Understanding Essay Writing Preferences Among New English Language Students: Implications for Pedagogy and Curriculum Design

This research investigates the preferred types of essay writing among new students enrolled in the English Language Education Study Program at Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM). The research employs a qualitative descriptive method, focusing on second-semester students from four classes (D, E, F, and G) who are taking an Essay Writing course during the 2023/2024 academic year. A total of 142 students participated in this study, providing data through questionnaires distributed via Google Forms. The findings reveal a diverse range of preferences for different essay types. The most favored type of essay among the students is the descriptive essay, chosen by 33 students. This is followed by narrative essays, preferred by 28 students, and procedural essays, selected by 20 students. Other types of essays, such as reviews (17 students), explanations (12 students), and recounts (9 students), also showed significant interest. Less popular were news items (7 students), discussions (5 students), anecdotes, reports, and spoofs (each chosen by 3 students), and hortatory expositions, which were the least favored, selected by only 2 students. The results suggest that descriptive and narrative essays are particularly engaging for new students, potentially due to their ability to express personal experiences and creativity. These insights can guide the development of writing curricula that better align with student interests, ultimately enhancing their writing skills and overall language proficiency.