Factors Influencing the Quality of Opinion Essays: Perspectives of Vietnamese English-Majored Students

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the factors influencing the quality of opinion essays from the perspectives of Vietnamese English-majored students at Can Tho University, Vietnam. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, and thematic analysis was employed to identify key influencing factors. The study revealed five main factors: linguistic competence, cognitive processes, psychological factors, pedagogical influences, and external constraints. Linguistic factors mainly involved vocabulary use, grammatical accuracy, and language interference, with students often struggling to find precise words, construct sentence grammatically, and avoid direct translation from their first language. Cognitive processes included idea generation, organization, and development, as many students found it challenging to develop relevant ideas, arrange them logically, and present arguments in a coherent manner. Psychological aspects like writing anxiety, confidence, and motivation significantly influenced clarity under pressure. Pedagogical concerns focused on teaching methods and feedback, with students favoring detailed guidance beyond grammar correction. External constraints, such as writing practice, background knowledge, reading habits, and time pressure, also affected essay quality. Among these, the most commonly mentioned factors were linguistic aspects (grammar and vocabulary), psychological influences (confidence and writing anxiety), and external elements (background knowledge and time constraints). The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors that impact opinion essay quality. Implications for students and lecturers, along with suggestions for future research, were also discussed.