CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.

1 Background Writing is a kind of process where someone should always consider the choice of words and sentences, the ideas to be expressed sentences structure, the sequence of words and sentences. Writing is one of the four skills that taught to enable the students to use spoken and written English. And also Writing is way of making meaning of our experiences, ideas, and feelings in written from. Written is an important skill to help student in learn. This is caused by many reasons : first writing reinforces the grammatical structures, idioms, and vocabulary. Second, when the students write they have chance to develop their knowledge because when they write, they will learn many things, such as the rules of writing itself, the arrangement of words and sentences. Third, when the students write, they need new languages, the maximum effort to express the ideas, and constant to use of eyes, hand and brain. In the English D3 Program of UNIB there are some courses : writing I, and writing II. Which related to the English correspondence. After the students learned the English correspondence, which related to the English writing subject, they hoped ability wrote the English written, especially writing the English letters such aas personal and business letters. In this case, the writer should discuss about business letter especially about the application letters. As Stewart (1978:517) state there are some types of business letters such as letters of inquiry, letters of complaint, letters of request and letters of extension of credit, letters of adjustment, and also letters of application.

Writing a letters of application was not an easy job, because there are many things to be prepared first, concerned and also to be obeyed by employers. Because looking for job is not an easy took, it is make the applicants should compete with other applicant while the position could be limited as stated by huckin (1983:257) most of companies have more applicants than position could and thus they are looking for ways to eliminating the applicants. It is one way to pass competitive for the applicants. In application letters, the applicant should tell many things as to make sure that the applicant have qualification to employ the job. For example job interest, schooling, past work experiences have qualification to employ the job interest, schooling, past work experience, and personal information. According to Murphy (1976:382) there are some desirable general qualification of applicants such as evidence of education and intelligence, work experience, activities, achievements, interest, desires, and attitudes. It is may be the most important information in writing English application letters because without that information the company or institution is difficult to give a position in their company. Therefore, the students should be able to write the English business letter, especially the English application letters, it is why, because after they graduated from the university they will become the applicants job or looking for job, if they are able to write that letter, it is easy for them to look for job. As Stewart ( 1978:517) state that your ability to write an effectife employment letter will help you to comlete successfully against others who want the same job you want. Moreover stewart (1978:517) state that an effective application letters can open doors to a bright future, a poor one could quikly close those doors. It means that the effective of youre an application letters is one of the important factor to compete successfully against others who want the same job you want.

The writer believes that the students of D3 program of UNIB are not able to write the English application letters well, although they have studied the English correspondence. The possible causes of these problems that the students did not consider part of the English application letters. For instance, correctness, conciseness, cohesiveness, clarity, and consideration and also they dont have enough understanding in writing a good of application letter. So the result was not to be expected. Murphy (1976:48) states that to be effective in writing the English application letter they should attention in correctness, conciseness, cohesiveness, clarity and consideration. If this main a things to be concerned by the application in order an effective application letters. Best on the reason above, it was make me to conducts a research about the students mistakes in writing English application letters. Especially focused on the correctness, conciseness, cohesiveness, clarity and consideration in writing letters. 1.2 Identification of the problem Ther are some effectiveness in writing the English application letter that can be use by the applicants, ther are : correctness, conciseness, cohesiveness, clarity, and consideration. In this case, the write would like to analise students mistakes in writing the English application letters by the English students D3 program of UNIB. Based on part of correctness are diction, grammar, spelling and punctuation. 1.3 Limitation of problem Because lack of time and funds, the writer will limit himself to the analysis of mistakes made by the students in writing English application letter. The analysis is classified into four types of correctness diction, grammar,spelling and punctuation.

1.4 formulation of Problem the problem of this research will be formulated as following 1. what kinds of mistakes are made by the students in writing the English application letters. 2. What mistakes are not most dominant made by the students in writing the English application letters.

