THE READABILITY OF READING TEXTS IN ENGLISH
TEXTBOOK FOR GRADE VIII STUDENTS OF SMP NEGERI
1 KABANJAHE 2016/2017
A THESIS
Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Pendidikan
By:
RINALDI MASDA SYAHPUTRA
Registration Number: 2123121044
ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
i
ABSTRACT
Rinaldi Masda Syahputra, Registration Number: 2123121044. The Readability of Reading Texts in English Textbook for Grade VIII Students of SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe 2016/2017. A Thesis. English Educational Program, State University of Medan, 2017.
This research analyzed the readability of reading texts taken from English textbooks for grade VIII students of SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe of 2016/2017 entitled English in Focus published by Pusat Perbukuan Departemen Pendidikan
Nasional. Being important a textbook as the most used in sources of a class,
textbook should be readable and appropriate for the students especially for the reading texts inside it. The goal of this research was to find out how is the readability of those reading texts in the textbook.
To describe and investigate the readability, this research used a readability formula measurement called SMOG Grading Formula which is found by G. Harry Mc. Laughlin. The source of the data were 20 reading texts taken randomly from
English in Focus textbook.
The major findings of the study showed that the readability of 20 reading texts were in the variety level for students within 5th elementary school to the 10th grade high school students level, and it found that 13 of 20 reading texts or about 65% of the data are appropriate for the 8th grade students who are the user of the book. Meanwhile, this research also found reading texts which are not appropriate for the students. There are 3 reading texts are too easy and 4 are too difficult for them. So, 35% reading texts in the data is not appropriate for 8th grade students.
ii Faculty of Languages and Arts, State University of Medan (UNIMED). For which the researcher would like to express his extremely grateful to the following:
- Prof. Dr. Syawal Gultom, M.Pd., the Rector of State University of
- Nora Ronita Dewi, S.S, M.Hum., the Head of English Educational Study
Program.
- Prof. Amrin Saragih, M.A., Ph.D., his first Thesis Advisor for his
valuable advice, precious time, his patient, suggestion and support as long as the process of finishing Thesis.
- Drs. Johan Sinulingga, M.Pd., his second Thesis Advisor for his
understanding, and willingness to share his valuable time especially for comments, corrections and suggestions.
- Prof. Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M.S., his first Thesis Examiner for her
kindness, knowledge, support and information to improve his research. - Dr. Siti Aisah Ginting M.Pd., his second Thesis Examiner for her
kindness, suggestion, and information to improve her writing.
- All the Lecturers of English Department of English Teaching
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- Eis Sriwahyuningsih, M.Pd and Sir Pantes, the Administration Staff of
English and Literature Department for giving information in completing her Thesis.
- Masril and D. br Sembiring, his lovely parent for the supports, pray,
love, struggle and everythings they have given that can make the researcher finished his Study Program. The researcher’s sincere gratitude also goes to his beloved sisters Marisa and Mestika, his brothers Bang
Darwin, Bang Putra and Ridho for the supports and asked many times to
finish this research.
- Drs Kenan Ginting, M.Pd., the Headmaster and all the Administration
Staff of SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe for allowing him to do the research there, Buk Wenna, the librarian, (Alm.) Mam N.M., Mam B.M., Pak
H.R., all the teachers of SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe, Pak Edi Bangun, the
security of SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe, also for the supports
- His lovely girl, Jamilah Saragih, for supports, love and motivations to finish this study program. His best friends, Barli, Jovie, for much helps,
Ryan, Simon, Fajar, Krisman, Zeny, Nurul, Siska, Doanta, Sendi, Bang Jefri, Gebri, Vicki, for the supports.
- His all beloved classmates in English Education A 2012 for the support and time in motivating and accompanying him during the academic years.
The last, but not the least, the researcher hopes this Thesis will be useful and give positive impact for those who read it. Especially for the students of State University of Medan.
