EFL STUDENTS’ CHALLENGES IN WRITING ACADEMIC ESSAY INTRODUCTIONS

Abstract

This study critically examines the challenges encountered by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in composing effective academic introduction sections. Employing a qualitative case study design, this research involved undergraduate students enrolled in an academic writing course at English Education Department, Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng. Data were collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews to capture both textual deficiencies and learner perceptions. The findings revealed that students encounter multifaceted challenges, including inadequate synthesis of scholarly sources, inability to establish a coherent research territory, and limited awareness of gap identification strategies. Furthermore, linguistic constraints such as restricted academic vocabulary and syntactic inaccuracies exacerbate these issues. Notwithstanding these challenges, some students exhibit adaptive strategies, including the utilization of model texts and collaborative peer feedback. The study underscores the necessity for explicit pedagogical interventions focusing on genre awareness, critical reading, and structured writing scaffolds.