IMPROVING THE X-7 GRADE STUDENTS’ DESCRIPTIVE TEXT WRITING ACHIEVEMENT BY USING BRAINDANCING-ANDDOWNHILLING TECHNIQUE AT MAN 1 JEMBER

Abstract

The data collection methods used writing test and the observation in the form of checklist to get the primary data. The data were analyzed statistically. The action was implemented in two cycles in order to achieve the criteria of success of this classroom action research. The first cycle was done in three meetings including the test. The result of the classroom observation showed that 43.75% in meeting 1 and 53.125% in meeting 2 of the students were active during the teaching learning process. It showed that there was improvement of the students’ active participation from meeting 1 to meeting 2, but it had not achieved the target criteria of success of the research that was 70% or more of the students were active in the teaching learning process of writing. In addition, the result of the writing test in the first cycle had not achieved the criteria of success of the research that was 70% or more the students got 75 or higher in the writing test. The percentage of the students who got score ≥ 75 was only 18 of 32 students or 56.25%. Based on the results of the first cycle above, the second cycle was necessary to be conducted. Some revisions had been made to solve the problems found in the first cycle. The classroom observation and writing test in the second cycle showed an improvement. In the classroom observation, the students’ active participation improved from 68.75% in the first meeting to 81.25% in the second meeting. The result of writing test revealed that 78.125% of students got score >75 or higher. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the actions in the 2nd cycle had achieved the criteria of success of the research. The results of the first cycle to the second cycle showed an improvement as well as achieved the criteria of success. Finally, it can be summarized that the use of braindancing-anddownhilling technique could improve the X-7 grade students’ descriptive text writing achievement at MAN 1 Jember.