This research aims to verify whether: (1) Comic Strips are more effective
than flashcard to teach writing; (2) The students with high motivation have better
writing skill than those having low motivation; and (3) There is an interaction
between teaching media and students’ motivation in teaching writing.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the eighth grade class of
SMP Gajah Mada Bandar Lampung in the Academic Year of 2014/2015. There
were four classes which consist of 123 students. The sample was two classes
labeled as comic strips class (which was taught using comic Strips media) and
flashcard class (which was taught using flashcard media). To get the sample, a
cluster random sampling technique is implemented. Each class is initially divided
into three groups according to the levels of Motivation: High, medium, and low.
High group and low group are used as the research sample, each consisting of 10
students. The groups are obtained by using a questionnaire. Writing test used as an
instrument of collecting data. The data were analysed by using Multifactor Analysis
of Variance ANOVA 2x2 and Tukey test. Before conducting the ANOVA test, prerequisite
test namely normality and homogeneity test were conducted.
There are some reseach findings: (1) Comic Strips are more effective than
flashcard to teach writing; (2) The students with high motivation have better writing
skill than those having low motivation; and (3) There is an interaction between
teaching media and students’ motivation in teaching writing.
The results of this research imply that comic strips are an effective media in
teaching writing to the eighth grade class of SMP Gajah Mada Bandar Lampung.
However, in deciding to use this media, the teachers have to choose cartoons and
comic strips that matched the level of the class. The more the teacher exploits comic
strips, the greater the chance for students to increase their writing skill.
Keywords: comic strips, flashcard, motivation, quasi-experimental study, writing
skill.