The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Syntactic Structure in the English Writing of Undergraduate Students at Kinnaird College, Lahore

Abstract

This research investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the syntactic structure of English paragraph writing among undergraduate students at Kinnaird College, Lahore. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study focused on a target population of 50 first-year undergraduate students enrolled in the compulsory English subject during their initial semester, along with 15 teachers teaching the subject at Kinnaird College. These students, who missed their intermediate English examinations due to the pandemic, had their post-pandemic paragraphs analyzed to observe the effects of the lack of testing on syntactic structures. To gain insights into the challenges faced by students, the teachers were provided with a questionnaire. Their responses shed light on how the absence of examinations contributed to an increase in mistakes. The questionnaire not only confirmed the authentic difficulties encountered by students but also highlighted the significance of testing in shaping the syntactic structures of English. The research aims to unveil the implications of these testing-related challenges and, ultimately, proposes measures to address and mitigate the consequences of disrupted examination patterns.