NEEDS ANALYSIS OF SENIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS' WRITING IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN JOS EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study identifies the composition writing needs of Senior Secondary School Students (SSII) in
Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive
survey research design. Population comprised of all (589) senior secondary two students in ten
public schools in Jos East Local Government Area, Plateau State. Simple random sampling
technique was used to select two senior secondary two (SSII) composed of one hundred and
twenty (120) students as sample for the study. Two (2) research questions were raised and
answered in this study. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha,
and data collected were analysed using simple percentage. The finding revealed that students
have the following as present writing needs: pre-writing activities (brainstorming, freewriting,
questioning, outlining, mind mapping, journaling, listing), writing different types of essays
(descriptive, narrative, argumentative and expository, writing informal letter. The students also
consider writing minutes of meeting, reports, memoranda, writing different types of applications
for different purposes; Curriculum Vitae, notices, applications, congratulatory, invitation,
memoranda, minutes of meetings, speeches, publishing composition and post writing activities as
future writing needs. These identified needs have implication for learning as the students need to
acquire the skills if they are to write effective, purposeful and meaningful communication. Based
on the findings, some recommendations have been made to help the students gain the skills they
need for effective composition writing.