Abstract :
Key Words: Writing Skill, Clustering Technique
This study was carried out to improve the students? writing skill through Clustering Technique in the eleventh grade students of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo. Based on problems of the study the researcher found problems such as the students do not have high motivation in learning process and the students? score in writing is low. The statement of problems of this research are: 1) Does Clustering Technique improve students? writing skill at eleventh grade of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015; and 2) How does Clustering Technique improve students? writing skill at the eleventh grade of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015. The purposes of this research are: 1) to know whether Clustering Technique improve students? writing skill at the eleventh grade students of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015; 2) to describe how Clustering Technique improve students? writing skill at the eleventh grade students of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015.
This research used Classroom Action Research. The subject of the research was the students of the eleventh grade of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015, which consisted of 22 students. The research was started on 6th until 20th August 2014, this Classroom Action Research was conducted in two cycles. The researcher used three research instruments. They were: observation check list; questionnaire, and test.
Based on the result of this research, the implementation of Clustering Technique could improve students? writing skill at the eleventh grade students of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015, it was seen from the improvement of average students? score from 73,61 in cycle I up to 85,87 in cycle II, so that all of the students pass the test because they reached KKM of 76 point. The students? percentage who reached KKM in the Cycle 1 was 46% up to 100% in Cycle II. The questionnaire result showed that the students were interested in this technique. It was seen from percentage of the questionnaire I was 58.95% and the second questionnaire II was 81.55%, it means that all of the students reach the minimum percentage criteria score of 61%. The observation check list result showed that the students become active during teaching learning process, it was seen from the percentage of the first observation check list participation was 52.08%, attention was 43.75%, enjoyment was 65.25% in the cycle I then up to participation was 85.93% attention was 78.12%, enjoyment was 81.25% in cycle II. It means all of the students reach the percentage criteria minimal score of 61%.
Finally, the researcher concluded that the implementation of Clustering Technique was effective to improve the students? writing skill at the eleventh grade students of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Ponorogo in the academic year of 2014/2015 and the researcher gives suggestion that English teachers can use Clustering Technique as an alternative technique in teaching writing. The next researcher can develop this technique.