GENDER DIFFERENCES IN WRITING ABILITY: A STUDY ON DESCRIPTIVE TEXTS AMONG NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36665/elp.v10i2.1041Keywords:
Gender differences, Writing Ability, Descriptive TextAbstract
This study aims to examine gender-based differences in English descriptive writing performance among ninth-grade students at SMPN 1 Kubung during the 2024/2025 academic year. Employing a descriptive quantitative research design, the study involved a purposive sample of 16 students, comprising 8 male and 8 female participants randomly selected from Class IX.1. Data were collected through a writing assessment in which students composed descriptive texts based on one of ten visual prompts. Writing samples were evaluated independently by three trained scorers using standardized criteria, including topic selection and themes, description structure and character development, self-expression and emotional depth, length, and language use and style. The results indicated that male students achieved a marginally higher mean score (58.86) compared to female students (55.96). While both groups demonstrated strength in aligning their writing with the selected topics, they exhibited similar challenges in producing sufficiently detailed and elaborated texts. These findings highlight the nuanced influence of gender on writing proficiency and underscore the need for instructional approaches that are sensitive to gender-related differences in skill development. The study contributes valuable insights for educators and researchers seeking to design targeted interventions to improve descriptive writing competence among secondary school learners.
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