Applying Clustering Technique to Guide Vocational High School Students Produce Good Quality Recount

Abstract

It is believed that Clustering Technique could guide vocational high school students to produce good-quality recount text. This research aimed to: (1) guide students conceptualize their plan in the form of clusters before writing, (2) guide students draft their recount text assisted by the clusters they make before writing, (3) improve the quality of recount texts as indicated by the percentages of students attaining the score of 75 the end of cycle at SMK AL-Azhar Sempu, Banyuwangi. The participants of this study were the students of X TKR 1 of SMK ALAzhar Sempu, Banyuwangi. The design of this research was Classroom Action Research (CAR). The data collection method in this research used observation (field-notes), documentation (students’ work artifact), and writing test. The data which had been collected were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The data from observation (fieldnotes) and documentation (students’ work artifacts) were analyzed descriptively. Meanwhile, the data from writing test was analyzed quantitatively. The research could be said as successful if the percentage of students who could achieve 75 as standard minimum score were >75%. The result showed that Clustering Technique could guide the tenth grade students produce good quality recount text. It is indicated by the results of fieldnotes, student work artifacts and interview analyses which proved that students could produce their writing plan in the form of clusters. From the clusters they created, they were able to draft and produce good recount text. At the end of the action research clustering technique could also prove that students’ writing quality also improved from cycle one up to cycle two as indicated by the percentages of students who attained the score of 75 at the end of cycle 2. The improvement was demonstrated by the increase of percentage of students who achieved 75 as standard minimum score in Cycle 1 which was 63.6% to 75.7% in Cycle 2. In conclusion, Clustering Technique could guide the tenth grade students produce good-quality recount text at SMK AL-Azhar Sempu, Banyuwangi. It is suggested that the English teacher use Clustering Technique as a prewriting strategy in the teaching of EFL writing.