Medan, April 2017 The Researcher
Rinaldi Masda Syahputra
iv
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ... 1
A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. The Problem of the Study ... 4
C. The Objective of the Study ... 5
D. The Scope of the Study ... 5
E. The Significance of the Study ... 5
CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW ... 6
A. Theoretical Framework ... 6
1. Readability ... 6
a. Definition of Readability ... 6
b. Measuring Readability ... 7
1) The Cloze Test Procedure ... 9
2) Text Leveling ... 10
3) Readability Formula ... 12
c. SMOG Grading: a New Readability Formula ... 13
2. Textbook ... 17
a. Definition of Textbook ... 17
b. Importance Using Good Quality Textbook ... 18
c. The Role of Textbook in Teaching English ... 20
d. Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Textbook ... 21
B. Relevant Studies ... 23
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CHAPTER III. RESEARCH METHODHOLOGY ... 26
A. Research Method ... 26
B. The Data and The Source of Data ... 26
C. The Technique of Collecting Data ... 27
D. The Technique of Data Analysis ... 27
CHAPTER IV. DATA ANALYSIS FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ... 28
A. Data and Data Analysis ... 28
a. The Reading Texts ... 28
b. Number of Polysyllable Count ... 30
1) The texts contain fewer than 30 sentences ... 30
2) The texts contain 30 or more sentences ... 32
c. The SMOG Grading Data Analysis and Result ... 33
B. Research Findings ... 36
C. Discussion ... 37
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 39
A. Conclusion ... 39
B. Suggestion ... 40
REFERENCES ... 42
vi LIST OF TABLE
Table Pages
Table 2.1 Comparison of cloze and multiple-choice scores. ... 10
Table 2.2 SMOG Grade Level ... 17
Table 4.1 The Data of Reading Texts ... 29
Table 4.2 Total of Polysyllable of Reading Texts Contain Fewer Than
30 Sentences ... 31
Table 4.3 Number of Polysyllable Count of Reading Texts Contain Fewer Than
30 Sentences ... 31
Table 4.4 The Data of Reading Texts ... 33
Table and Graphic 4.5 The Readability of the Reading Texts in the English in
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A.
Background of the StudyIn the area of globalization English is an important language. English is an
international language, most people from all over the country use English for their
communication. In Indonesia, it has been established as curriculum in the school
to study English.
To study English, we need to learn four skills, they are writing, speaking,
listening and reading skill. Being able to read English is very important, because
there are many books and literature written in English and also the English
textbook in the school. Reading is also clearly important in order that people get
easier to obtain information from written text. In the teaching English process,
reading an English textbook is one of the primary components in teaching
English.
The textbook is almost a universal element of teaching. As the writer
experience in teaching English, textbook is the most used as teaching sources. The
contents of textbooks have a significant association with the learning of the
students. The student should understand their own textbook to understand the
lesson taught in their class room, because we realize textbook is one of main
source of learning. As suggested the Journal of Educators Online-Jeo (2015),
2
content to provide a meaningful educational experience, but help students improve
their learning outcomes”.
There are many kinds of English textbooks which are offered by publishers
to various levels of students in the schools. Selecting a textbook with good content
quality for teaching can be one of the critical success factors for teaching learning
process.
Teacher should know to choose the best of the English book in his/her class.
The good textbook and appropriate for student is readable, understandable, and
comprehensible. All the content inside the textbook should be appropriate for the
students. One of the content which has a big influence in the textbook is the
reading texts. So the teacher should know to choose the good textbook with the
appropriate reading texts inside it.
There will be a different level of each reading text in a text book for each
grade of student. When the reading text in the textbook is easily to understand but
not too easy, and appropriate with the student, it will help the students understand
the lesson, also enjoy to read the text, and can force the success of teaching
learning process. Student will be comfortable and moreover enjoy reading the
lesson. But when the reading text is too easy, the student will not get a new
lesson, also can make them bored.
Otherwise when the reading text in the textbook is difficult to understand, it
can make the lesson will be hard for the student, do not read their reading
materials, even it can make student wouldn’t able to follow the lesson. So the
3
Appropriateness level of the reading text itself can be measured by using
readability analysis. It means that to find the most appropriate reading text for a
student can be known by analyze its readability. The readability of the text book
should be appropriate with the grade level of the student.
From the statements above, it can be concluded that the readability in a
reading text will influence for the success of teaching learning process.
Readability would help teacher to find which is the most appropriateness textbook
that might be used for their students. So it is important for us to know the
readability of reading texts in a textbook before we use it for teaching.
There are some ways in measuring the readability of the reading texts those
are, by using the text leveling, comprehension testing by cloze procedure, and the
last by using statistical readability formulas.
These are some previous researches of readability analysis.
