Abstract :
The purpose of this study was to determine whether diary note is effective against
the ability to write recount text students and to get empirical evidence of the
effective of diary writing on the ability to write recount text for grade VIII
students of SMP Hang Tuah 1 Belawan. This research was conducted with a
quantitative method with a quasi-experimental pre and posttest design. The
population in this study amounted to 164 students from a total of four classes. The
sample was obtained using a purposive sampling technique that produced two
classes with a total of 32 students in each class. The two classes are then randomly
placed into experimental and control classes. Experimental classes are taught by
applying diary note activities while the control class is taught using ordinary
teaching techniques or without diary note activities. This study, in turn, was
carried out by carrying out the following procedures: pre-test administration,
application of interventions (diary note activities), and post-test administration.
The results of the research showed that there were improvements on the
students? writing skills in the five aspects, namely the content, organization,
vocabulary, language use, and mechanic. . Then, the results of the data were
analyzed using t-test formula. The result of the mean score of post-test in
experimental class was higher than controlled group (82.8 >81.8). Furthermore,
the t-test result was 2.974 which is higher than the ttablein the significance level 5%
(0.05) and the degree of freedom 62 is 1.671. Therefore, Diary Note has
significant effect on the students? ability in writing recount text at eighth grade of
SMP Hang Tuah 1 Belawan.