| dc.description.abstract | As a part of undergraduate thesis project, this study looked at the challenges of writing academic papers experienced by EFL students writing the thesis. This study also aimed at investigating their strategies for dealing with those challenges. The findings of several previous research projects, all enhance the need to learn more about the challenges of writing academic papers and the strategies. However, very little is known about the strategies used by EFL students in Indonesia, besides the challenges they encounter in writing academic papers. To fill the gap, this study was conducted at a private university in Malang which involved 100 students majoring in the English education department who already have experience in writing a research paper in their 7th semester and currently working on their thesis. Besides, a mixed- method was used in this study. The researcher began this research by collecting quantitative data about students’ difficulties employed a close-ended questionnaire contained 30 question items about personality factors and academic skills factors (see appendices). An open-ended question was also employed with a question about what strategies they used to deal with the challenges (see appendices). Questionnaire adopted from Lin & Morrison (2021) and Puspita (2019) employing likert scale ranging from 1-5. The questionnaire was distributed via Google form. After the data was collected, the researcher calculated the percentage of each question item from the likert scale and sorted them from the highest to the lowest. The result of the data analysis showed that students experienced several difficulties, including control of their emotions (being anxious), deciding the thesis topic and the title, and lack of awareness of the current issues about their topic. Moreover, they also find difficulties in using correct English grammar, planning long written texts, creating coherent sentences, and expressing their ideas logically. The qualitative responses informed some strategies utilized by students, such as reading more articles about their topic of interest and finding support from peers by having discussions. It is suggested for the students to become self-aware and autonomous in academic writing by practicing and learning, seeking clarification from teachers, and sharing challenges. It is also suggested for the teachers to develop effective learning strategies, motivate students, and stay updated on current issues. Finally, future researchers were suggested to use interviews, self-inquiry, and classroom observations to understand students' challenges and provide more comprehensive results. Key words: EFL Students, Academic Paper, Writing Challenges, Strategies | en_US |
