Institusion
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Author
Heni Tri Wardani , 2201406561
Subject
PE English
Datestamp
2011-11-29 06:21:59
Abstract :
ABSTRACT
Wardani, Heni T. 2010. The Use of Mind Mapping in Improving the Students? Writing Skill in
Descriptive Text (an Action Research of the Tenth Grade Students of SMA N 1 Godong).
Final Project. English Department. Faculty of Languages and Arts. Semarang State
University. First advisor: Drs. Suprapto, M.Hum., Second Advisor: Widhiyanto, S.Pd,
M.Pd.
Keyword: Writing, Decriptive text, Mind Mapping.
The objectives of this study were to describe what kind of mind mapping that could
improve students? writing skill in descriptive text, and to find out the effectiveness of the
application of mind mapping method in improving teaching writing for tenth grade students. This
study was focused on students? improvement in writing descriptive text by using mind-mapping
method.
In order to achieve the objectives of the study, I designed an action research that consists
of pre-test and two cycles of treatment. The objects of this study are the X grade students of
SMA N 1 Godong in academic year 2009/2010. The number of the object is 38 students. There
were six meetings during the research in which the students had to write a text of at least ten
sentences. Before the research was conducted, a pre-test was given. The test was writing
descriptive text with certain topic.
Before administering the post tests, I gave explanation about descriptive text to the
student first by using mind mapping method and then discussed the topic that they had chosen in
the pre-test. The topic was ?My Idol?. I did this activity in order to make the students have their
own description about the topic.
The result of this study showed that the post-test scores (first cycle and second cycle)
were much better than the pre-test scores. The mean of the pre-test score was 62.35, the mean of
the first cycle was 72.45, and the mean of the second cycle was 79.76. The three means of the
test results were then calculated by t-test statistical procedure. The t-test result of the difference
between the pre-test and post-test is 16.33. Then t-test result of pre-test and cycle 1 test was
10.37. While the t- test result of the cycle 1 test and cycle 2 test is 6.91. The comparison between
the three test results with t-test table (1.99) results in a significant difference. This means that
mind mapping method improved the students? writing skill in descriptive text. The main factor
affected this success is the student? interest in the method used, that is mind mapping and
material given.
In line with the result, I suggest that the teachers should be able to create their own way
to improve their students? interest in following their teaching. Discussing the topic before
starting the lesson is one way to achieve this goal. However, the teachers should select the
suitable materials to the topic they going to teach.