Improving Students’ Writing Skills through Mind Mapping in Grade VIII at SMPN 1 Imogiri in the Academic Year of 2014/2015

Abstract

The study aimed to improve the students‘ writing skills using mind mapping technique in Grade VIII A at SMP N 1 Imogiri in the academic year of 2014/2015. The study was action research involving 30 students of Grade VIII A at SMP N 1 Imogiri. The other participants were the English teacher and the researcher‘s colleague as the collaborator. The research procedure which was carried out in two cycles consisted of reconnaissance, planning, action and observation, and reflection. The data were qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative data were analyzed through assembling, coding, comparing the data, building interpretations, and reporting the outcome. On the other hand, the quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive analysis. The research findings showed that the students’ writing ability improved, especially in the aspects of content and organization of the text. These results were supported by the mean score of the post-test (78.34), which was 6.71 higher than that of the pre-test (71.63).This achievement proves that using mind mapping technique in teaching and learning process of writing could improve the students‘ writing skills significantly.