Patterns and Problems of Coherence in EFL Students' Essays

Dian Agustina Purwanto Wakerkwa; Desi Antri Astuti

doi:10.35724/mujolali.v7i2.7032

Dian Agustina Purwanto Wakerkwa
Desi Antri Astuti Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35724/mujolali.v7i2.7032

Keywords: Coherence, Essay writing, Cause/effect essay, EFL students

Abstract

In academic essays, coherence plays a central role in shaping well-structured and meaningful texts that effectively communicate complex ideas. It enables readers to follow the flow of arguments and grasp the writer’s intended message. This study examines coherence-related problems in ten cause/effect essays written by ten Indonesian EFL students. Using a reader-based approach, two professional raters analyzed the essays to identify issues affecting the clarity and organization of the texts. The analysis reveals recurring issues in readability, idea development, sentence and paragraph connections, flow of ideas, and overall organization. These issues often resulted in unclear meaning, redundancy, and inconsistent message delivery, hindering reader comprehension. The findings not only highlight the need for more explicit instruction in organizing and linking ideas in L2 writing but also provide insight into specific aspects of coherence that require greater attention and instructional support. This study offers valuable implications for improving EFL writing pedagogy and guiding students in producing more coherent academic texts.

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