An Analysis of the Second Grade Students’ Ability to Comprehend Narrative Text at SMPN 1 Baso

Abstrak

This study was designed to describe the second grade students’ ability to comprehend narrative text at SMPN 1 Baso. To be more specific it was aimed to describe the students’ ability to comprehend the contents or messages in the generic structure of narrative text.This research used descriptive method. The population of this research was the second grade students at SMPN 1 Baso. The members of the population were 153 students. The researcher took 27 students as the sample. In selecting the sample, the researcher used cluster sampling technique since the population grouped into class and they were homogeneous. To collect the data the researcher used reading test. In analyzing the data, there were some steps used by the researcher, calculate the mean and standard deviation, in order to classify the students’ ability into high, moderate and low.The result of the data analysis showed that the ability of the second grade students to comprehend narrative text at SMPN 1 Baso was moderate. It was proved by the fact that 66.66 % of the students had moderate ability. Specifically, the ability of the students to comprehend orientation of narrative text was moderate. It was proved by the fact that 59.25 %  of the students had moderate ability. The ability of the students to comprehend complication of narrative text was moderate. It was proved by the fact that 51.85%) of the students had moderate ability. The ability of the students to comprehend resolution of narrative text was moderate. It was proved by the fact that 88.88% of the students had moderate ability.Based on the findings above, the researcher concluded that the second grade students’ ability to comprehend narrative text was moderate. Based on this conclusion it is suggested that the English teacher should find and employ the more effective techniques of teaching reading and give more exercises to the students.  Besides, the students are suggested to improve their ability by doing more exercises relating to the generic structure of narrative text.

Key words: Analysis, Reading, Narrative Text