Enhancing Descriptive Paragraph Writing Skills Through Mind Mapping in Seventh-Grade Students at SMP Muhammadiyah Pangsid
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to describe: (1) the implementation of descriptive paragraph writing instruction using the mind mapping model in seventh-grade students at SMP Muhammadiyah Pangsid, and (2) the students' ability in writing descriptive paragraphs using the mind mapping model. This research adopts a qualitative descriptive design. The subjects of this study are the teacher and seventh-grade students at SMP Muhammadiyah Pangsid. The object of this research is the teaching process of descriptive paragraph writing using the mind mapping model. Data were collected through observation and tests and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative descriptive methods. The findings indicate that: (1) the teaching of descriptive paragraph writing using the mind mapping model conducted by the teacher aligns with the theoretical framework, and (2) the students' ability in writing descriptive paragraphs is categorized as good, with an average score of 78.13. Despite the satisfactory results, the teacher's performance can be further improved by providing more intensive exercises, both in creating mind maps and in developing them into paragraphs, to achieve optimal results.
References
2. Al-Naqbi, S. (2011). The use of mind mapping to develop writing skills in UAE schools. Education, Business, and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, 4(2), 120–133.
3. Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy (2nd ed.). Longman.
4. Buzan, T. (2006). The Mind Map Book: Unlock Your Creativity, Boost Your Memory, Change Your Life. BBC Active.
5. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
6. Hemmati, F., & Soltanpour, F. (2012). Using mind maps to improve EFL learners’ writing. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 3, 24–39.
7. Hyland, K. (2003). Second Language Writing. Cambridge University Press.
8. Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2007). Introduction to Academic Writing (3rd ed.). Pearson Longman.
9. Richards, J. C., & Renandya, W. A. (Eds.). (2002). Methodology in Language Teaching: An Anthology of Current Practice. Cambridge University Press.
10. Silva, T. (1997). Differences in ESL and native-English-speaker writing: The research and its implications. TESOL Quarterly, 31(4), 657–675.
11. Thornbury, S. (1999). How to Teach Grammar. Longman.
12. Ur, P. (2012). A Course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
13. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.
14. Yunus, M. M., & Chien, C. F. (2016). The use of mind mapping in writing lessons. Malaysian Journal of ELT Research, 8(1), 38–52.
15. Zaid, M. A. (2011). Effects of web-based pre-writing activities on EFL students’ argumentative essays. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 14(3), 18–28.
16. Anderson, M., & Anderson, K. (1997). Text Types in English. Macmillan Education.
17. Byrne, D. (1993). Teaching Writing Skills (New ed.). Longman.
18. Harmer, J. (2004). How to Teach Writing. Longman.
19. Nation, I. S. P. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL Reading and Writing. Routledge.
20. Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills (3rd ed.). University of Michigan Press.