IMPROVING STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILL OF DESCRIPTIVE TEXT USING DICTOGLOSS TECHNIQUE AT THE SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMPN 3 WONOSARI IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2017/2018

Abstract

This action research study aimed to improve the writing ability of grade VII students of SMPN 3 Wonosari in the academic year 2017/2018 through dictogloss technique. This research followed Kemmis and McTaggart’s model. It was conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consisted of three meetings. This study was in collaboration with the English teacher, the students and the researcher’s collaborator. The research was carried out in November 2017. The subjects of the study were Grade VII F students of SMPN 3 Wonosari. The data were collected through observations, interviews and tests on the students’ performance using instruments of three interview guidelines, an observation sheet and a writing rubric. The data from the observation and interviews were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The validity used were democratic validity, outcome validity, process validity, catalytic validity, and dialogic validity. The reliability used as time triangulation and investigator triangulation. The steps of the research were reconnaissance, planning, action and observation and reflection.

The results of the research showed that the use of dictogloss technique was able to improve the students’ writing skill of descriptive text. Based on the results of the qualitative data, the students were able to generate their ideas to produce well organized desccriptive texts. They were also able to use appropriate vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization in their writings. During the teaching and learning process, they also showed positive responses towards the lesson. They enthusiastically joinned the teaching and learning activities and did the task well. Based on the quantitave data, the students’ mean scores improved. The mean score of the pre-test was 9, that of the Cycle 1 was 10.5, that of the Cycle 2 was 12.73, and that of the post-test was 15.

Keywords: Dictogloss technique, descriptive text, writing skill