IMPROVING STUDENTS’ WRITING COMPETENCE THROUGH PICTURE SERIES FOR TENTH GRADERS (Classroom Action Research conducted at Vocational High School for Tenth Graders in SMK N 2 Pengasih)

Setiawan, Yanu. 2018. Improving Students’ Writing Competence through Picture Series for Tenth Grader. Thesis Proposal. Undergraduate Program. Mercu Buana University of Yogyakarta. Advisor: Dr. Hermayawati, S.Pd., M.Pd.,

Keyword: Writing, Picture Series, Vocational High School

Nowadays, English is global language that many people used. English is one of three basic courses in educational field of Indonesia, besides Bahasa Indonesia and Mathematic. Many students felt that English is difficult. This research highlighted the low score of students’ writing competence of Grade X Building Technique of SMK N 2 Pengasih, Kulon Progo – Yogyakarta. It was conducted to answer the research questions. They are how is the improvement of students’ skill in writing through picture series and how is the students’ interest in improving their writing skill using picture series. This study focused on implementing picture series as the media. The researcher used Classroom Action Research (CAR) to conduct the implementation. This action research adapted Kemmis and McTaggart’s theory. The step involved: (1) planning (identifying of a problem); (2) acting (collecting data); (3) observing (analyzing and interpreting data); and (4) reflecting (developing an action). The researcher conducted the research in two cycles. In collecting data, it gathered between qualitative data and quantitative data. Qualitative data involved judgement of observation, interview and documentation while quantitative data involved questionnaire and tests. The tests were conducted in three times, pre-test, post-test in Cycle I, and post-test in Cycle II. The analytical of rubric scoring was adapted from Brown’s theory. For made the fair score, the researcher collaborated with the English teacher. Based on this study finding, it can be concluded that the students’ writing competence improved as follows: (1) for answering the students’ improvement of writing skill, we pointed the mean score of pre-test, post-test in Cycle I, and posttest in Cycle II. The mean score of pre-test was 61, second post-test was 75,15, and last post-test was 89,25. These scores were concluded that there was improvement in each cycle; (2) for answering the students’ interest, we pointed the questionnaire result of the students’ motivation after the implementation. The data showed that 68,125% of the students agreed that they like English, while 31,875% of the students disagree if they like English. The result of this study was improved because the implementation was guided by picture series as the media.