THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING PICTURE IN TEACHING WRITING SKILL OF DESCRIPTIVE TEXTS AT EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMPN 1 BAROS

The objectives of this research were to find out the effectiveness of using picture in teaching writing skill of descriptive text at eight grades of SMPN 1 Baros. This research was an experimental research with pre-test, and post-test, as instruments of the research. The two of six classes were taken as the research sample by using cluster sampling. The class was chosen as the experimental class that was treated by using pictures in teaching learning process and the control class was the class that did not used pictures. The result of this research revealed that picture were influenced to improve students’ writing skill, especially in descriptive text. It was indicated by the result of means’ score of students post-test in experimental class (66.89) was higher than in control class (59.57). On the other hand, t-test was used to know the effectiveness of picture in teaching students’ writing skill of descriptive text. From the result of t-test calculation in post-test, it was obtained that t-test was higher than ttable (2.274 > 1.996). It was identified that experimental and control group has significant differences in writing ability after the treatment. In conclusion, picture was effective in teaching students’ writing skill of descriptive text. . 

Keywords: Pictures, descriptive text, writing skill.