Improving Students’ Writing Ability by Using Peer Editing Technique

ABSTRACT
 Improving Students’ Writing Ability by Using Peer Editing Technique (A Classroom Action Research Tarjana. Thesis: English Education of Graduate School. Sebelas Maret University of Surakarta 2011.
The research aims to: (1) know whether Peer Editing Technique can improve students’ ability in writing an expository paragraph; and (2) describe the teaching-learning situation when Peer Editing Technique is applied in the writing class. Action research is implemented in the study because the research methodology enabled me as a researcher to find out and to solve the teaching and learning problem. Action research process consists of planning, action, observation, and reflection. Peer Editing Technique is a techniques focusing on writing. It provides frameworks for pairs or small groups to help each other and critique final and graded written products. There are at least five main activities involved in implementing peer editing technique in teaching writing. They are: (1) Writing paragraph draft, (2) exchanging ideas with pair, (3) doing peer editing, (4) revising, and (5) discussing the students’ difficulties.
The research consists of three cycles using peer editing technique to improve students’ writing ability for the third semester students of English Study program of STKIP HAMZANWADI SELONG in Academic Year of 2010/2011. Each cycle consists of three meetings to write paragraph draft, to exchange ideas with pair, to do peer editing, to revise the draft, and to discuss the students’ difficulties.
The results of the study show that: 1) Peer-Editing Technique can improve students’ ability in writing an expository paragraph 2) Peer Editing Technique can improve classroom situation, especially in writing class. The class is more alive when the students’ exchange ideas with pairs and in a class discussion. It also provides various activities in every meeting. Therefore, Peer Editing Technique is one of the appropriate techniques to improve students’ writing ability in writing by writing paragraph draft, exchanging ideas with pair, doing peer editing, revising, and conducting class discussion. Besides, Peer Editing Technique can improve students’ activities and stimulate students’ participation in teaching and learning activities, it provides various activities that make the class more alive.