Arab Educational Information Network

This research investigates the problems faced by college students in writing English academic summary. The method used includes surface strategy taxonomy by Heidi Dulay and non-linguistic problem using personal interview. The data were collected from 35 original summary writing documents for the linguistic sources and Zoom meeting video recorder for the non-linguistic sources. The samples were 7 students in 5th semester of English Education Department, Islamic State Institute of Kediri. To gather data, the researchers employed a random sampling technique. The data analysis used descriptive qualitative methods. The result of the data analysis shows that the students committed four types of surface strategy taxonomy: omission, addition, mis formation, and miss ordering. Mis formation is the type of common problem found in the students’ summary writing. In the personal interview, it was found that misunderstands about advanced vocabulary is the common non-linguistic problem. These represent the problems faced by students. This research study has implications for teachers and students. The results can be of use for improving students’ writing and designing alternative teaching skills for this important skill. Summary writing process helps the students to expand their view about proper academic writing. This situation suggests that summary writing is a good strategy technique to be applied in college students. However, the ability in writing an academic summary using surface strategy taxonomy needs to be improved. (Published abstract)