Article

USING CARTOON FILM TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ WRITING ABILITY IN NARRATIVE TEXT

By

Yesi Mayangsari

English Department

University Nusantara of PGRI Kediri

Email : Yesi.mayangsari1307@gmail.com

Abstract

            The aim of this article is to know how to improve writing ability in narrative text using cartoon film and effectiveness of cartoon film to improve writing ability in narrative text.Cartoon film can make the students more comfortsble and enjoble in learning or improving writing ability especially in narrative text.And the scope of this study just focuses in improving writing ability in narrative text,especially in junior high school.Cartoon film is one of audio-visual media that can used to improve students’ writing ability in narrative text, It has some advantages,but it is also has disadvantages.

Key words       : Writing ability,Narrative text,Cartoon film

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important language in the world today is English. It is considered to be important for developing and applying science and technology, as well as for increasing the international relationship and cooperation. English puts its role as a foreign language in Indonesia and become a compulsory subject from elementary school up to University level since it is an international language.

In teaching - learning process of English subject, students are required to master four skills. These four language skills are necessary to be mastered by the students. Moreover, according to Educational Unit - Curriculum (Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan: KTSP) 2006 of Junior High School, It means that it is written that there are four language skills that should be reached by the students along with the process of education, namely; listening, speaking, reading and writing. One of those language skills, which are very important and must require in academic field is writing.

Writing is the expression of language in the form of letters,symbol and words.Through writing someone can share their knowledge,conveying idea,feeling and intention to other people.The knowledge which we have until now mostly we got by reading written information or texts, whether it is books, articles, papers, etc, which are written by those who share their idea through writing.

Writing is also one media of communication. According to Byrne (1980:24) writing is a primary means of recording speech, even though it must be acknowledged as a secondary medium of communication,so that the writer can conclude that writing is very important as one media of communication, that can help us to have a good socialization, can express our
idea, feeling, and our opinion so that we can have a good interaction with our society.We can see the importance of writing in daily life and also in our social life, like in education and business aspect, for example when we write letter or application letter. Writing also gives some other benefits.

Although, writing is very important for us, it is a difficult subject especially for the student. The reason is because writing is a mixture of our idea, vocabulary and also grammar, according to Heaton in his book”Writing English Language Test”(1975:138);Writing skill are more complex and difficult to teaching, requiring,and mastering not only of grammatical and rhetorical devices but also conceptual and judgment, because of the difficulties of writing, some efforts have been done to solve the problem .The main objective is to make the writing become easier to learn for the students.

From the Heaton’s opinion, the writer can conclude that writing is a very important subject because in writing we must share idea from our brain, it is not easy to translate concept in our brain to be a written language,and we must also be clever to choose and to combine the vocabulary to create something that is meaningful .We also must pay attention to the grammar, so it is normal if the student think that writing is a difficult subject because they
must pay attention to many things (idea, concept, vocabulary and grammar).Besides that reason, there is another factor that makes writing be the most difficult subject. The other reason is that there are a lot of many kinds of texts in English, such as narrative, descriptive, recount, spoof and many more.Each text has different characteristics. There are generic social function,structure and lexicogrammatical features. Usually the student can differential each text from another and they mix all kinds of texts. This will be a challenge for the teacher to find out how the student can distinguish each kind of text from another.

In fact,writing is difficult subject.And the students get bored easily to learn or to improve their writimg ability.It is caused by some problems,such as the students seldom practice to write composition even in their native language, the lack of vocabulary and knowledge about genre or text type, and they spend much of the time to think what they will write, because they have no idea how to write it.So,the teachers should have strategy to make them enjoy in learning writing.And one of the strategies that the teachers used in teaching writing is using media.The media that used is cartoon film.

The aim of this study is to know how to improve writing ability of narrative text using cartoon film and effectiveness of cartoon film to improve writing ability in narrative text .

The scope of this study is focusing in how to improve writing ability in narrative text using cartoon film in Junior high school.

1.      Writing in language learning

A.    Definition of Writing

The terms of writing have several meanings. Many experts have proposed the definition and explanation of writing. Widdowson (1978:62) states that writing is the act of making up correct sentences and transmitting them through the visual medium as mark on paper.It means that writing is the action in producing correct sentences on paper.