1.5 The Objectives 1. to find what kinds of mistakes are made by the students in writing the English application letters. 2. to find What mistakes are not most dominant made by the students in writing the English application letters. 1.6 Significance of the research The result of this research is expected to give contribution to the student and lecturers at the English D3 program of UNIB student are expected to be able to write correct English application letters when they look for job in their future time. It is suggested that the lecturers of D3 program of UNIB should pay more attention to the mistakes discoveres in teaching the English correspondence course, especially in writing the application letters. 1.7 Definition Application Letter : A letter to express the applicant wishes to get position in company or institution.

mistakes

: As the result of lack attention, carelessness, fatigue, etc of the students in writing the English application letters (Richards : 1974)

correctness

: As the comprising proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling in every aspects of writing an application letters. It should conform to use the correct level of language, accurate facts, words and figures, maintain acceptable writing mechanics and apply correctly all other pertinent qualities (Murphy:1976)

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 The nature of letter writing A letter writing of the most frequently use, practical, and inexpensive way of sending information to another person (stockwell 1982:21) it means that by using a letter we can communicate, send or receive information to another person which is more pratical and inexpensive way. Moreover, Mifflin (1988) state that letters is a valuable tool, whether you use it to socialize or convey news, to express gratitude, to request information, or to place an order for merchandise. An application letters is an expressing of the applicants wish to get position in an institution or a company which includes his selling point information and also in application letters, the applicants or the employer should tell many things. For example job interest, schooling, past work experience and personal information. It is very important because with the information the applicants will be easily to get position. As Murphy (1976:22) states that there are some desirable general qualification of the applicants such as evidence of education, and intelligence, work experience, activities, achievement, interest, desire, and attitudes. Furthermore, Stockwell (1982:22) state that there are two exceptions in letter writing. First when we worked for company or agency with its own special letter style, you should learn to use that letter style for all company correspondence. Second when writing personal note the letter style can be more flexible.

2.2 The Mistakes in writing the English application letters In writing the English application letters, the applicant must be careful in expressing his personalities because if we are not careful we will get difficult in looking for job itself especially about write the correct the English application letter. He should be aware of the diction, grammar, spelling and punctuation. In other hand, it is part of correctness of writing the English application letters : correctness, conciseness, cohesiveness, clarity, and consideration. As Murphy (1976:54) state that the correctness in letter writing is very important because it influence the reader in various ways. In the first place, the reader expect to write correctly and create a bad impression when the applicants abuse the language. Second, poorly constructed sentence, a misspelled word, incorrect punctuation, and finally diction distract reader attention. When the letter is opened, the applicant wants employers to concrete on the message not on the blunders. Finally, in correctness frequently result in ambiguity, misleading statements, or misunderstanding. All of that factors are important, especially for the correctness, the applicants should pay more attention in order to make the company or the receiver understand his intended meaning with the correct letter. It is assuming that the message of the applicants was easily to understand by receiver. In correctness there are four aspect that will be discussed: 2.2.1 Diction Diction is choice of word and pfrase. It means that the word which the applicants choose might be correct one his intended meaning. Good diction could enrich the imagination of the

reader. There are two most commont cause of the mistakes in a diction can be attributed to the fact that two words have similar sound and meaning. For example: Mary planned to buy a new dress. In this sentence the word by is not acceptable to the context. The correct dictions is buy. So that the correct sentences is Marry planned to buy a new dress. In sentence may be regarded as diction mistake. But it becomes serious problem since two words are different and they are have a total general meaning but it was still be incorrect in usage. There are three main parts in writing the English application letters. Every part would be effective if the grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct. Each part has the same correct standar for grammar, spelling and punctuation. But for diction there word be different in every part in writing English application etters because different company or agency. Will be different in diction style or different letter it was make differ the diction style. 2.2.1.1 the opening part in writing application letters most of the applicants usually make the opening sentences refer to the advertisement that he wants to apply. It makes the employer be aware of the purpose of the letter and enables them to identify the speesific position being applied. According to Stewart (1978:322) the functions of the opening are to direct the letter to a specific individual, company, department, or whatever and to greet the read the letter till the end. Moreover Stewart (1978:519) states that another good beginning for an application letters that sells is summary statements of your special qualifications. The type of beginning gives the prospective employer an immediate indication of your ability and training. If these qualifications seem to be what is needed, the employer will read future. For example : my

