An analysis on students� errors in descriptive writing: A case study at the first grade of SMA Negeri 37 Jakarta

This study is aimed to find out the types and causes of errors did students� make in descriptive writing. The subject research was 30 students in the first grade students of SMAN 37 Jakarta. In doing this research, the writer used descriptive analysis based on qualitative and quantitative. The instrument of this research is an essay test. The students were asked to write a descriptive text with the topic has given. In this research, the writer used classification of errors based on Heidi Dullay�s book to know the types of errors students� made in descriptive writing and to know the causes of errors according to Hubbard. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the types of errors did the students� make in descriptive writing are omission (40.21%), addition (22.98%), misformation (33.42%) and misordering (3.39%). In the meantime, this occurred because of mothertongue interference, overgeneralization and errors encouraged by teaching material or metho