The use of diary to improve students’ mastery in recount text writing(A Classroom Action Research Conducted at the Eighth Grade of SMPN 2 Ngargoyoso in Academic Year 2010/2011)

Oleh :
Atik Wuryandari - X2208506 - Fak. KIP

The objective of the research is to know (1) whether the use of diary can improve students’ mastery of recount text writing on the eighth grade students of SMPN 2 Ngargoyoso. (2) in what extent diary can be used to improve students’ mastery in recount text writing. The method used in this research was classroom action research which consists of four stages: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The research was conducted in two cycles from November 1st until November 23rd 2010 at the eighth grade of SMPN 2 Ngargoyoso. This subject of the research was thirty one students of class VIII A SMPN 2 Ngargoyoso, consisting of 19 boys and 12 girls. The data obtained were from quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data were students’ writing scores. The qualitative data were collected by using some techniques including observation, interview, and document analysis. The research findings prove that the use of diary can improve students’ mastery in recount text writing. The improvement of students’ mastery in recount text writing included (1) content, (2) organization, (3) vocabulary, (4) grammar, and (5) mechanic. The research findings also prove that the use of diary could improve (1) classroom situation; (2) students’ participation; (3) students’ competence. The improvements are clearly seen on their mean score in every cycle. The mean score of the pre-test result was 57.26 while the mean score of the post-test result in cycle I was 63.87 and cycle II was 75.23. The numbers of students who get score 62 or more were rising. In the end of first cycle, 19 of 31 students got score 62 or more. In short only 63% students passed in the post test. While, in the second cycle, 29 of 31 students got score 62 or more or 94% students passed in the post test. ii