Using Brainstorming Technique to Improve Students’ Writing Ability in Descriptive Text ( A Classroom Action Research at the Third Year Students, English Department, Faculty of Education of Champasak University in the Academic Year 2010∕2011)

Phimmasenh, Khanthaly

This thesis is aimed at knowing whether brainstorming technique can improve students’ writing ability in descriptive text or not, how it can be implemented in the class, and the strengths and weaknesses of brainstorming when it is implemented to teach writing. The preliminary research showed that the students had problems in writing elements: organization, grammar, and vocabulary. The researcher was done in English department, Faculty of Education of Champasak University Lao P. D. R from October 2010 to November 2010. The subject of the study was the third year students of English Department consisting of 34 students. It was a classroom action research. The researcher did some steps for each cycle. They were planning, acting, observing and reflecting. In collecting the data, the researcher applied several techniques including observation, interview, questionnaire, and test. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistic. It compared between the scores of pre-test (before implementing inquiry based learning) and post-test (after implementing inquiry based learning), while the qualitative data were analyzed by using qualitative technique analysis which consists of four steps: data collection, data reduction, data display, and data conclusion. In the result, inquiry based learning can be implemented in teaching writing. It can be implemented effectively. The students were more highly interested and interactive in writing. Their writing improved in organization, grammar, vocabulary, content, and mechanics. This improvement influenced their scores from cycle to cycle, and based on the result of post-test, there was significant improvement between the students’ score in pre-test and post-test. In conclusion, brainstorming technique is able to improve students’ writing ability in descriptive text. Therefore, it is recommended that the teacher should apply brainstorming technique in teaching writing.

Abstrak

Using Brainstorming Technique to Improve Students’ Writing Ability in Descriptive Text ( A Classroom Action Research at the Third Year Students, English Department, Faculty of Education of Champasak University in the Academic Year 2010∕2011)