An error analysis on the use of cohesi ve devices in writing by english major freshmen at dong thap university

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY ====***=== NGUYEN THI KIM NHUNG AN ERROR ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF COHESIVE DEVICES IN WRITING BY ENGLISH MAJOR FRESHMEN AT DONG THAP UNIVERSITY MASTER‟S THESIS IN EDUCATION NGHE AN, 2017 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY ====***=== NGUYEN THI KIM NHUNG AN ERROR ANALYSIS ON THE USE OF COHESIVE DEVICES IN WRITING BY ENGLISH MAJOR FRESHMEN AT DONG THAP UNIVERSITY Major: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Code: 60140111 MASTER‟S THESIS IN EDUCATION Supervisor: Assoc Prof., Ph.D NGO DINH PHUONG NGHE AN, 2017 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I certify that the thesis entitled “An error analysis of the use of cohesive devices in writing by English major freshmen at Dong Thap University” is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Art the result of my own work, except where otherwise acknowledge and that this thesis or my any parts of the same has not been submitted to any university or institution Vinh, August 2017 Author‟s signature Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung i ABSTRACT In writing skill, most students at Dong Thap University have many difficulties in using cohesive devices in writing How to help students to use cohesive devices in writing better This is always a triggering question for teachers at Dong Thap University When sentences, ideas, and details fit together clearly and smoothly, readers can follow along easily, and the writing is coherent It is depended on cohesive devices that writers use To establish the links that readers need in a writing, you can use cohesive methods The study has used quantitative and qualitative data for the investigation finding the types of errors, causes of errors in the use of cohesive devices in writing by English major freshmen at Dong Thap University and suggests some techniques for errors correction Research in this area has concentrated on two classes of English major freshmen at Dong Thap University They are at the age ranged from 18 to 19 Though they come from different areas in the country, they are considered at the same level of English as they all learned English at high school and have passed the university entrance examination on three subjects including English To find errors in the use of cohesive devices in students' writing, an experimental design was taken place The students were supposed to write a free topic Students‟ papers were collected every week Their errors in writing were tested and their achievements were recorded This is intended to be a quantitative research study using compositions as a technique of eliciting data for the analysis, statistical counting as measurement of results Any errors in the use of cohesive devices were found and classified according to the cohesion-category by Haliday and Hasan (1976) Then the occurrence frequency of each error type was counted The data and the list of the errors was the source for the analysis ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest thanks firstly to my supervisor Assoc Prof., Ph.D.Ngo Dinh Phuong, who has enthusiastically helped and encouraged me to finish the research project Without his experienced guidance and valuable comments, my research would still be far from finished I am also indebted to his for his substantial contributions in proofreading and help me make necessary changes My gratitude is also sent to all of my instructors in my M.A courses at Post-Graduate Studies, Vinh University, Nghe An Their precious and professional lectures and tutoring have helped me a great deal in understanding profound concepts of the field in English teaching methodology while I attended the courses Last but not least, I appreciate constant supports from my colleagues, my beloved family, my friends and students of two classes: English 16 and pedagogic English method 16 at Dong Thap University who helped me to finish the study iii TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ABSTRACT ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES, CHARTS AND FIGURES vii CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2 Objective of the thesis 1.3 Scope of the thesis 1.4 Significance of the thesis 1.5 Methods of the thesis .4 1.6 Organization of the thesis CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW .7 2.1 Factors affecting language learning .7 2.2 The notion of errors 2.3 Errors analysis .10 2.4 Difference between errors and mistakes 11 2.5 Causes of errors 12 2.5.1 First language interference 12 2.5.2 Causes independent from the first language .14 iv 2.6 The notion of cohesion 15 2.7 Types of cohesion 16 2.7.1 Grammatical rules .17 2.7.2 Lexical connectors 24 2.8 Cohesive devices in writing 26 2.9 Summary 27 CHAPTER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 28 3.1 Research participants 28 3.2 Study setting 28 3.3 Data collection .29 3.4 Data analysis 29 CHAPTER FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 32 4.1 Errors in the use of reference 33 4.1.1 Errors in the use of demonstrative reference 33 4.1.2 Errors in the use of personal references 39 4.1.3 Errors in the use of comparative references 41 4.2 Errors in the use of conjunction 43 4.2.1 Errors in the use of adversative conjunctions 44 4.2.2 Errors in the use of causal conjunctions 46 4.2.3 Errors in the use of additive conjunctions 47 v 4.3 Errors in the use of lexical cohesion 48 4.4 Recommendation 50 4.4.1.Suggestions for teaching and learning cohesive devices so as to reduce errors 50 4.4 The results 53 4.5 Summary 55 CHAPTER CONCLUSION 57 5.1 Summary of findings 57 5.2 Limitations and suggestions for further reasearch 58 5.3 Implications 59 REFERENCES 62 APPENDIX A 65 APPENDIX B 71 APPENDIX C 72 vi LIST OF TABLES, CHARTS AND FIGURES Table 2.1 Types of cohesion at linguistic level Table 2.2 