Hornby (1974:996) states that writing is in the sense of the verb ‘write’. Write is to make letters or other symbols (egideographs) on a surface, especially with a pen or a pencil on a paper.It means that write is to produce words or symbol by using a pen or a pencil an a paper.

Troyka (1987:3-4) states that writing is a way of communicating a message to a reader for a purpose. The purposes of writing are to express one’s self, to provide information for one’s reader, to persuade one’s reader, and to create a literary work.It means that writing is a way to communication in a message to a reader for something purpose.

The term of ability is defined as skill or power. Concisely, writing ability is the skill to express ideas, thoughts, and feelings to other people in written symbols to make other people or readers understand the ideas conveyed.It means writing skill is skill to express idea,feeling to other people in written to make the readers understand it.

B.     Types of writing

There are four main types of writing: expository, persuasive, narrative, and descriptive.

• Expository – Writing in which author’s purpose is to inform or explain the subject to the reader.
• Persuasive – Writing that states the opinion of the writer and attempts to influence the reader.
• Narrative – Writing in which the author tells a story. The story could be fact or fiction.
• Descriptive – A type of expository writing that uses the five senses to paint a picture for the reader. This writing incorporates imagery and specific details.

C.    Process of Writing

1.      Pre-Writing (Planning)

When Plnning,the riter has to think about three main issues.In the first,they have to think about purpose of their writing.Secondly,they have to think about the audience they are writing for.Thirdly,writer has to consider the content of structure that is how best to sequence the facts,ideas or argument which they have decided to include.

There are several ways in pre-writing.

a)      Brainstorming

Is one way to capture thoughts.The purpose is to make a list of as many ideas.

b)      Clustering

Is another pre writing technique.It is visual way of showing how our ideas are connected using circles and lines.

2.      Drafting

In drafting writers should make sentence that relate with our topic and then develop it into not perfect paragraph.

3.      Editing/Revising

Editing is essential part of preparing a piece of writing for public reading or publication.In editing,writers check grammar,spelling,punctuation,diction, sentence structure,and accuracy.

4.      Final draft

The last is final draft.In final draft writers should write the true written that has already edited.

D.    Writing Ability

The writing ability are complex and difficult to teach,requiring mastery not only of grammatical and rhetorical devices but also of conceptual and judgment elements.According to Heaton,the following analysis attempts to grouup the many and varied skills necssary for writing good prose into four main areas :

1)        Grammatical skills     : the ability to write correct sentences

2)        Stylistic skills            : the ability to manipulate sentences and use language effectively

3)        Mechanical skills       : the ability to use correctly those conventions particular to the written language,e.g.

punctuation,spelling.

4)        Judgment skills         : the ability to write in an appropriate manner for a particular purpose with a particular audience in mind,together with an ability to organize and order relevant information.

2.      Genre in Language Learning

A.    Definition of Genre

Genre is used to refer to particular text-types,not to traditional varieties of literature.It is type or kinds of text,defined in terms of its social purpose.

Another definition,genre is a category used to classify discourse and literary works,usually by form,technique,or content.

In other hand,genre can be defined as a culturally specific text type which results from using language to help accomplish something.

B.     Kinds of Genre

According to Gerrot and Wignell,there are many kinds of genres (text type).They are :

1)      Spoof

It is to retell an event a humorous twist.

2)      Recount

It is to retell event for the purpose of informing or entertaining.

3)      Report

It is to describe the way things are with reference to range of natural and social phenomena in our environment.

4)      Analytical Exposition

It is to persuade the reader or listener that something in the case.

5)      Hortatory Exposition

It is to persuade the reader or listener that something should not be the case.

6)      Anecdote

It is to share with others or listener an account of an unusual or amusing incident.

7)      Description

It is to describe a particular person,place,or thing.

8)      Explanation

It is to explain the process involved in the information or working of natural or socio cultural phenomena.

9)      Review

It is to critique an art work or event for a public audience.

10)  Discussion

It is  to present at least to points of view about an issue.

11)  Procedure

It is to describe how to make something

12)  News Item

It is to inform the reader,events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important.

13)  Narrative Text

It is to amuse or entertain with actual or vicarious experience in different ways.

