Tufatul Janah
141101011037
This research is conducted in order to improve students’ writing ability in descriptive text using Clustering Technique at eighth grades of SMP Yapsida Bogor. In conducting this research the researcher used Classroom Action Research (CAR) as the method of research. This research consisted of two cycles and each cycle consisted of four steps, they were: Planning, action, observation, and reflection. Each cycle was conducted in three meetings, so the researcher conducted this research in one month. To collect and analyze the data, the researcher used the information from observation, and the students’ achievement in pre-test and posttest in order to support the data collected. And it is considered successful if 80% (24 out of 30) of the students with individual score in writing descriptive text achieve at least the same as or above 65.0. The result of this research shows that using clustering technique in teaching descriptive writing can improve their writing’s ability. The students’ responses showed that they were interested to learn writing subject, because they felt easier to write using the technique. Moreover, the students’ achievement in pre-test and post-test showed a significant improvement.
The students’ mean in preliminary study was 49.9. In the first cycle the mean score
was 67.2. Meanwhile the mean score in the second cycle was 81.0. From this result,
the researcher concludes that teaching descriptive writing using clustering technique at eighth grades of SMP Yapsida Bogor can improve students’ writing ability especially in descriptive text.
Key words: writing ability, clustering technique, descriptive text