Improving The Students’ Writing Skill Through Cooperative Learning (A Classroom Action Research at the Second Grade Students of SMP Muhammadiyah 7 Banyudono Boyolali in the Academic Year of 2010 / 2011)

Oleh :
Aditia Melani Ardi - X2209001 - Fak. KIP

ADITIA MELANI ARDI, 2011.Improving The Students’ Writing Skill Through Cooperative Learning (A Classroom Action Research at the Second Grade Studentsof SMP Muhammadiyah 7 Banyudono Boyolali in the Academic Year of 2010 / 2011 This study is based on the problem showed in the pre-research that the students’ writing achievement was low. It is focused on improving the students’ writing skill by using cooperative learning through small group discussion. The researcher conducted classroom action research from June to July 2010. The subject of this research was the students of class VIII B of SMP Muhammadiyah 7 Banyudono Boyolali in the academic year 2010/2011. The researcher did the preliminary test collaborated with the English teacher to find the students’ problems in writing. She found some problems in the students’ writing that were: grammar, vocabulary, text style and ideas organization. In the pre test the students’ average score was 63 and it was under the the passing grade for writing curriculum. Therefore, the researcher used classroom action research applied in her observation. The researcher conducted the teaching learning activities in two cycles. Because most of the students were classified into low motivated learners, the researcher took cooperative learning by using small group discussion apllied in this class in order to solve the writing problems. The researcherthought that it would be beneficial torward to the students’ need that they have a small group to work and discuss their writing assignment. Small group discussion also teach about the moral values such as sharing, increasing their social relationship. Besides the low motivated learners would also learn more confidently and might keep up their friends within a group. The researcher was able to solve the students’ problems in writing, especially in improving their writing skill through small group discussion. The essence of small group discussion is verbal interaction, the communication processes are most vital for successful discussion because an active learning can be implemented in small group. Before she conducted the actions the mean score of the pre test was 63 and after doing the actions the mean score of the first post-test was 72 then on the second post test the students’ mean score was 78. From the explanation above the researcher concluded that small group discussion is giving significant improvement toward the students’ writing. Small group discussion increases the content understanding, enhances motivation and generates greater involvement with friends, develops positive attitudes toward material presented, develops problem solving skills, provides practice in the application to practical problem. The result of the research showed that after implementing the small group discussion the students got advantages in both of writing skill and their social relationship among their friends that it gave a good improvement toward their behavior and skill in writing.