CHAPTER
I
INTRODUCTION
A. Research Background
Language
is one of the most important areas of human development.Language is purely
important as a tool of communication. According toCrystal cited by Srijono
language is the systematic, conventional use of sounds, sign, or written
symbols in human society for communication and self expression.2 As a tool of
communication language is used among human beings in order to establish social
relationship. By using language they can express their ideas, feelings, and
thought to the society in both written and spoken.
There
are many languages in the world. Every society has different language. Although
English is not the language with the largest number of native or first language
speaker, it has become a lingua franca.3 English is an international language
which has been received by countries all over the word.
Moreover,
as an international language, English is used to communicate in business
meeting or other activities among government over the world, chiefly in science
and technology. In line with the more sophisticated world, people are demanded
to able to communicate not only by using
mother tongue but also by using foreign languages. Nowadays English already be
one of the most important languages. As a developing country, Indonesia really
needs English because
Indonesian
government is trying to improve all aspects which are usually faced by all
countries. One of these aspects is education, which is essential. Thus, the
government has settled English as one of the compulsory subject to study at
school, from basic until the highest. In Indonesia, English is learnt and
taught at elementary school, junior high school, senior high school, even at
university. It is hoped that the students will be able to communicate in English
well.
Based
on Competence Based Curriculum (KBK), the students of junior high school (SMP)
and senior high school (SMA) should get some of the genres such as procedure,
recount, descriptive, or narrative both spoken and written cycle.4 From this
fact, students are not only expected to speak English fluently but also have to
be able to fulfill four language skills; they are listening, speaking, reading
and writing. Writing is a part of the language skills that must be taught
maximally by teacher to students. Learning how to write in English is important
for many language learners. Writing will help students mastering other skills
of English completely.
Writing,
as one of the language skills, has given an important contribution to human work.
There are so many records of recent activities that can be read today, which
can also be read in the future. Recently, there are many new information which
is transferred by using discourse or article from the newspaper, magazine, or
internet. This means that writing plays very important role in a modern
society. Writing is one of language
skills that can be a measurement of literacy development
in a country.
