KPD 3026

Pengajaran, Teknologi dan Penaksiran 2

Assignment 3: Action Research Proposal

(Google Docs As A Tool To Improve Vocabulary and Grammar In Writing)

Prepared for: Dr Hema Vanita A/P Kesevan

Prepared by: Asma’ Mardhiyyah Binti Mohd Ariffin (D20182086676)

 Google Docs As A Tool To Improve Vocabulary and Grammar In Writing

Rationale
Along with our modern world nowadays, we have been exposed to new gadgets and apps
everyday. Therefore, our education as well is developing and has come out with many platforms
to help our students to acquire the knowledge. However, in English subjects, we still faced the
same issues among the students, especially in writing skills. The issues that have been a hardship
for the students are lack of vocabulary and grammar areas. Vocabulary and grammar both play an
important role in learning English. Without vocabulary, it is quite hard for people to express or
communicate in their target language and with grammar, it gives meaning to the language.
McCarthy (1990: 140) states that without words to express a wider range of meanings,
communication in an L2 just cannot happen in any meaningful way and DeCapua, 2008
mentioned that the term grammar does not bring pleasant memories to the minds of many people.
The term grammar frequently brings to mind tedious lessons with endless drills, repetition, and
other generally mindless practice, focused on mostly obscure rules of how people are supposed
to write and speak.
Of course, here we can see that grammar and vocabulary both are crucially needed in
writing. Now, the issues are noted then there comes the next question which is how. How to
relate or how to help the learners overcome the issues. Based on an interview with students from
one of the schools in Klang, they highlighted that they always feel demotivated when using the
traditional way which is by using pen and paper to write an essay or to do any writing activities.
This is because since they lack vocabulary, it limits the students to write creatively. According to
the students, they have dozens of ideas in their L1, but to convey it into the target language is the
real challenge. The students also mentioned that they are afraid to spell words wrong, or to use
bombastic words in case it doesn’t suit the situation of their writing. Thus, they used basic words
and felt their own writing sounded dull. Since they did not master the grammar as well, they
always end up telling something completely different from their intention.
To overcome this issue, we can use what technologies have provided for us and this
technology is called Google Documents. In this Google Documents, we can write anything that
we want and there are many features that can be helpful. Two of them are, spelling suggestions
and grammar error detection. If the students use this Google Document, it can help them to avoid
making spelling mistakes and Google Documents will suggest them to use more bombastic
words. Not only that, this helpful application will provide the meaning to the words suggested
and if we wrote any words, we can look up the meaning as well. So, the students do not have to
be afraid of making any spelling mistakes. Besides, their vocabularies will be increased as well.
Same goes to the grammar detection, this application will give the correct form to use.
It is important for the teachers to set the line where we wanted to help the students and
not spoon-feed them. Therefore, with a few methods and assessments, we can apply this
application to students' writing.

Action Research Questions

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using Google Documents as a tool to improve
vocabulary and grammar in writing.

Specifically, the study aims to answer the following questions:

1) Does the usage of Google Documents help students to improve students’ spelling
and grammar mistakes?
2) Does the usage of Google Documents enhance the students’ vocabulary?
3) Does the usage of Google Documents boost students’ confidence in their writing?

Action Research Methods

Context
This study will be conducted in one of the schools in Klang district, Selangor in one month to
keep the data and progress of the students. The strategy that will be used is by assessment of the
students and identifying their mistakes and errors. We implement the usage of the application of
Google Documents and has the second assessment to find out if their performances improved.

Participants
The participants of this study are Form 3 students from SMK (P) Bukit Kuda. Those who are
selected from their English teacher suggestion are considered students who have difficulties with
the vocabulary and often make grammar mistakes. They are learners that need assistance in order
to enhance their writing skills The study utilised purpose sampling since the participants are
selected in non-random manner and identified by the researchers based on their levels of
capabilities. The respondents are identified upon the assessment of the teachers based on their
responses from previous writing assessment.

Data
To collect the data, we will be using the qualitative data which are observations, questionnaire
and assessment.

Data Analysis

Research Questions Data Data Analysis

Does the usage of Google Assessment The first assessment is held to gather
Documents help students to information such as what spelling mistakes
improve students’ spelling they did and what grammar aspects that the
and grammar mistakes? students made.

Afterwards, the usage of Google Documents

will be implemented and the observations
will be made to see in the second assessment
if there is any improvement in that area. The
assessment will be held at the beginning of
the study and at the end of the study.

Does the usage of Google Observation In the Google Documents, there will be
Documents enhance the word suggestions, therefore researchers can
students’ vocabulary? track if the students use the suggestions.
Then, the observations will be made through
their responses if they will use or utilise it in
their assessment. This observation will be
recorded every time the students use the
application and from the assessment.
Does the usage of Google Questionnaire To answer this research question, the
Documents boost students’ researcher will establish a set of questions to
confidence in their writing? determine if this application is useful or not
from the students point of view. This
questionnaire will be distributed through the
Whatsapp group of the students at the end of
the study/month.
 References

Cho, H. (2021). Factors mediating small-group interactions during synchronous web-based

collaborative summary writing using Google Docs. Working Collaboratively in Second/Foreign

Language Learning, 249-274. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501511318-011

Nababan, R., Tarigan, Y., Br Ginting, E. G., & Tarigan, N. W. (2021). Analysis of grammatical

errors in writing narrative text B. ELT (English Language Teaching Prima Journal), 2(2), 1-15.

https://doi.org/10.34012/eltp.v2i2.1731