The use of diary writing in the teaching of writing recount text (an experimental study at the eighth grade students of SMP Nurul Islami Wonolopo Mijen Semarang in the academic year of 2009/2010)

The background of the research was based on the phenomenon that many teachers still use conventional way to teach students. So, it will be difficult for students to achieve teaching and learning target. Diary can be used as a teaching medium to help teachers in teaching, especially in teaching writing recount text because diary and recount text are almost the same. The main objective of this study is to find out the extent to which the teaching of writing recount text is effective with the use of diary writing. The method of the research was experimental study. Data were obtained by giving test to the experimental class and control class after giving a different treatment to both classes. The experimental class was asked to write diary and recount text, while the control class was asked to write using recount text only. The subject of the research was 45 students. They were class VIII A (23 students) as experimental class and class VIII B as control class (the students who were not taught by using diary writing). The instruments that were used to collect the data were test as a main instrument and interview as a supporting instrument. The test was used to know students’ competence before and after the experiment was run. There were two kinds of test. They were pre-test and post test. The kind of test were writing test. The interview was used to know the students’ responses about the use of diary writing in the teaching of recount text whether they were interested or not. The mean of writing score of experimental class (the students taught by using diary) was 81 and the mean of writing score of control class (the students taught by using non-diary writing) was 74,14. There was a significant difference in writing recount text score between students taught by using diary and those who taught by using non-diary writing. It was showed by the mean of experimental class was higher than control class (81 > 74,14). On the other hand, the test of hypothesis using t-test formula showed the t-value was higher than the t-table. The score t-value was 2.26, while t-table on = 5% with df 43 was 2.02 (2.26>2.02). So, the hypothesis was accepted. Based on the result of the research, it can be concluded that diary writing was very effective to be used in the teaching of writing recount text. It helped the students solve their problems in writing recount text and improve students’ fluency in writing because it was done everyday and could be a good habit for the students