An Analysis of Students Problems in Writing Descriptive Text of the Third Grade Students of SMPN 1 Tebing Tinggi

Abstract

This research aims to find out the students’ problems and the factors that cause students’ problems in writing descriptive text. The method used in this research is descriptive quantitative. The researcher used written tests and questionnaires as instruments. The population in this study were third grade students of SMPN 1 Tebing Tinggi. School year 2022/2023. The sample was class IX.4 consisting of 29 students selected using cluster random sampling. The findings showed that students’ problems in writing descriptive texts were based on 5 assessment components in writing descriptive texts. First, the content component with a score of 46,5 or including very poor criteria, second, the organization component with a score of 46,5 or including very poor criteria, third, the grammar component with a score of 50 or including very poor criteria, fourth, the mechanical component with a score of 53,5 or including poor criteria and the last component of vocabulary with a score of 60,25 or including poor components. From the results of these data, only 2 components are classified as less good and there are 3 components that are classified as very poor. This proves that students’ problems in writing descriptive texts are academically classified as very poor. The factors that caused students’ problems in writing descriptive text are first, trouble putting ideas together (65.52%). Second, have not learned and do not know how to use simple present tense (34.48%). And third, unwilling to look for text examples to help demonstrate ideas when writing (27.59%).