THE EFFECT OF PICTURE-CUED TASK ON STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILL IN RECOUNT TEXT AT THE TENTH GRADE OF SMA SWASTA GAJAH MADA MEDAN

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of using the Picture-Cued Task on students’ writing skills in recount texts. Students often experienced difficulties in generating ideas, organizing events chronologically, and using appropriate vocabulary and grammar. This study employed a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design, specifically the nonequivalent control group design. The population consisted of all tenth-grade students, while the sample consisted of two classes: 20 students in the experimental class and 20 students in the control class. The data were collected through pre-test and post-test writing assessments and were analyzed using an analytic scoring rubric. The findings showed that the mean score of the experimental class increased from 62.05 in the pre-test to 83.25 in the post-test, while the mean score of the control class increased from 61.05 to 79.05. The result of the t-test showed that the t-observed value (4.15) was higher than the t-table value (2.024) at the significance level of 0.05. Therefore, the alternative hypothesis (Hₐ) was accepted and the null hypothesis (H₀) was rejected. It can be concluded that the Picture-Cued Task had a significant effect on improving students’ writing skills in recount texts because it helped students generate ideas, organize events, and express their experiences more clearly.