Improving Students’ Writing Ability Using Affinity Grouping At Seventh Grade Of SMP N 4 Wonogiri In Academic Year 2011/2012 (An Action Research)

Oleh :
Sendy Eka Pratiwi - K2208098 - Fak. KIP

This research aims at: (1) describing whether or not and to what extent affinity grouping can improve students’ writing skill, and (2) identifying whether or not affinity grouping can make the students active in teaching learning process. The method used in this research was a collaborative action research with a junior high school English teacher (teacher AJM), and the researcher. The research was conducted in two cycles at the seventh grade of SMP Negeri 4 Wonogiri from February 2012 to June 2012. The research data were collected by using techniques of observation, interview, field note, and test (pre-test and post-test). The data were analyzed through constant comparative method and descriptive statistic. The research findings show that affinity grouping could improve students’ writing skill and classroom situation of English class. The improvement of the students’ writing skill includes: (1) the students could develop the idea easily; (2) the students also made grammatical sentences; (3) the students had fewer difficulties in spelling; (4) the students were able apply appropriate generic structure in making descriptive text; (5) the students were able to master the vocabulary. The improvement of students’ writing skill could also be seen from students’ post test result. The means of pre test was 51.5, post test 1 was 67.6 and post test 2 was 76.7. The improvement of classroom situation includes: (1) the students only talked to each other when they had to discuss the material given by the teacher; (2) the students looked active and did not look sleepy; (3) the students focused on the lesson; (4) the students were able to answer the teacher’s questions and active to ask questions to the teacher; (5) the students paid attention to the teacher and did not look bored or made noise. From the results above, it could be concluded that Affinity Grouping could improve students’ writing skill and could make the students active in teaching learning process.