IMPROVING STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION OF THE TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMA NEGERI 1 BATANG KUIS THROUGH GROUP INVESTIGATION METHOD

Reading is not only about pronouncing written words correctly but also comprehending the text. It is not surprising that students have difficulties in reading comprehension. For example: Students cannot understand and share information of the text. Thus, there must be a method which can help them read effectively. Group Investigation method can help improve the students’ reading comprehension and motivation to read. The objectives of this research are to find out that Group Investigation method improves students’ reading comprehension and to describe the students’ responses towards learning teaching process of reading comprehension through the application of Group Investigation method. This research is Classroom Action Research (CAR) which was conducted by applying Group Investigation method to the twelfth grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Batang Kuis. After six meetings, it could be seen that there is a significant improvement of the students’ reading comprehension. The results of the tests showed that the students’ mean score in the pretest is 60.25 with 15.62% of the students who got score > 75, the students’ mean score in the formative test is 71.25 with 28.12% of the students who got score > 75, and the students’ mean score in the posttest is 78.87 with 71.87% of the students who got score > 75. The quantitative data analysis showed that there is a significant mean score increase from pretest to posttest, namely about 56.25%. The qualitative data analysis showed that the students’ responses towards the application of Group Investigation method in the learning teaching processes of reading comprehension on narrative texts are very positive. They agree that the application of Group Investigation method could help them improve their reading comprehension. It is suggested that English teachers apply Group Investigation method as an alternative to improve their students’ reading comprehension

Students’ Difficulties in English Writing at Eigth Grade of SMP Negeri 2 Tinada - Pakpak Bharat North Sumatera

This research discussed about students’ difficulties in writing recount text at eighth grade of SMP Negeri 2 Satu AtapTinada -  Pakpak Bharat north Sumatra. The problem of this research were the students’ difficulties in writing recount text and factors that cause students’ difficulties in writing recount. The objective of this research was to find out the students’ difficulties in writing recount text and to describe the factors that make students have difficulties writing recount text. This research was qualitative descriptive. The source of the data of this research was eighth grade of SMP Negeri 2 Satu Atap Tinada -  Pakpak Bharat north Sumatra.. Total of the were 20 students. The researcher used test and gave a questionnaire as the instruments. The researcher analysed the data by editing the data, reducing the data, tabulating the data and the last taking conclusion. The researcher found some facts in the field. First, it was found that the answer that students’ difficulties in writing recount text were difficulties in developing the content, organization, vocabulary, language, and mechanics. The data were got from students’ test that had been analysed. Beside that, the causes of the students’ difficulties in writing recount text were grammatical weakness, knowledge and understanding, less practice, and educational backgroun