Personal reference Table 2.3 Demonstrative reference Table 2.4 Comparative reference Table 2.5 The distinction between substitution and reference Table 2.6 The difference between natural English and unnatural English Table 4.1 All errors in grammatical and lexical cohesion Table 4.2 The number of errors in the use of cohesive devices Table 4.3 Errors and their causes Table 4.4 Errors in the use of demonstrative reference Table 4.5 Errors in the use of the definite article Table 4.6 Errors in the omission of “the” Chart 4.1 Sources of errors Figure 2.1 Types of reference Figure 3.1 The process of recognizing and identifying errors vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This chapter is written with the purpose of giving the rationale, objectives of the study, the scope of the study, the significance of the study, an overview of research methodology and finally introduces the organization of the study 1.1 Rationale Since Vietnam has expanded cooperation relationship with the world economy, more and more people have the desire to join the trend around the world have flocked to learn foreign languages, especially English In the trend of the current globalization, the importance of English may not be denied and ignored because it is widely used everywhere in the world Along with the development of technology, medicine, engineering and education, so on, English is also the most widespread language on the earth (The Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006b) English is used widely in public or private sphere in more than 100 countries all over the world (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2006d) Five thousand newspapers i.e more than half of the newspapers published in the world are published in English (Yamaguchi, 2002 c) English learners can also update their knowledge faster and more effectively than others in different areas such as academic, science, technology because most of the information and knowledge in these areas are transferred in English “Over 70% of the world’s scientists read English” (Hasman, 2007 c) “Following World War II, the economic and cultural influence of the United States increased and English permeated other cultures, chiefly through development to telecommunications technology and became the lingua franca of the world” (Crystal, 1997 a; Brutt- Griffer, 2002; Seidlhofer, 2003; McKay, 2003; Llurda, 2004; and Ha, 2005 a) In sum, English plays the most important role Nowadays, the demand for language learning has brought a large number of positive changes in language teaching in Vietnam Language teachers have searched and tried APPENDIX A SAMPLES OF ERRORS IN THE USE OF GRAMMATICAL COHESION Errors in the use of reference 1.1 Errors in the use of „the‟ - People often say that the family is the foundation of society When family are harmony, happy and good development, social and country also are good development… - The first reason is that teachers have bad method I sure that the reason for bad method is mainly how to teach… - The conflicts between families’ members are the disagreement, discommode together about something which leads to the quarrel, the fight, the angry, the hate together - In short, boring language class will bring bad result for student The teacher should limit the reasons of boring language class such as flexible teaching, students’ bad attitude in studying - Ant came from Lions’ house and was going to make friend with Lion - First lesson we should not despise is that other people by their appearance or condition - … The first times I came to university is that chose where to live - … Student lives in the boarding house that does not have more independence because of boarding house’s rules - First thing I will pay attention is that a motorbike service near my house - That was the first time I went there although I heard about this place before that - He could not speak English and he did not know about English So he could not tell with the people here Moreover, he could not read street sign Even if he could not understand the foreigner what spoke - When you meet difficulties, you must settle by own yourselves Moreover, you will feel lonely while living in boarding house without helping of other person So, you are duped by the stranger 1.2 Errors in the use of „this‟ - The second, nonverbal behavior helps us that saving time This is an transmit information for others quickly 65 action to - Through communication we can widen knowledge, make good relationship, and express our feelings However, there will be differences in communication style between men and women too - The women usually tend to speak softly, and use nonverbal communication more than men This are better than the men at interpreting nonverbal signals and reading unintentional nonverbal messages, such as signals of deception 1.3 Errors in the use of „there‟ - They feel comfortable when at home; there have enough creational facilities and furniture such as television, radio, computer and etc - We can prepare many kinds of food in a meal There have a lot of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed for the body during an operation has lost - We should go to shopping center in Vinh Long province There sells lots of nice and new goods that you can want to buy 1.4 Errors in the use of possessive personal reference Inter-lingual source: - Firstly, when we read book, this work can develop intelligent and fully understand of us - …Working in a group helps us to promote confidence of us in communication - ….Patience is considered a decisive factor in the creative ability of a person - This helps me have healthy way of me - I should choose some activities for my to Intra-lingual source: - You know it’s action so you are very interesting - She said that the brave is her - Money, time and environment play important role in our’s creativity - Those who live far away from home and the observation of parents choose the cohabitation with a partner