An investigation into the causes of poor handwriting among the basic seven
(7) pupils of Tamale Presby. Junior High School and how to use activities such
as grip writing and proper development of motor skills using appropriate
teaching and learning resources to ensure proper hand writing.
Name: Sarley Hawaw-u
Indext number: 9804719
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HAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The first chapter is made up of the Background of the study, Statement of the problem,
Purpose of the study, Research question, Significance of the study, Delimitation, Limitation and
Organization of the study.
Background of the study
In Ghana, much emphasis has been laid on the need for teachers to motivate pupils to
attain the highest form of penmanship which is a pre – requisite tool for every scholar.
Pupils at the basic schools are to know the skill in writing, first from letters of the
alphabet to numerals so that by the time they get to higher institution, they would have acquired
good handwriting. Writing carries our idea on paper, but the inability of pupils to write properly
is a problem pertaining to almost all the basic schools in our dear country Ghana.
Writing as defined by Macmillan student’s dictionary is “the practice of presenting
language by means of marks on paper, stones etc. Thus using pencil or pen and paper”
The oxford advance Dictionary (New Edition) defines handwriting as the act of making
letters and other symbols on the surface usually on paper with pen or pencil using the hand.
Chall (1967) asserted that, handwriting is the use of the hand together with the brain in
making letters and symbols convey effective message to people. He is of the view that, good
handwriting helps to learn better and obtain higher grade.
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Arthur Hughes (1989) claims that, “good handwriting assist to make administrative
work easier”. He explains that people in administrative positions are able to work effectively
when non – printed scripts are given to work on.
Above all, writing represents the mind of a person (writer). It brings to light what a
person has and wants others to be aware of. Good handwriting makes working easy. Pupils with
good handwriting make making of their exercises easier as the teacher understands what they are
putting across. Moreover, writing interprets the character of a person; the nature of a person,
whether good or bad, neat or dirty, can partly be known through his or her handwriting
Poor handwriting on the other hand, is a major problem which is troubling many
students in our dear country, Ghana. Most students fail in their examinations due to their poor
handwriting. During the out segment programme, the researcher observed that some of the pupils
in basic seven (7) of Nyohini Presby. Junior High School have very poor handwritings and if the
problem remains unsolved, it will go a long way to affect their academic performance.
Statement of the problem
The handwriting of a student is very important since it brings about academic growth
and development in their early lives.
Poor handwriting refers to the inability of a person to write clearly, properly and his or
her inability to space out letters of the alphabet. Research has shown that, students with poor
handwriting suffer academically and the nature of the person can be known through the hands.
The outcry of parents, guardians, government, firms and examination bodies about
poor handwriting still persist. They have shown concern in the sense that, some university
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graduates from out higher institutions cannot write clearly and legible. The West African
Examination Council (WAEC) chief examiner’s report published on the October 8th, 2006 made
it clear that some students fail exams due to their inability to write well.
Research work in other areas of the country had proved that, there are problems
associated with handwriting among many pupils in the basic schools of the nation. The basic
seven (7) pupils of Nyohini Presby. JuniorHigh School are not exception. Out of thirty – three
pupils in the class, twenty-five (25) of them cannot write properly and clearly. This makes
marking of their exercises, home works and test very difficult. Due to this, many of them have
been repeated several times. That is to say, pupils with poor handwriting perform poor
academically.
It is against that background that the researcher had taken it upon himself to find out
the causes of poor handwriting in order to suggest ways to help reduce the problem.
Purpose of the study
The researcher seeks to find out;
The possible causes of poor handwriting among basic seven (7) pupils of Nyohini Presby.
JuniorHigh School
The materials needed to correct poor handwriting.
Techniques needed to improve handwriting.
The importance of handwriting on the academic performance of the pupils
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Research Questions
The research formulates these questions during the study to help reduce the problem.
What could be the possible causes of the poor handwriting of basic seven (7) pupils of
Nyohini Presby. JuniorHigh School?
What are some of the activities that can be used to help acquire good handwriting?
What are some of the techniques used in teaching handwriting?
How does the teacher’s handwriting affect pupil’s handwriting?
How are the activities going to be carried out?
Significance of the study
When the research is over, it would improve upon the pupil’s poor handwriting hence
improving the performance of the pupils.
It will also serve as a guide for teachers and students in teaching and learning of
handwriting in schools.
Finally, it will create awareness on the need for parents to provide writing materials for
their words.
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Delimitation
The whole research was conducted in only one area of English Language (Handwriting).
Only those who have poor handwriting in basic seven (7) of Nyohini Presby. JuniorHigh School
were taken through the activities.
Limitation
One cannot undertake any research without encountering any problem. The project was
successful but the researcher faced some few challenges which include:
The major problem which the researcher encountered was finance since the researcher has
to print some questions and then travel to place for information.
Due to truancy on the part of the pupils, meetings organized within school hours could
not come on regularly which delayed the whole process.
Some of the parents could not offered all the necessary materials which were used during
the study. The researcher has to take that responsibility before arriving at success.
Lastly, when the practice was underway, their parents sometimes sent for their wards to
help them in the house which also delayed the project.
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Organization of the study
The whole study is being divided into five chapters. The first chapter has the heading
"introduction" which address the following issues; background of the study, statement of the
problem, purpose of the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitation,
limitation and organisation of the study.
The second chapter has the heading "review of related literature". Basically, a literature
review is supposed to offer a combination of what has already been written on the topic in terms
of theories.
The third chapter has the heading methodology which addrinterventioness the following;
research design, population, sample selection, research instrument, pre – , data collection etc.
were actually covered. It deals with what the researcher did to solve the problem under study.
The fourth chapter is headed "reporting of findings". This chapter deals with the
reporting of the data obtained in the three chapters.
The last chapter which is chapter five is headed "summary, conclusion and
recommendation". This last chapter deals with summarizing the findings based on the data,
drawing up conclusions and recommendation for further study.
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