An Analysis of the Tenth Grade Students’ Ability to Write Recount Text at SMAN 1 Siberut Selatan Mentawai. Thesis. English Department, Bung Hatta University.

Abstrak

Writing is an activity of putting down the graphic symbols which has function to present a language in order to convey some meanings so that the reader can grasp the information which the writer has tried to convey (Sapkota 2012:70). Recount is speaking or writing about past events or a piece of text that retells past events, usually in the order which they happened (Anderson 2010:16).

The population of this research was tenth grade students’ of SMAN 1 Siberut Selatan Mentawai. The number of sample members was 32 students selected using cluster random sampling technique. The instrument used to collect the data was writing text test. To make the test reliable, the reseracher gave test to the students out of sample. It was found that the reliability index of the test 0.92 (Appendix 6).

Based on the result of data analysis, it was found that the tenth grade students’ ability to write recount text at SMAN 1 Siberut Selatan Mentawai was moderate. The result of the study showed that 5 students (15.62%) got high ability, 18 students (56.25%) got moderate ability and 9 students (28.125%) got low ability. In detail, the students’ ability to write generic structure ( orientation, events and re-orientation ) was moderate. It was indicated that 19 students (59.375%) had moderate ability in writing orientation, 14 students (43.75%) had moderate ability in writing events, 20 students (62.5%) had moderate ability in writing re-orientation. Students’ ability to write language features was moderate. It was indicated that 22 students (68.75%) had moderate ability. Students’ ability in choosing vocabulary was moderate. It was indicated that 21 students (65.625%) had moderate ability. Students’ ability in using mechanics was moderate. It was indicated that 15 students (46.875%) had moderate ability.

Refering to the result of this research, the researcher concluded that students’ ability at SMAN 1 Siberut Selatan Mentawai in writing recount text was moderate. Dealing with the conclusion, the researcher has suggestion for the students. They should learn more about generic structure, language feature, vocabulary and how to use mechanic and doing more exercises about writing recount text to improve their ability. To the teachers; they should explain more about the material of recount text and give more exercise to improve students’ ability in writing recount text.

Key word : Writing, recount text, pearson product moment formula.