AN ANALYSIS ON THE STUDENTS’ READING ABILITY IN UNDERSTANDING TOPIC SENTENCE AND CONCLUDING SENTENCE IN DESCRIPTIVE TEXT AT GRADE IX SMPN 1 KUBUNG

Abstrak

This research was designed to know the ability of the ninth grade students’ reading ability of SMPN 1 Kubung in understanding topic sentence and conluding sentence in descriptive text. Mostly, the students were incapable in those items. It was proved by their result of mid term test. The research was conducted in descriptive research design. The population was the ninth grade students of SMPN 1 Kubung. There were 115 students as population and 22 of them as the sample which was taken by using cluster random sampling. The data were collected by giving reading test in multiple choice form in try out test and the real test. The results of the data analysis consisted of the score of the students’ ability in topic sentence and conluding sentence. The test that was given to the ninth grade students included to the sample. Then, the writer identified the correct answer. To know the reliability of the test, the writer used split half-method. It was found that reliability of the test was enough (0.46). It means that the test was reliable. Finally, the data were analyzed to find the number of the students who hads High, Moderate and Low ability. The result of the research showed that the students’ reading ability in understanding topic sentence was High. There were 54.54% of the students got high. Their reading ability in concluding sentence was moderate because more of the students (68.18 %) got moderate. Then, the students’ average score in understanding topic sentence and concluding sentence in descriptive text were High, because 86.35% was capable. By knowing the students’ reading ability in understanding topic sentence and concluding sentence in descriptive text, it is suggested to English teacher to steach about these integratedly with the teaching of developing descriptive text. For the students, it is suggested for them to do more practices especially in topic sentence and concluding sentence in order to improve their ability in understanding a text.

Key words: Ability, Reading, Descriptive Text, Topic and Concluding Sentence