IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILLS BY USING MIND MAPPING AMONG THE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMP N I NGEMPLAK IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2013/2014

摘要

This research was aimed to investigate how the use of mind mapping could improve the writing skills of grade VIII students at SMP N I Ngemplak in the academic year of 2013/2014. udThis research was classified as action research. The research was conducted in two cycles. Each cycle was divided into three meetings. The steps in each cycle were reconnaissance, planning, action, observation, and reflection. The research was done with the participation of 28 students of VIII C class, the English teacher, and the collaborator. The data collected in this research were qualitative and quantitative data. The researcher used observation and interviews in collecting qualitative data while tests were used to collect quantitative data. The qualitative data were analyzed through five steps of qualitative data analysis: assembling the data, coding the data, comparing the data, building interpretations, and reporting the outcomes. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were analyzed by comparing the students’ mean score of the tests. udThe findings of the research showed that the use of the mind mapping technique could improve the students’ writing skills especially in developing ideas and organizing ideas. There was also an improvement of the students’ skills in the aspects of using appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics. During the teaching and learning process, the students also showed positive attitude in the writing class. They enthusiastically did the writing activities. They showed their interest in writing by using the mind mapping technique. Based on the quantitative data, the students’ mean score increased from the pre-test to post test. In the pre-test, the students’ mean score is 53.82 while in the post-test 1 is 62.44 and in the post-test 2 they gained 69.07.