AN ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN WRITING SIMPLE SENTENCES USING COMPARATIVE ADVERBS AT ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF BUNG HATTA UNIVERSITY

Abstrak

INTRODUCTION English is the most widely used language in international trade, education, diplomacy, mass entertainment, international telecommunications and scientific publications as well as publishing newspapers and other books [1]. In learning English four basic language skills should be mastered by students. Those basic skills are listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Writing is a very important skill, and it is not easy to be mastered. Writing is a difficult and complex skill [2]. At the English Education Department of Bung Hatta University writing is studied by the first year students in Intensive Course subject consisting Introductory Reading, Introductory Writing, Introductory Vocabulary, Introductory Grammar, Introductory Listening, and Introductory Speaking. All subjects are integrated into the learning process. In Introductory Writing subjects, students are expected to be able to apply the knowledge needed in writing sentences. The students should be able to write a sentence using the degree of comparison. The degree of comparison is often related to the comparative adverb that is quite often present in a sentence, and it is also important to be learned. Ideally, by studying comparative adverbs, students should be able to write English sentences using a comparative degree correctly. Based on observation conducted by the researcher with several of the second-year students , the researcher found that some students were still confused about differentiating between comparative adjectives and comparative adverbs. Furthermore, they did not understand how to use more, -er, and the irregular form. Based on the problem above, the researcher was interested in doing a research about students' ability in writing sentences using comparative adverbs. This study focused on second-year students of Bung Hatta University. METHOD In conducting the study, the researcher used descriptive research that aims to provide an overview of the research variables where this study does not make comparisons of these variables to other samples and looks for relationships between these variables and other variables [3]. The population of this research was the second year students of English Department in academic year 2020/2021 at Bung Hatta University. The number of sample was 36 students taken by total sampling technique. To collect the data, the researcher made the test by using a google form application in 50 minutes. Then the researcher counted the students who had very high, high, moderate and low ability. Finally, the reseacher found the percentage of students in each of ability level. The data were analyzed by using statistical formula as suggested by Arikunto (2012:87) [4]. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Based on the results of data analysis, it showed that generally the students had moderate ability in writing simple sentences using comparative adverbs. It was supported by the fact that 15 students (41.67%) had moderate ability. Specifically, 14 students (38.89%) had good ability in writing simple sentences using comparative adverbs with one syllable. Then 17 students (47.22 %) had low ability in writing simple sentences using comparative adverbs with two or more syllables. Last, 19 students (52.78 %) had good ability in writing simple sentences using irregular comparative adverbs. Those are described below: The Table of All Findings No Aspects The Number of Students Ability Number Percentage 1 The Students’ Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Comparative Adverbs 15 Students 41.67% Moderate 2 The Students’ Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Comparative Adverbs with One Syllable. 14 Students 38.89% Good 3 The Students’ Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Comparative Adverbs with Two or More Syllables. 17 Students 47.22% Low 4 The Students’ Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Irregular Comparative Adverbs 19 Students 52.78% Good 1. The Second Year Students Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Comparative Adverbs At English Department Of Bung Hatta University. The results of data analysis show that After the researcher analyzed the data, the researcher found 3 students (8.33%) had very good ability, 6 students (16.67%) had good ability, 15 students (41.67%) had moderate ability and 12 students (33.33%) had low ability. 2. . The Second Year Students Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Comparative Adverbs with One Syllable At English Department Of Bung Hatta University. After the researcher analyzed the data, the researcher found 2 students (5.55%) had very good ability, 14 students (38.89 %) had good ability, 10 students (27.78 %) had moderate ability and 10 students (27.78%) had low ability. 3. The Second Year Students Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Comparative Adverbs with Two or More Syllables At English Department Of Bung Hatta University. After the researcher analyzed the data, the researcher found 3 students (8.33%) had very good ability, 5 students (13.89 %) had good ability, 11 students (30.56 %) had moderate ability and 17 students (47.22 %) had low ability. 4. The Second Year Students Ability in Writing Simple Sentences Using Irregular Comparative Adverbs At English Department Of Bung Hatta University. After the researcher analyzed the data, the researcher found 0 students (0%) had very good ability, 19 students (52.78 %) had good ability, 9 students (25 %) had moderate ability and 8 students (22.22 %) had low ability. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION In line with the results of data analysis above, it can be concluded that the second year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University had moderate ability in writing simple sentences using comparative adverbs. Dealing with such conclusion, it is suggested to the lecturers to give motivation to the students to be more active in the class and give more exercises to students in writing sentences using comparative adverbs. Students are suggested to learn more about comparative form of adverb in simple sentences and pay attention to the aspects in writing skill. Keywords: Ability, Writing, Comparative Adverbs