Rahmawati and Lestari (2012), found the readability of English school
textbook for tenth grade student is too easy for them.The reading materials of this
textbook is easy but less challenging for the tenth graders.
Langeborg (2010), who made a readability analysis of four English
textbooks series for 7-9 grades student of Swedish School by using Flesch
Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid in Microsoft Word 2007. He found that 2 from
the bookshave more difficult texts and perhaps not suitable textbook series for all
classes.
Maryansyah (2016), analyzed a readability of English reading texts in a
4
have the result that thereading texts is inappropriate for the student. The textbook
has majority of texts which unfit their reading (grade) level.
So that we know, some reading texts in textbooks that have used by student
is inappropriate for the student’s grade level. Therefore, it is important for us to
know the readability of a reading text in a textbook before we use it in teaching.
Since there are some types of measuring readability, this research will be
using the readability formula. Writer would make the research based on the writer
experience in teaching English. It is the readability analysis of reading texts in an
eighth grade student’s textbook at the SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe. The reason that
the writer makes this research because the writer has been there once as the
English teacher and used the textbook as the source of the teaching, so the
research is made to know how is the readability of the reading texts in the
textbook by using the readability formula. The formula that will be used is the
SMOG Grading Formula. The writer found that this is the most simply and
accurate formula to measuring the readability.
B.
The Problem of the StudyThe main purpose of this research is to answer the following question:
How is the readability of English textbook for the eighth grade students of
5
C.
The Objectives of the StudyIn relation to the problem, the objective is to investigate the readability of
the English reading texts in the textbook used by the grade VIII students of SMP
Negeri 1 Kabanjahe 2016/2017.
D.
The Scope of StudyThis research concentrates on the reading texts in the textbook that used by
the students at the eighth grade of the SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe 2016/2017, where
the book is “English in Focus by Artono Wardiman, Masduki B. Jahur, and
Sukirman Djusma (2008))
E.
The significance of the studyFindings of the study are expected to be useful as claimed in the following.
1. For English Teachers
The findings would help teacher to be more selected in using the text
book that they use in the teaching learning process, so that the
teaching learning process runs well because the materials in the
textbook can be fully comprehended by student,
2. For The Book Publisher
The research findings are expected to give more information to the
book publisher in evaluating their book, especially in the reading
texts.
3. For Other Researchers
The research findings are also expected be useful for other researchers
39 CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions
The purpose of this study was to measure and to describe the readability of
the reading texts in English in Focus which the book is used by eight grade
students level of SMP Negeri 1 Kabanjahe in academic year 2016/2017. The
reading texts as the data were 20 texts taken randomly from the book. This
research was using the SMOG Readability Formula to measure Readability of
those reading texts.
This research found that the readability of the reading texts is variety. The
reading texts are appropriate variety from the 4th grade elementary school to the
11th grade of high school level. There are 13 reading texts which are appropriate
for the 8th grade students or it is about 65% of the data in this research. Besides
that, this research found that there are 7 reading texts which are not appropriate
for the 8th grade students as the book’s users. 3 reading texts are below the level of
8th grade student or in the other word in the easy level and 4 reading texts are in
the difficult level. In the other there are about 35% reading texts are not suitable
40
B. Suggestions
The following are the suggestion for English teacher, the book publisher,
and other researchers.
1. For English Teachers
It is recommended for English teachers to be more selected for their
book in teaching learning process. By understanding the readability,
they would know which book is the most can be comprehended and
appropriate by their students. So it can help the teaching learning
process runs well and get the success of it.
2. For The Book Publisher
It is suggested for the book publisher to improve producing the good
content in the textbook especially the reading texts inside it. It is
expected to be more appropriate for the students as the book user for all
the reading texts inside the textbook. So students can get all the
information from the reading texts and improving their knowledge.
3. For Other researchers.
There are so many different textbooks out there with so many kinds of
reading texts inside them. The other researchers can use them to find out
the readability of each reading text. Especially for this SMOG Grading
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also because this research only has 2 texts contains 30 or more sentences
but many shorter texts, it is suggested other researcher will use it in the
higher level of reading texts (than the 8th grade level), with the longer
text and of course with more polysyllable words The writer also
suggested for future researcher to compare the result of the SMOG
Grading Formula with the data from real students while reading the
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