IMPROVING THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS’ WRITING ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH PEER EDITING TECHNIQUE AT SMAN I TONGAS PROBOLINGGO IN THE 2006/2007 ACADEMIC YEAR

Abstract

This clasroom action research was intended toimprove the first year students’ writing achievement at SMAN I Tongas Probolinggo in the 2006/2007 Academic Year by appliying Peer Editing Technique. The respondents of this classroom Action research (CAR) were class Xd that was determined purposively. The class Xd were chosen as the subjects of this research because the class had more cmlicated problem dealing with writing and their average score in writing was the lowest among five existing classes that was 59.2 in the first semester of 2006/2007 Academic Year. This CAR consisted of two cycles, in which each cycle covered four main stages including: the planning of the action, the implementation of the action, classroom observation. Meanwhile, the supporting data were gathered from interview and documentation. The result of the average score of the writing test in the first cycle was M=68.61 that was classified in the fair category. This result did not achieved the standard average score requirement in this research that was M≥70. besides, based on the classroom observation that was done in the first cycle, it was found that the students’ involvement in the process of writing activities was 60.5%. therefore, the actions were proceeded to the second cycle by revising the first action cycle such as: optimalizing the students’ participation in the process of writing activities, giving enogh clues about the passive sentences, news item and the way to conduct peer editing to the students. The results of the average score of the writing test in the second cycle was better M=75.73 that was classified in the good category. Besides, the students’ involvement in the writing process improved from 60.5% in the first cycle up to 83.7% in the second cycle. It means that both the students’ writing test and the students’ involvement in the writing process improved in the second cycle and fulfilled the target of this research. Based on the results, it could be concluded that the use of peer editing technique could improve the first year students’ writing achievement at SMAN I Tongas Probolinggo in the 2006/2007 Academic Year in two cycles. Then it is suggested tothe English teacher to apply peer-editing technique as the alternative way of English teaching technique, especially in teaching writing a news item text. This is expected to facilitate and to help the students collaborate and share knowledge and experiences with their peers to solve the writing problems