recent experience as a receptionist for the national carbon company has given me an excellent background for the receptionist position available in your stationary division. beside it is important for the applicant to attract the interest of the employer as soon as possible by stating the most outstanding qualification and many relevances experience. Murphy (1976:406) states that the opening paragraph should attract the employers attention and encourage the employer to continue reading a letter. So from the pinion above, they can choose the sentences of the opening part, which refers to advertisements and to attract the interest of the employers. For example: with reference to your advertisement in Kompas of march 20 th, 2004. 2.2.1.2 the middle part the purpose of the middle part is to impress the employers. The applicants should use the correct diction. According to Murphy (1976:406) the applicants should write interest and his intended meaning. In this part the applicants should write the appropriate sentence for showing has qualification on education, experience, significant. According to stewart (1978:519) in the body of letter, you should offer support for the statement made in the opening paragraph, emphasize the highlight of your educational background in business experience that are specifically related to the job. You may also indicate why you would like to be employed by the firm to which you are applying. To impress the company favourable get some of their literature and learn about their location and activities. The applicants could write as follow : During my employement with spinelli Company, I have gained a great deal of first-hand knowledge about the business world. As the assistant to an executive secretary, my responsibility are from making monthly report and handling personnel papers to working

with the public relations, advertising and merchandising situations through friendless and sincerity in working with the people of various interest and background. 2.2.1.3 the closing part in this part the applicants shold be described that in this part the applicants must give the information with detail to the company or agency to make eay communicate between applicants and the company in order to avoid miscommunication or misinformation between them, and also the applicants should require an interview. Murphy (1976:409) states that in the last of paragraph, the applicants should ask for an interview without begging or commanding to the company. To make the action easy the applicants can give him telephone numbers. According to Stewart (1978:520) a good conclusionin any letter, you should like the readers to grant a personal interview. Therefore, ask for an interview and make your request easy to grant. For example: may I have an appointment for a personal interview? You may telephone me at 555-4878. Still according to Murphy (1976:406) in the closing paragraph, the applicants should state his expected salary. For example of the closing paragraph: although this letter and personal data sheet give you some idea of my qualification and experience, I am eager to talk with your personnel manager in the spinell office. You may call me at 1234-3454654 from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday to Friday. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

2.2.2 Grammar

Many of foreign learnes of English are afraid about the grammar, because they feel that grammar is boring and should be taught by sing patterns, so they did not want to write a composition. These problem are caused by unpratical of teaching English grammar in the classroom. So that the result is not expected. According to McKay (1985) teaching grammar means to provided students with opportunities to use English in variety of realistic situation in order to learn to communicate effectively. However, a number of serious grammatical rules could be decreased. Moreover, McKay (1985) states that the primary purposed of instruction in grammar is to help our student use English correctly and appropriately. Therefore, it is important should pay more attention to grammatical rules, together with those, which deal common mistakes. Himstreet and Baty (1984 : 592) state that a complete review of grammar needs other sources, but knowledge of the words frequenly misused. In order to make the letters interest, the applicants should be aware sentences structure and grammar. Based on the theory and classification of mistakes, the main grammatical mistakes in writing the English application letters could be classified into erroes in verb, preposition, and adjective mistake. 2.2.3 Spelling Spelling mistakes in the English application letters is likely to have an adverse effect on the imaging of the applicants him self that he was trying to create. The applicants wish to be think as careful and meticulous, but the employer might be regard the applicants mistakes as carelessness, or as laziness because he did not took the trouble using a dictionary. As Fred (1974) states that poor spelling is taken everywhere to be a sign of carelessness and the mark of poor education. It defeats your best in school, and later on in the business world. Good

spelling, on the other hand, speeds up your education makes all writing a pleasure, and is an aid to success in social and business life. Therefore, an accurate letter is important formal letter. In informal or personal letter to friends, anyone can make mistakes, providing that they are not serious as to impede comprehension. For example : receipt is spell receet, many reader likely have to paused for a moment to be sure of meaning. If it the business letter, the reader will not be pleasedof aving to spend unnecessary time to spelling that incorrectly word in the letter. The causing of the spell mistakes varies from one word to others, depending on the form of the word. In general, writing is expression of tought throught written symbols. There are four basic rules to correct spelling ; memorize word, develop a memory device for difficult word, keep a list of word to recognizw these words and to learn exact meaning. Moreover (1974) states that learning to spell a word successfully consist of four different phases which go on more or less at the same time : (1) you see the word clearly; (2) you identify the word as to meaning and pronounciation; (3) you drill to memorize the word; (4) you drill to recall the word. 2.2.4 Punctuation Punctuation is very important and essential to the application messages as the words they have chosen. Acordingto Mifflin (1988) punctuation mark help others to read what you have written. As writer, you use punctuation marks for a variety of reasons: (1) to show you reader when to slow down or to stop. (2) to slow how ideas related within a sentences, and (3) to indicate the purpose of a sentence. These are some types of punctuation that we should use

