IMPROVING READING COMPREHENSION THROUGH STORY MAPPING STRATEGY

This research aims to prove whether or not theimplementation of story mapping strategy can improve reading comprehension of the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 9 Palu. This research applied quasi-experimental research design in which the sample consisted of two groups which were experimental and control groups. The sample is selected by using cluster sampling technique whichconsisted of 30 students as experimental group and consisted of 30 students as control group. The experimental group was given treatment by applying story mapping strategy in teaching reading, while the control group was taught by using general way as the teacher applied. The instrument of data collection was a test. The result of the data analysis shows that there is a significant difference between the result in the pretest and the posttest. By applying 0.05 level of significance and 58 degree of freedom (df), the researcher found out that the value of t-counted is 5.11 and t-table is 1.672. The t-counted value was higher than the t-table value, which means that the research hypothesis is accepted. In other words, the implementation of story mapping strategy can improve reading comprehension of the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 9 Palu. Keywords:Improving, Reading Comprehension, Story Mapping Strategy