Optimizing Picture Series Video to Improve Students’ Skill in Writing Narrative Text (A Classroom Action Research at the Eighth Grade Students of SMP Negeri 7 Sukoharjo in the Academic Year of 2011/2012)

Oleh :
Ayu Pramoni Purbosiwi - K2208067 - Sekolah Pascasarjana

This research aims at identifying whether and to what extent the use of picture series video improves students' skill in writing narrative text and describing the class climate when picture series video is implemented. The method used in this paper is a collaborative action research. This research has been implemented within two sequenced cycles at the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 7 Sukoharjo in the second semester of the academic year 2011/2012. The research data were collected through questionnaire, observation, interview, diary, photographs and tests. In order to have a clear understanding, The qualitative data were analyzed through descriptive analysis proposed by Burns which consists of assembling the data, coding the data, comparing the data, building interpretations, and reporting the outcomes. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The research findings show that the use of picture series video could improve students’ skill in writing narrative text and class climate of English class. The improvement of students’ writing skill in narrative text includes: (1) the students had fewer difficulties in exploring ideas to write; (2) the students made fewer mistakes in applying the appropriate tense in the text; (3) the students had richer word choices; (4) the students were be able to differentiate the generic structure of recount text and use the word transition; (5)the students made fewer mistake in capitalization, spelling and punctuation. Related to the improvement in the class climate, the research findings showed that (1) the students seldom complained when they were asked to write; (2) the students did not refuse to present their writings in front of the class because the students became more confident to read their texts in front of the class; (3) the students spent shorter time to write and could finish the writing on time; (4) The students became more confident to write by their selves; (5) The students paid attention to the teacher; they did not look bored or make noise. They made noise when they were discussing with their friends. In addition, the final result of the writing tests showed that their scores were improving in the mean score; from 55.27 (pretest) to 62.83 (test in Cycle 1) and 67.17 (post-test). It was above the minimum standard of the school (Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimuml/KKM), which is 63.00. Besides the two findings above, there are other findings as follows: (1) the teacher got closer with the students and the interaction between them increases; (2) the students felt more comfortable in studying narrative text using picture series video with the teacher. Considering the inspiring result of this study, it is suggested that other teachers be able to make use of this improvement in utilizing and developing other media. It is also hoped that the teachers conduct the Action Research in their classroom to solve the teaching-learning problems.