Using picture series in teaching descriptive text writing : a study at the eighth grade of SMP Negeri 23 Semarang in the academic year of 2016/2017

Writing is the ability after listening, speaking, and reading that must be mastered. Writing is activity to create a note or information using words. The ability to write is not easy as it needs skill to compose words that can give meaning to readers. Writing is one of the important skills in Learning English. One of the types of writing is descriptive. Descriptive text is often based on observation of people, places and things or objects and includes creative speculations and interpretation. This is personal or imagination expression produced by the writer. Writer will allow readers to see, hear, and feel the subject matter clearly based on the description. In this research, the writer uses picture series as a stimulating media in writing descriptive text. The research is aimed to answer question; is there any effectiveness of using picture on the students’ writing ability of descriptive text in eight grade of SMP Negeri 23 Semarang. The method of the research in this thesis is quantitative approach. The data was analyzed statistically using t-test. The population is 256 students and 32 students as the research sample by mean of random sampling. The techniques of collecting data of the research are test and documentation.The mean score of the students’ achievement in writing descriptive before using picture series as visual media (pre-test) in experimental class was 74.94 and control class was 75.31. The mean score of post test in the experimental class was 81 and in the control class was 75.72. The obtained t count = 5. 16 was higher than the critical score = 2.00, the difference was statistically significance. It means that picture series has significant influence to the students’ writing of descriptive text. Based on the significant level 5% research hypothesis is accepted It can be determined there is positive influence of using picture series on the students’ writing of descriptive text on the eighth grade of SMP Negeri 23 Semarang