DINAMIKA ILMU - Vol. 17 No. 2 - The Ability of Indonesian EFL Learners in Writing

Oct 15, 2026

This study examines thesis quality among English Department students at IAIN Samarinda. Using a descriptive-quantitative approach, it reviews thesis quality across language, structure, concept understanding, theoretical framework, methodology, content, writing mechanisms, and references. Fourteen students’ theses tested in 2013 serve as main data, supported by 19 respondents and lecturers as informants. Results show an average score of 3.16 (2.61-3.40), with internal and external factors identified as influencing quality.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

A. Introduction

Academic writing context

Indonesian policy and thesis requirements

English writing skills and EFL learners

Importance of academic writing ability

DINAMIKA ILMU Vol. 17 No. 2, 2017 P-ISSN: 1411-3031; E-ISSN: 2442-9651 doi: [http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/di.v17i2.725](http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/di.v17i2.725) The Ability of Indonesian EFL Learners in Writing Academic Papers M. Said Husin State Institute of Islamic Studies of Samarinda, Indonesia e-mail: [abisaidhusin@gmail.com](abisaidhusin@gmail.com) Etty Nurbayani State Institute of Islamic Studies of Samarinda, Indonesia e-mail: [etty_nurbayani@yahoo.co.id](etty_nurbayani@yahoo.co.id) Abstract This study is meant to examine the thesis quality of students of English Department at IAIN Samarinda. Through the descriptive-quantitative research, the thesis quality of students of English Department at IAIN Samarinda is reviewed from the aspects of language, structure, concepts understanding, theoretical framework, methodology, content, writing mechanism, and references used. This study also tries to figure out any factors that affect the thesis quality of English Department students. Fourteen English Department Students’ thesis tested in 2013 are used as the main data. In addition, other data are obtained from respondents i.e. 19 students, and informants i.e. lecturers of English Department who are also their thesis advisors. The result shows that the average score of thesis written by 14 English Department students at IAIN Samarinda academic year of 2013 is 3.16 which is in the range of 2.61-3.40 scale, which is quite good quality. This quality is relevant with the informants’ perceptions about the quality of thesis written by their students. Judging from some aspects, they assume that their students are able to write a good quality of thesis with an average score of 2.81 which is at a scale of 2.61-3.40. The quality is affected by internal factors and external factors. The most decisive internal factor is the respondents’ low score of writing with appropriate and acceptable structure in English. This is the effect of respondents’ lack of ability of composing adequate paragraphs in English. Meanwhile, the most concerning external factor is the quality of learning structure course and the professionalism of the informants in guiding the students to improve their writing ability in thesis writing. Keywords: thesis writing quality, internal factors and external factors A. Introduction De Poel & Gasiorek (2012) categorizes academic writing as a prominent component of academic discourse which may take a number of different forms, including essays, projects, lecture notes, and theses. It is not a mistake, then, if each country including Indonesia decides to develop educational policy derived from and for academic interest. In another case, especially in Indonesia, one of project interests is making a particular regulation initiated based on the government and the academic affairs. The Indonesian government works in hand with university staffs to define some specific issues such an issue which is concerning with the quality of university students regarding with academic abilities to develop academic discourses. Hence, this requirement was issued, in this context, by the Ministry of Education and Culture from which each university student is required to write a final academic report. This report includes undergraduate thesis as one of the research forms undertaken by an undergraduate university student in accordance with some certain standards and processes. These standards and processes are the cornerstones for any undergraduate student to fulfill one of the requirements to be a bachelor in a certain field of study. This regulation is inherent with the curriculum of a university in which research methodology and academic writing technique are offered as general courses. Both courses are very critical since there is a fact that Indonesian students face a crucial problem in scientific writing abilities compared to Malaysian, Australian, and European students (Yaqin, 2015) . Besides, English is also

FAQs

What is the main focus of the study?

The study focuses on examining the thesis quality of English Department students at IAIN Samarinda and identifying factors that affect it.

How is thesis quality evaluated in the research?

Thesis quality is reviewed through language, structure, concept understanding, theoretical framework, methodology, content, writing mechanism, and references used.

What factors are found to influence thesis quality?

Quality is affected by internal factors and external factors; the most decisive internal factor is low writing performance with acceptable structure, while the most concerning external factor is the learning structure course quality and informant professionalism in guidance.

Oct 15, 2026

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