opposite sex not just for sharing room like the Americans -… It also affects to creativity of them… - Otherwise, patience is considered a decisive factor in the creative ability of a person - ….Communication is very important and necessary in the life of our… 66 - Moreover, I think the advice appearing in the dream of me indicates that people loving and caring about me are always stay besides me, standing by me despite living far away from me or not existing in this life 1.5 Errors in the use of comparative reference Inter-lingual source - Preventing the violence in school is very difficult Stopping violence is hard more - I come near it and scold it It looks frightening more when I told it - I saw two durians were big than others - There are a lot of wonderful wonder in the world than in Viet Nam - Ha Long Bay is one of spectacular natural wonders the most in Vietnam - It makes everything become attractive more - But she meets difficult more in life; her family doesn’t have much money - Ha Long Bay is beautiful and famous place the most of Viet Nam - The founding of the social networking Facebook makes our life become modern and diverse more - I thik that studying in group is good than stsudying in individual -… A lot of paddy-field in Sa Dec is beautiful more now… Intra-lingual source: - ….It is very interesting which make you more happy… - … They will feel more happy when they come home.… - ….They become more good with working… -… Your video will be more good - … Actually, I live more happily with a new dog which is extremely intelligent and funny… -… Another feel more safe and comfortable… -….A lot of roads in my hometown are more wide and smoothly than other countries Errors in the use of conjunction 2.1 Adversative conjunction Inter-lingual source - Teachers give assignment at the end of lesson, students don’t it so that they don’t understand lesson and make affect next lesson On the other hand, students are also indifference teachers’ lesson 67 - However, school need to make friendly school environment to student feel funny and not have pressure in studying too - Through communication we can widen knowledge, make good relationship, and express our feelings However, there will be differences in communication style between men and women too - When we smile, we will feel relax and comfortable because of reducing a lot of stress However, it also helps us reduce a threat of heart disease too - If we daily exercises, we can prevent diabetes, obesity and heart disease On the other hand , it also helps us has a balance body - She is not only a kind neighbor but also a best friend However, she is also a teacher too - Nowadays, with developing of the internet, people can easy to buy something On the other hand, more and more people will be a lot of knowledge or experience through advertising - If we know to make use of advertising, we will have many benefits from it However, we should not trust on it too Intra-lingual source: - Nowadays, although most of the families are able to afford for their daily activities, such as Internet and television, but some of the families are still living in poverty or below the average level - Despite most mobile phones have a number of features in common; manufacturers also try to make their own products distinctive by implementing additional functions to make them more attractive to consumers - There are many breakthroughs in science and technology that contribute to development in society such as cell phone, laser Despite of this, computer still dominates in today - Although she is out speaking, but I like her personality - There are many causes lead to school violence due to large number of children are affected by bad actions In spite, both family and school have tried to prevent school violence - Most people believe in advertising information Despite of this, some advertising are not true with information product - For instance, many schools lacks of teaching equipment: projector, laboratory, computer… There are not good for places entertainment In spite many 68 disadvantages, I strongly believe that government in my hometown will have good effective method to overcome the difficulties so that it becomes better and better 2.2 Causal conjunction - This is a special occasion for us to enjoy the natural view Consequence of that, we can take a boat to travel around the islands - What can be seen is that examinations are dominated in schools The result of this, teachers skip activities, presentations, etc., to pay more attention on exams, reviewing knowledge, answering the tests as the top priority from day to day - Computer has many benefits in human life It connects people around the world so that everyone can make new friends or keep in contact with their old friend - Notably, wanting become a good teacher in the future, it is also need creativity and the factors mentioned above also affect to the creativity of a teacher in both the positive and negative So that everyone should maintain good points to develop creativity, alongside, troubleshooting bad factors affect creativity - Some extremely dangerous jobs are done by robots and worker no longer have to stay in some severe working circumstances The result of this, people are given more freedom to enjoy themselves during their spare time - Teachers give assignment at the end of lesson, students don’t it so that they don’t understand lesson and make affect next lesson - Differently, I and my friends often train teaching together so as to take teaching skill such as stance writing board, way give command and so on Consequences of these, it helps us very much and it contributes to make me become a good teacher -… teaching techniques is not deficient to make tutor So that I have to study instructor’s wisdom and experience which they had in teaching to have adds knowledge for myself - Members not have the same hobbies so that family members often contested by disagreements 2.3 Additive conjunction - I want