ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: 1) Meningkatkan kompetensi menulis karangan pada pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia siswa kelas V SD Negeri Gunungsari Kecamatan Selo Kabupaten Boyolali melalui penerapan pendekatan Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL); dan 2) Mengetahui penggunaan pendekatan Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) yang tepat dalam meningkatkan kompetensi menulis karangan siswa kelas V SD Negeri Gunungsari Kecamatan Selo Kabupaten Boyolali. Metode pendekatan penelitian yang digunakan adalah Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) yaitu penelitian yang dilakukan oleh guru di kelas tempat mengajar, dengan penekanan pada penyempurnaan atau peningkatan praktik dan proses dalam pembelajaran bahasa Indonesia. Subyek penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas V semester I SD Negeri Gunungsari tahun pelajaran 2009/2010 yang berjumlah 16 siswa. Teknik analisis data digunakan analisis perbandingan, artinya peristiwa/ kejadian yang timbul dibandingkan kemudian dideskripsikan ke dalam suatu bentuk data penilaian yang berupa nilai. Dari prosentase dideskripsikan kearah kecenderungan tindakan guru dan reaksi serta hasil keterampilan bercerita siswa. Berdasarkan indikator kinerja yang telah ditetapkan nilai kompetensi menulis karangan siswa kelas V SD Negeri Gunungsari tuntas ditentukan apabila 80?ri jumlah siswa mendapat nilai 65 ke atas. Dari hasil tindakan melalui pendekatan CTL dapat diketahui jumlah siswa mendapat nilai 65 ke atas mencapai 100% sehingga diasumsikan bahwa seluruh siswa telah menuntaskan mata pelajaran bahasa Indonesia pokok bahasan kompetensi menulis karangan. Dari penelitian tindakan kelas yang telah dilakukan, dapat disimpulkankan bahwa: (1) Penggunaan pendekatan Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) dapat meningkatkan kompetensi menulis siswa kelas V SDN Gunungsari, Kecamatan Selo, Kabupaten Boyolali; (2) Penggunaan pendekatan CTL dapat meningkatkan kompetensi menulis siswa kelas V SDN Gunungsari, Kecamatan Selo, Kabupaten Boyolali. Peningkatan minat menulis dapat diketahui dari meningkatnya aktivitas siswa selama mengikuti pembelajaran dan dari hasil lembar pengamatan. Sementara itu, peningkatan kompetensi menulis dapat diketahui dari hasil tes. ABSTRACT This research aims to: 1) improve the essay writing competency in Indonesian in the V graders of SD Negeri Gunungsari Sub District Selo Regency Boyolali through applying the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) approach; and 2) to find out the proper Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) approach use in improving improve the essay writing competency in Indonesian in the V graders of SD Negeri Gunungsari Sub District Selo Regency Boyolali. The research method employed was Classroom Action Research (CAR), that is, the one conducted by the teacher in the classroom where the teaching activity occurs, by emphasizing on the practical and process accomplishment or improvement in Indonesian language learning. The subject of research was all V graders of Semester I of SD Negeri Gunungsari in the school year of 2009/2010 as many as 16 students. Technique of analyzing data employed was comparative analysis, meaning that the events/occurrences occurring are compared each other and then are described into an assessment data in the form of score. The percentage is described into the teacher action disposition and the reaction as well as the result of student’s telling story skill. Pursuant to performance indicator which have been specified by a interest value write the composition of student of class of complete V SD Negeri Gunungsari determined by if 80% from student amount get the value 65 to for. From action result of through knowable approach CTL sum up the student get the value 65 to for reaching 100% is so that assumed by that entire student have complete of fundamental Indonesian subject of interest discussion write composition. From research of class action which have been done, can be concluded by that: ( 1) Use of approach of Contextual Teaching and Learning ( CTL) can improve the interest write the student of class of V SDN Gunungsari, Kecamatan Selo , Kabupaten Boyolali; ( 2) Use of approach CTL can improve the interest write the student of class of V SDN Gunungsari, Cello Subdistrict, Regency Boyolali. Make-Up of enthusiasm write is knowable from the increasing of student activity of during following study and from result of perception sheet. Meanwhile, make-up of interest write is knowable from result tes..