C.    Definition of Narrative Text

A narrative is some kind of retelling, often in words (though it is possible to mime a story), of something that happened (a story). The narrative is not the story itself but rather the telling of the story -- which is why it is so often used in phrases such as "written narrative," "oral narrative," etc. While a story just is a sequence of events, a narrative recounts those events, perhaps leaving some occurrences out because they are from some perspective insignificant, and perhaps emphasizing others. In a series of events, a car crash takes a split second. A narrative account, however, might be almost entirely about the crash itself and the few seconds leading up to it. Narratives thus shape history (the series of events, the story of what happened).

D.    Generic Structure

1.      Orientation      : Sets the scene and introduces the participants.

2. Complication   : Tells the problems of the story and how the main characters solve them.
3. Resolution       : The crisis is resolved, for the better or for worse.

E.     Example of narrative text    

1.      Cinderella

2.      Pinocchio

3.      The legend of Malin Kundang

4.      Snow white

5.      The legend of Toba lake

6.      Etc.

F.     Writing Narrative Text

Writing narrative is difficult for almost the students since they do not know what they have to write and what narrative is about.This study,the writer will give different ways for the students to learn how to write narrative text based on the film that they will be watched.

3.      Media in Language Teaching Learning

a.    Definition of Media

The word ‘media’ derived from Latin medias that means “between” or mediator.According to Gerlach and Ely that media is any person,material,event that establishes condition,which enables learners or students to acquire knowledge,skill and attitude.So,Media is a component of learning sources or physical vehicles that consists of instructional material students’ environment which can motivate students to learn.

b.    Classification of Media

1)        Visual media

They are media that can be seen.It can be form of picture,moving picture or animation or flash card.

2)        Audio Media

They are media that can be listened.It means that audio media has sound in which listened by us and to mean.

3)        Audio-visual media

They are media that have sound and picture.Film is example from audi-visual media in teaching.

4.      Film in language Teaching Learning

A.    Definition of film

A film is one of the visual aids that can be used in a writing class.It makes lessons more fun. It can also be used to create situation for writing classes more clearly, that the students have big enthusiasm in teaching learning process in writing class. (Harmer,2001:282).It means that film makes learning-proccess more fun and easily.Because students more comfortable and enjoy using it.

B.     Types of Film

Bordwell and Thompson (1997:50) defined the types of movie or film as follow;

a.       Documentary film

A documentary film supports to present factual information about the world outside the film. As a type of films, documentaries present themselves as factually trustworthy. According to Bordwell and Thompson (1997:44) there are two types of documentary films, they are;

1.      Compilation films; produced by assembling images from archival sources

2.      Direct cinema; recording an on going event ‘as it happens’ with minimal interference by the filmmaker.

b.      Fictional film

A fictional film presents imaginary beings, places or events.Yet, if a film is fictional, that does not mean that it is completely unrelated actuality.For one thing, not everything shown or implied by the fiction films needs to be imaginary, a typical fictional film stages its events; they are designed, planned, rehearsed, filmed and refilmed. In a fictional film the agents are portrayed or depicted by an intermediate, not photographed directly in documentary.

c.       Animated film

Animated films are distinguished from live-action ones by the unusual kinds of work that are done at production stage.Animation films do not do continuously filming outdoor action in the real time, but they create a series of images by shooting one frame at a time.

d.      Experimental or avant-grade film

Some filmmakers set out to create films that challenge orthodox notion of what movies can show and how it can show it.

C.    Animated / Cartoon Film

            Cartoon film is a kind of film which involves sound,recording a series of drawing or manipulating in animate object,one frame in one time.Film can be an effective media in writing teaching,because it provides students an idea to write, share their opinions in writing and stimulate their interest in teaching and learning process.

D.    The Advantages and Disadvantages of film

Harmer states that there are many reasons why film can be used in language learning :

1.    Seeing language – in – use

One of the main advantages of film is that students do not just hear language,they see it too.

2.    Cross-cultural awareness

A film uniquely allowa students to look at situations far beyond their classroom.This is especially useful if they want to see.Film is also of great values in giving students a chance to see such things as what kinds of food people eat in other countries and what they wear.

3.      The Power of Creation

When the students make their own films as media in teaching and learning process,they are given the potential to create something memorable and enjoyable.