my family to have delicious meal to improve our health In addition to, I want to be a good housewife in the future - She is the best in the class In addition to she is younger and stronger than me - The invention of mobile phone bringing us a new breeze makes the relationship closer and closer because we can keep in touch with people in a long distance without meeting directly, which helps us save a great deal of expenditure of 69 traveling In addition to it creates the cooperation between inner and outer counterparts more conveniently -The women usually tend to speak softly, and use nonverbal communication more than men This are better than the men at interpreting nonverbal signals and reading unintentional nonverbal messages, such as signals of deception In addition to, the women tend to use more subtle, and restrained gesture, such as lowering the eyes when interrupted or confronted - When students are not respect by other ones, they can use violence action to prove themselves or protect themselves In addition to, home violence is another cause lead to this problem - That helps children know that they are concern and share by their parents In addition to every member in family has to be a good example about how to live and manner in order to their children can follow - Students can study with teaching assistants In addition to, students choose many course offered them like - … They don’t understand lesson and make affect next lesson In addition to, students are also indifference teachers’ lesson 70 Appendix B SAMPLES OF ERRORS IN THE USE OF LEXICAL COHESION - ….Most motorbike drive very fast across a narrow road It is a accident, I immediately become audience when I am on the road… - … I take out my motorbike I drive very carefully across the field to the river so that I can enjoy sightseeing in there… - ….Children are not dependent from their parents… - If you live in so a big city Beijing as I do, with so terrible a traffic situation, this has had a great influence to our life - …I am not really greeful while loser try to look after in disappointing… - In brief, i agree on returning of the money and i am utmost amusing when the loser figure out again the money she or he lost - …Many aged Vietnamese people still assumed that girls should keep their virginity until they get married since it is firmly attached for moral values - ….Especially for those who not have personal transportations and have to choose either buses or subways to go to work or go school, and moreover, for so a big city as Beijing that has an enormous population… - … It immediately stopped barking and ran after the kitchen… -… The members in the family should care and take care of together such as share sadness or happiness together, concern and encourage when one of the members in family have difficulty, promptly prevent domestic violence, keep calm on when conflicts occur to avoid the unfortunate such as murder… -… We should make exercise in every morning… - … We need to protect and care for it, because it contributes to the success for us… -… I love my dog because it is a lovely and an intelligent dog which is like a member of my family… - … Men usually talk direct than the women… -… You should make a lot of homework after studying… -… From then, you speak fluent and have a lot of experiences to learn well… 71 APPENDIX C SOME SAMPLES OF THE STUDENTS‟ WRITING Sample 1: Many people say that there are a lot of advantages when living in a big house family They not think a big family also has its disadvantages Actually, living in a big family has many benefits First of all, it has advantages of fun and share For example, after a hard working day, members in a big family which consist of grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts and children can gather in front on television or at the dinner table so that they can talk about their job happily, share difficulties in work Secondly, each member in a big family can have more support For instance, parents can go out to earn money without worrying about their children because the children are taken care of by their grandparents Children can get valuable advice from their grandparents This has had a great influence to children‟ awareness From that, children are not dependent from their parents However, a big family has its disadvantages First of all, there are more costly We have to spend a lot of money for electricity, water, food, drink, medicine, because there are many people Moreover, we are not easy to have privacy or time Members not have the same hobbies so that family members often contested by disagreements We have no free time because we have to the housework such as cooking, going to the markets, washing… Furthermore, it is not easy to get along with members in a big family For example, we need a quiet place to take a rest while other people like listening to music noisily In short, living in a big family has both advantages and disadvantages but I like living in a big family Sample 2: When student live with their family at home, they not have to worry about all cost such as paying rent boarding house, money for food, tuition, money for study equipment and etc because their parents pay all things Secondly, Student will have a lot of conveniences when they live with family at home They not have to cook or go to market after they study in school, their mother have cooked meals completely before they go back home So they have enough time to focus on study And at home, they will receive much care from their family They feel comfortable when at home; there have enough creational facilities and furniture such as television, radio, computer and etc especially, they can have a private room themselves at home which not have to share with others Finally, although 72 student lives with family at home but they still have more independence than they live in boarding house Because at home, when they go out and go back late in night, their parents still open for