writing a sentences, especially in writing the English application letter. For example : period(.), question mark (?), excalamation mark (!), comma (,), semicolon (;), dash (-), apostrophe (), and quotation mark (), (steward, 1978:206) 2.3 designing a good letter of application according to huckin (1983:259) to write a successful application letter, the applicants need to know the convention of good application letters. Ideally, they letters is only one page long and has four main section. 2.3.1 the heading, which includes the readers address, and the date 2.3.2 the first paragraph, which introduces the applicants (if possible by citing an impressing recommended) and the established the companys need and the applicants ability to fill it (or the reason for writing and what is requesting from the reader). 2.3.3 The second paragraph, which establishes the most relevant experience and qualification which establishes the most relevant experience and qualification which stresses the applicants accomplishments, responsibilities, and work quality, not just activities. This part should include some proof that the applicant did a good a job, by citing either a reference or some objective to measure of a job quality and this paragraph should be very selective and focus on only the most relevant qualification. 2.3.4 The closing paragraph, which gives any other pertinent data, ask for an interview, provides the telephone number and the hours that the applicant may be reached and thanks the readers for the attention. Moreover, stewart (1978:230) stated that the letter is usually devided into four section ; the heading, the opening, the body, and the closing, which these part must be arranged in a

sequence that will make the letter meaningful and will contribute to attaining the purposes of message. So that the the letter is easy to be understood by receiver or order the reader. And also one of the important things that should be concerned in writing business letter, especially writing the English application letter, that is the readers mailing addres correctly. As stockwell (1982:24) states that the readermailing addres consist ; her/his name, title (if he or she has one), company or organization name (for business and technical letter), street name or post office box number, city, state, and zip code.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY In this chapter, all aspects of research method including design, population and sample, instrument of data collection, and technique of data analysis are described briefly. 3.1 research design The method of this research is descriptive study which seems suitable to present the fact to the problem which are going to be discussed. Gay (1976) states the descriptive method is considered appropriate to describe the presented condition of the research subject. In thisparticular work the writer wants to find out the mistakes by student in writing the English application letters. 3.2 population and sample 3.2.1. population the Population is object that would be observed. The population of this study is all of the fourth semester student of the English D3 program of UNIB /2002/2003 academic year. The writer chose them in this research because the students have studied the English correspondence. And some other subjects which can support them in writing the English application letter such as writing, and grammar. 3.2.2 sample There were 49 student as population of this research. They were grouped into two clases. One class consist of 24 student (IV A) and another class consist of 25 student (IV B). the writer used total sampling technique, it was because all population of this research become sample.

3.3 instrument The instrument of this research is advertisement. The writer provided the advertisement that had consulted to his supervisor. The advertisement are selected based on their apprppriateness with the students education and background knowledge. As treasury manager, senior sales executive, senior accounting manager, project manager, project engineer, supervisors, and marketing manager. Huckin (1985:259) states that there are some information of the advertisement, which consist of the writer addres, work experience. Qualification and education. Based on his opinion, it can be used as instrument in writing the English application letters. 3.4 technique of collecting data The data of this research will be collected by assigning the students to write an application letter. There are eight advertisement given to the students from which they chose one of them that correspond to their background knowledge and education. The students then wrote an application letter based on the advertisement they had already chosen. For details, see appendixes 1, 2, and 3. The data was taken from IV A and semester IV B. the research was conducted for 90 minutes for each class. Fortry three students mistakes in writing application letter and punctuation in writing the English application letter. To know the general description of the student mistakes, the data are presented into percentage by using the formula suggested by sudjiono (1987) a. Percentage of students mistakes

Where : P = percentage of mistakes items F = total frequency of students made mistakes N = total number of word