AN ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS’ READING ABILITY IN UNDERSTANDING ARGUMENTATIVE PARAGRAPH IN BUNGHATTA UNIVERSITY

Abstrak

Abstract

This research was attempted to describe the second year English students’ reading ability in understanding argumentative paragraph in Bung Hatta Universtity. The design of this research was descriptive in nature. The members of population of this research were 108. The researcher used cluster random sampling in taking the sample. The number of sample  members was 40 students. In collecting the data, the researcher used reading test by using multiple choices. Before the researcher gave the real test, intrument was tried out. The result of the try out was used to analyze item difficulties, item discrimination and reliability of the test. To analyze the reliability of the test, the researcher uses split half method. It was found that the coefficient correlation was very high correlation (0.88). It means that the result of the test was reliable. Based on the result of this research, it was found that the students’ reading ability in understanding thesis of argumentative paragraph was moderate (65%).Then, the students’ reading ability in understanding argument of argumentative paragraph was moderate (57.5%). And, the students’ reading ability in understanding conclusion was moderate (77.5%). Finally, based on findings, it can be concluded that reading ability in understanding argumentative paragrapgh was moderate (62.5%). In line with this conclusion, the researcher suggests the students to do more exercises about reading argumentative paragraph in the future, especially on understanding argument. And  for the lecturer is expected to improve students’ reading ability in understanding argumentative paragraph. For further researcher, the researcher suggests to find out the difficulty of students in understanding argumentative paragraph and other cases by the students in learning English.

Key words: Reading Ability, Understanding, Argumentative Paragraph