them In contrast, when the live in boarding house, they have to worry about all cost and wait money from their family to pay all On the one hand, they not have conveniences like their home Because they spend a lot of time for all works such as cook, go to market, wash clothes and etc They not have enough time to focus on study And they not receive much care from family instead of friends They feel uncomfortable because in boarding house, they not have enough creational facilities and furniture Especially, they not have a private room themselves which they have to share with others people Besides that, student lives in the boarding house that does not have more independence because of boarding house‟s rules For example, when they go out and go back late in night, maybe they will not be entered room, because host did not open fence Student study near or far away their family that is their choice school, before they take the university entrance examination But in my opinion, student studies near at home with their family, they will have a lot of advantages than they study far away their home and family So student should consider carefully where live and study well for themselves Sample 3: People often say that the family is the foundation of society When family are harmony, happy and good development, social and country also are good development But now, society is more and more developable, people also is busy more, so they not enough time to care, share and take care of their family Therefore, their families often occurs many conflicts between family‟s members This also is the current unsolvable problem that we need to care of both members in family together and society The conflicts between families‟ members are the disagreement, discommode together about something which leads to the quarrel, the fight, the angry, the hate together …And the causes originate from materials, pressure of work, lack of care of parents, change of heart such as the families is very poor and have a lot of children, the family‟s members have conflicting personalities, the division of property is not uniform, domestic violence by parents or siblings in the family, wife or husband adulterate…The consequences of all issues are the couple divorced, separated families, brothers or sisters not see face together In my opinion, the members in the family should care and take care 73 of together such as share sadness or happiness together, concern and encourage when one of the members in family have difficulty, promptly prevent domestic violence, keep calm on when conflicts occur to avoid the unfortunate such as murder, fight, injury to another person in addition, Society should be concerned and intervened with families often occur conflicts by the ways interest and visit them, advice and advocacy prevent the conflicts in family, job placement or capital allowances to help them All in all, the conflicts of family‟s members is not good, because it is not well influence to moral and qualities of each member of the family, not only that it also affects the order and social security So every family should have consciously to prevent the conflicts between the family‟s members happen, in order to build happy family, society and country prosper Sample 4: My hometown is Sa Dec city which borders with Lap Vo to the North, Chau Thanh to the South and Hau River to the west Anyone who comes to my hometown wants to see mandarin garden in Sa Dec They are certainly satisfied with the gardeners ‟hospitable attitude here Especially, they are unforgettable sweet state of madarin as well as special food in Sa Dec, that is “hu tieu”, is a good and convenient gift for friends and relatives In addition to, my hometown is famous for “Cui and Tam Ban” boat which is necessary for people to catch fish or cart heavy things in the water season The majority of people in my hometown live on agriculture Many of them get rich due to their fertile rice paddies and diligence A lot of paddy-field in Sa Dec is beautiful more now About transportation, a lot of roads in my hometown are more wide and smoothly than other countries We can see many motorbikes Most motorbike drive very fast across a narrow road It is a accident, I immediately become audience when I am on the road I also like scenery in my hometown Sometimes, I take out my motorbike I drive very carefully across the field to the river so that I can enjoy sightseeing in there Besides that, planting flower is considered popular work in my villages It helps people to get extra income and improve their life However, my hometown has difficulties in many aspects such as: education, transport, and traveling For instance, many schools lacks of teaching equipment: projector, laboratory, computer… There are not good for places entertainment In spite many disadvantages, I strongly believe that government in my hometown will have good effective method to overcome the difficulties so that it becomes better and better 74 Sample 5: There are a lot of animal which are familiar with my daily life such as cats, cows, buffaloes, dogs… but I kike dog best because two reasons Firstly, my odg is lovely It‟s name is Lucy which has smooth white hair and round black eyes Especially, on his head, there is a brown spot which makes it is more strange Although it‟s years old, it‟s only two kilograms Secondly, Lucy is a smart dog It seems to listen to what I am saying I come near it and scold it It looks frightening more when I told it I remember that once my sister in law who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, visited me Seeing stranger, it barked and I told it that was my relative, it immediately stopped barking and ran after the kitchen Moreover, it can make a lot of different sounds Like it wants to go outside, it makes hoarse sound, or when it is playing, it makes the same sound but when it sees the stranger, it makes loud bark Furthermore, it never hurts anyone on purpose In short, I love my dog because