EXPLORING ANXIETY IN WRITING UNDERGRADUATE THESIS EXPERIENCED BY EFL STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITAS PGRI RONGGOLAWE TUBAN
Keywords:
EFL students, writing anxiety, undergraduate thesis, academic writingAbstract
Writing anxiety is a psychological barrier that affects students’ ability to write effectively, especially in academic writing such as undergraduate theses. This study aims to explore the types, causes, and coping strategies of writing anxiety among EFL students at the English Education Study Program of UNIROW Tuban. Employing a descriptive qualitative method, data were collected from sixteen students of the 2020 class through the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI), the Causes of Writing Anxiety Inventory (CWAI), and student interviews. The findings revealed that students experienced cognitive, somatic, and avoidance anxiety, with cognitive anxiety being the most dominant. Based on CWAI, students experienced writing anxiety due to ten major factors, among these, time pressure was reported as the most common cause of anxiety. Despite these challenges, students used various coping strategies, such as preparation, information gathering, consistent writing practice, writing techniques, reflecting on writing topic, self-evaluation, digital tools, feedback seeking, modifying their environment, motivation strengthening, self-calming, and supervisor communication. These strategies helped students manage their anxiety and continue progressing in their thesis writing.
References
Carter, N., Bryant-Lukosius, D., Dicenso, A., Blythe, J., Neville, A. J. (2014). The use of triangulation in qualitative research. Oncol Nurs Forum. 41(5):545–547. https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.545-547
Chauhan, P. (2022). Fundamentals of Academic Writing: A Literature Review. J NELTA. 27(1–2):161–180. https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v27i1-2.53201
Cheng, Y. S. (2004). A measure of second language writing anxiety: Scale development and preliminary validation. Journal Second Language Writing. 13(4):313–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2004.07.001
Creswell, J. W. , & Creswell, J. D. (2022). Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. https://lccn.loc.gov/2022032270
Duha, M. (2022). Student’s Difficulties on Writing Descriptive Text. Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Keguruan. 1. https://jurnal.uniraya.ac.id/index.php/FAGURU
Faiz, M. F. (2024). Student Perceptions of Stress in Writing A Thesis at UIN Sunan Ampel : A Phenomenological Study. 16(01):9–15. https://doi.org/10.59651/relae
Kawengian, G. E., & Subekti, A. S. (2024). “ I’m Afraid My Thesis Has Many Mistakes ” : Thesis Writing Anxiety, Its Contributing Factors, and Alleviating Strategies. 7(1):25–48. https://doi.org/10.21043/jetli.v7i1.21632
Khasanah, R., Ningrum, A. S. B, Toyyibah, T., & Umam, C. (2023). Unfolding Stories of Undergraduate Thesis Writers: Voices from EFL learners at Islamic Higher Education. Eralingua Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Asing dan Sastra. 7(1):112. https://doi.org/10.26858/eralingua.v7i1.38400
Kurd, S. A, Hassan, S., & Iqbal, A. (2023). Investigating Factors Causing English Writing Anxiety among Undergraduate Students of Balochistan, Pakistan. Pakistan Lang Humanit Rev. 7(II). https://doi.org/10.47205/plhr.2023(7-ii)08
Kurniawati, A. & Atmojo, A. E. P. (2022). EFL thesis writing anxiety: Causes, effects, and coping strategies. EnJourMe (English J Merdeka): Culture, Language, and Teaching of English. 7(2):137–151. https://doi.org/10.26905/enjourme.v7i2.8004
Mdodana-Zide, L., &Mafugu, T. (2023). An Interventive Collaborative Scaffolded Approach with a Writing Center on ESL Students’ Academic Writing. J Cult Values Educ. 6:34–50. https://doi.org/10.46303/jcve.2023.7
Mlundi, S. (2024). Effectiveness of Editing and Proofreading Skills in Improving Academic Writing of Law Students. Anatolian Journal of Education. 9(2):159–170. https://doi.org/10.29333/aje.2024.9213a
Mudra, H. (2023). Delving Into Writing Anxiety of Rural College EFL Learners: A Quantitative Study. OKARA Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra. 17(2):172–192. https://doi.org/10.19105/ojbs.v17i2.10407
Nawawi, A.R., Nirwanto, R., & Widiastuty, H. (2024). A Study on Efl Students’ Writing Anxiety (A Case Study of the Indonesian Students). 7(1):114–123.
Pardede, P. (2024). Collaborative Writing in EFL Settings. JET (Journal English Teaching). 10(1):92–109. https://doi.org/10.33541/jet.v10i1.5631
Prasetyaningrum, A., Nazri, A., Asrobi, M. (2021). A Study of Learners’ Writing Anxiety in EFL Context. Jo-ELT (Journal English Lang Teaching) Fakultas Pendidikana Bahasa dan Seni Prodi Pendidik Bahasa Inggris IKIP. 8(1):19. https://doi.org/10.33394/jo-elt.v8i1.3707
Pravita, A.R., Kuswandono, P. (2022). Writinng Anxiety And Academic Procrastination on Undergraduate Thesis Writing : JEELS (Journal English Education Linguistic Study.
Pristiyaputri, A.E. (2024). A mixed methods study: investigation of academic writing anxiety among efl students based on gender and their strategies for overcoming their anxiety.
Purnama, C. B. (2024). Students’ Anxiety in Writing Acaddemic Papers: A Case Study at the Ar-Raniry State Islamic University.
Rezaei, M., Jafari, M. (2014). Investigating the Levels, Types, and Causes of Writing Anxiety among Iranian EFL Students: A Mixed Method Design. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 98:1545–1554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.577
Rohmah, N., Muslim, A. B. (2021). Writing Anxiety in Academic Writing Practice: Insights from EFL Learners’ Perspectives. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2020). 546(Conaplin 2020):348–354.
Safitri, C.D., Azisah, S., Annur, M.J. (2021). the Analysis of Students’ Challenges To Thesis Writing At UIN Alauddin Makassar. English Language Teaching EFL Learning. 3(2):41. https://doi.org/10.24252/elties.v3i2.21013
Talasee, K., Poopatwiboon, S. (2025). Second Language Writing Anxiety of Thai EFL Undergraduate Students : Dominant Causes , Levels and Coping Strategies. 14(1):235–248. https://doi.org/10.5539/jel.v14n1p235
Yan, C. (2024). The Inducing Factors and Coping Strategies of English Writing Anxiety. The Educational Review, USA. 8(1):103–108. https://doi.org/10.26855/er.2024.01.018
Yanping, P. (2023). Exploring writing anxiety on Chinese EFL undergraduate thesis and its coping strategies. Journal for Re Attach Therapy and Developmental Diversities. 6(9s (2)):1322–1335.