4.      Motivation

For all the reasons so far mentioned,most students show an increased level of interest when they have a chance to see language in use as well as hear it,and when this is coupled with interesting tasks.

Disadvantages of film :

1)        During playing film,teachers cannot explain any material because it can disturb students’ concentration

2)        Students cannot understand the film well if it is played too fast.

3)        If the listening equipment has bad quality,the students can not listen the sound of the film

4)        The equipment is expensive

E.     Film as Visual Aids in Teaching Writing

As a good teacher, we need to use visual aids as a method in teaching and learning process because by using visual aids, teacher can give new atmosphere in their class so that the students have a big enthusiasm in teaching learning process, besides visual aid can help students master the material that the teacher gives to them.

From Heaton’s statement besides the other language skills (reading, listening, and speaking), writing is one of language skills that is more complex and difficult than the others. Because the students must mastering the grammar and vocabulary. The students must have concept of writing not only in their brain but they also have to translate it in writing language, and it is difficult to write concepts that exist in our brain. So more students assume that writing is a difficult lesson and the result is that the student did not want to study writing or make a text of writing. It is important for teacher to find a method that can make students easily master the material and they can also enjoy the writing class. The writer hopes that film can be an alternative method in teaching narrative texts writing.From that statement the writer can conclude that visual aids are very important and useful in teaching learning process so that students will be more enthusiastic in learning writing in classroom.

F.     Applying Cartoon Film in teaching Writing Narrative Text

In this process of teaching,teacher can use stimulate media to her/his students’ interest.The main aim of cartoon film in teaching of narrative text is help the students catch and express their ideas in writing.From cartoon film,the students will get overall description of film,such as setting,plot,character,moral message and others.Film can be more effective than other instructional media relating one idea to another,building a continuity of thought,creating dramatic impact.

Cartoon film can be used for rewriting or retelling a story.Teacher can begin the lesson by giving questionrelated to the film that would be watched.Before the students watched the film,teacher guides students to make notes related to the film such as setting,character,and others.The teacher gives questions based on the film that will be eased the students to make a narrative text by arranging the answer of the question.

Teacher should explain that students are not allowed to interrupt while the film is playing because it can disturb students’ concentration.If students find difficulties in vocabulary,they can ask teacher after the film is ends or they can open the dictionary.After they have done with the text,teacher asks students to discuss together anout overall description of film by connecting narrative text material that consist of the generic structure and linguistic features and asks students,to analyze the film together.It means that the students must share their idea,felling,or anything that exist in their mind after they watch the film and focus on generating idea,orgaizing coherently,revising it into good composition,and editing text for appropriate grammar.

By using cartoon film,students will be more interested in learning writing.Beside that,they will practice regularly especially in writing.

CONCLUSION

            The conclusion of this article is media is important to improve or teach the students ability,especially in writing ability.The teacher should have media to improve the students’ writing ability,the media is cartoon film.Cartoon film is effective to improve the students writning ability of narrative text.It can make them comfortable and enjoyable in learning English,especially of writing.But,using cartoon film need more time.Although,if using cartoon film to improve students writing ability of narrative text,the students not only can learn in the school,but they also can improve their writing ability at home.

REFERENCE

Departemen Pendidikan Nasional. 2006. KTSP:Kurikulum Bahasa inggris, Jakarta

Byrne (1980:24) writing is a primary means of recording speech.

Heaton (1975:138)Writing English Language Test.

Troyka (1987:3-4) states that writing is a way of communicating.

Depdiknas. 2004. Standard Kompetensi Lulusan dan Spesifikasi Ujian Akhir SMP/MTS. Jakarta: Pusat Penilaian Pendidikan, badan penelitian dan pengembangan Depdiknas

Harmer, Jeremy. 2007. How to teach writing. England: Associated Companies.

Kreidler, Carol, J.1965.Visual Aid for Teaching English to the Speakers of Other Languages.

Hartono,Rudi.2005.Genre of Text.Semarang: UNNES

Harmer (2001:282) film is one of visual aid

Bordwell and Thompson (1997:50) types of movie or film

Harmer,Jeremy.2001.The Practice of English Language Teaching.England: Pearson Education Limited.