IMPROVING STUDENT WRITING SKILL THROUGH CROSSWORD PUZZLES APPLICATION AT SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS OF MTs NEGERI 1KOTA SERANG

Abstract

EFL writing is considered as a complex skill which still becomes a problem among students in Junior High School, Islamic State of Junior High School is not the exception. The major problem comes up that students have no interesting in writing. It is caused the students’ score in writing is low and under criterion of minimum completeness (KBM). However writing is important to learn as a part of EFL. EFL writing will be an interesting subject when students learn through an attractive tool. So, to attract students it needs a new atmosphere in writing. The action that is used to solve it is through crossword puzzle. This is an application that can help students more interesting in writing. Combining technology in education is very unique process where students at present day love technology as a part of their life. This action research particularly analyzed the improvement of students writing through crossword puzzle application. This research comprises two cycles, where in the cycle 1 is different from cycle 2, both in the process and result. The result of the research shows that 76.31% students passed the criterion of minimum completeness for the whole process and there is an improvement 12.6% from pretest to posttest. It can be concluded that this crossword puzzle can improve students’ writing skill and their critical thinking, so it can empower them to solve the problem. Beside, crossword puzzle is also can be used for other subjects at school.