it is a lovely and an intelligent dog which is like a member of my family, and I strongly believe that my people also love dogs Sample 6: There is good news that I really want to share with you People have just opened a new shopping center in my hometown It will be great if you can come and visit with me next week We have a chance to visit and shop there We should go to shopping center in Vinh Long province There sells lots of nice and new goods that you can want to buy Firstly, we have a great selection of product on display We have a wide choice of products Secondly, the price is cheap, reasonable and fixed Especially, there are many special offer programs for the customers who buy at least two products Finally, in this shopping center, we can enjoy some high quality services such as free delivery services, greetings heartily, and so on If you buy a lot of things there, they will take you goods home In addition, there are many kinds of collections of clothes, foods and it also has a large area where there are a lot of kinds of cars, motorbikes I hope that everyone who is woman will love this place Sample 7: Reading book is the best way to improve the mind and reading book is important in our life Firstly, when we read book, this work can develop intelligent and fully understand of us If you are a student, explanation are not enough for you You should find and read book to improve the lesson cleanlier, exercise better and improve your vocabulary Secondly, reading book bring us joy and 75 comfortable You know it‟s action so you are very interesting If you fell bored, you should read humorous stories such as Trang Cuoi It is very interesting which make you more happy Thirdly, reading book help us improve memory and creativity because reading book a lot of time help our brain think more flexibly and logically Finally, reading book is an education moral, sentiment and to perfect personality of self For example, we used to study moral subject in primary school, secondary school, high school Thank to it we know faithful, helpful, friendly with everyone There are many kinds of book But beside good books, there are many kind of bad book too It effect not good to our brain So we should choose suitable book for us Sample 8: There ere some problems of travelling First, travelling costs money We have to buy tickets for transport means, pay for hotel and meals Second, travelling may cause health problems especially when you cannot stand the travel time on means of transport People may get sea sick or car sick and air sick Finally, travelling may end up with accidents Of course, no one expects problems for travelling, but they are always out there and if you not prepare and plan well for your trip, you may face them Travelling has many benefits First, you widen your knowledge You learn more about other places and the people there Second, travelling is a way to help people relax and reduce stress They will feel more happy when they come home They become more good with working Finally, travelling helps people build up relationships You meet new people and you can make friends with them You can also strengthen your current relationship with family, friends, and colleagues thanks to good trips Sample 9: Being a teacher, I have many things to At school I am always busy with my teaching, so I feel comfortable when I have free time for relaxing There are three activities I often in my free time First, I go for a walk with my friend in the park near my house When we go around the park, we can see sightseeing and talk together happily We can exchange our job and plan for future activities The fresh air makes us comfortable Second, I like watching television with my mother at my house Television is both cheap and convenient We don‟t have to go out we can lie on the coach to watching I can both watch TV and the housework such as: cooking, washing, and ironing Result of this, television not 76 only brings us valuable knowledge but also helps us to relax On the other hand, television serves us 24 hours every day with many kinds of different programs Lastly, I like cooking alone in my free time I want my family to have delicious meal to improve our health In addition to, I want to be a good housewife in the future All in all, I find that I don‟t have anything to in my free time, I will be boring Therefore, I should choose some activities for my to This helps me have healthy way of me Sample 10: Nowadays, people can travel around not only in Viet Nam but also over the world There are a lot of wonderful wonder in the world than in Viet Nam However, I like wonder in Viet Nam It is Ha Long Bay Ha Long Bay is one of spectacular natural wonders the most in Vietnam I like most about it because of attractive scenery and the touring experience there As you know Ha Long Bay belongs to Quang Ninh Province It is an attractive place for tourists It has some small islands and caves These islands have different names When you visit Ha Long Bay, we can see Rooster and Hen islands This is a special occasion for us to enjoy the natural view Consequence of that, we can take a boat to travel around the islands Furthermore, we can experience delicious seafood and take part in exciting activities In short, Ha Long Bay is beautiful and famous place the most of Viet Nam I hope that everyone will have chance to visit it in next time 77 78 79 ... has used quantitative and qualitative data for the investigation finding the types of errors, causes of errors in the use of cohesive devices in writing by English major freshmen at Dong Thap University. .. and qualitative data for the investigation finding the types of errors, causes of errors in the use of cohesive devices in writing by English major freshmen at Dong Thap University and suggests...MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY ====***=== NGUYEN THI KIM NHUNG AN ERROR ANALYSIS ON THE USE OF COHESIVE DEVICES IN WRITING BY ENGLISH MAJOR FRESHMEN AT DONG THAP UNIVERSITY