used to improve teaching
practices. It is hoped that students will be better able to overcome the difficulties they face
and develop better writing skills. Educators, policy makers, and researchers are expected to
benefit from the findings of this research to advance writing education and achieve better
outcomes in language learning.