CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

English is the international language one that is used by many people in

the world. Therefore, using the English language is one way to communicate

with people from other countries on many aspects of human life such as

technological, economic, social, and political. For Indonesian students,

English is a foreign language. Studying a foreign language is an integrated

process that students should learn the four basic abilities: listening, speaking,

reading, and writing. One language skills are still difficult to master by

students are writing skills. Writing includes several components of language

(spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and functution). Writing skills can not be

mastered in a short time, it takes training and practice is not small and

continuously. Students are also required to be able to master grammar and

vocabulary that could express and communicate ideas in writing.

The purpose of writing activities is for students to be able to express an

idea or ideas, opinions, and knowledge possessed in writing. Writing is not an

easy job and not everyone can write well. If you look at the facts on the

ground in the region, especially school SMK 1 Mamuju Mamuju, from

researchers conducted observations in one learning activity PPL writing skill

is still said to be lacking in vocabulary, grammar, and to create interesting

ideas is still lacking. Most of them just write their own way without regard to
the use of grammar and vocabulary in English, it is known that the difficulties

experienced in writing is the difficulty of finding the ideas to be told in

written language. This is due to convey way of learning to write in this class

are also less innovative and likely to only convey the theory that you need to

know the students without adequate training and practice. Learning to write

that often teachers do is to create a text, one of which is the description text.

From result of learning that researchers do during activity PPL 1,

students' writing ability is still very low. The reason often heard researchers of

students was indeed difficult to find ideas to be developed into a story. This

has led to the need to take action to improve the writing skills of students text

description. One method that can be used is the method of Writing In The

here And Now.

According Siberman (2009: 198) Writing In The Here And Now a

writing lesson by reflecting the experiences that have been experienced (as if

the action was happening here and now). Using these methods, the students

will be very easy to find and develop story ideas.

Based on the background of the above problems, the authors were

interested and willing to do research on "Improving Students' Skill in Writing

Descriptive Text by Using Writing In The Here And Now Method at the

Eleven Grade Students of SMK 1 Mamuju".

 1.2 Problem Statement
Based on the background above, problem statement of this research is

formulated as follows: can Writing in the here and now strategy improve

students writing descriptive text at class XI of SMK Negri 1 Mamuju?

1.3 Objective of the Research

In line with the research question above, the objective of research was to

find out whether or not the use of Writing in the here can strategy improve

students writing descriptive text at class XI of SMK Negri 1 Mamuju

1.4 Significant of the Research

In this study the authors hope this research can provide benefits

Conceptually, the main ones:

1.4.1 Theoretical Benefits

This research can contribute and expand the scientific outlook on

learning English, especially writing skills increase text description.

1.4.2 Practical Benefits

1. For students
a. Makes it easy for students to find for writing.
b. Improving the ability of students to write descriptive text.

2. For Teacher
a. Can improve the performance of teachers in the teaching of

writing skills students text description.

 b. Can be used as a reference for teachers in overcoming

difficulties in learning English, especially teaching writing

skills.

3. For researchers

a. Can apply theory that has been obtained.

b. Adding to the experience of researchers in conducting research

on the teaching of writing.

c. The results of this research can provide benefits that the

strategy Writing In The Here And Now can improve students'

ability to write text descriptions.