The Use of Online Comic Maker Application on Students' Creative Writing Skills in Al Alaq Elementary School, Jatiasih Bekasi

nur asiyah; dr.ir. suciana wijirahayu, m.pd; dr. akhmad haqiqi ma'mum, m.pd;

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the use of comic maker application in enhancing 5th-grade students in their creative writing. The research was conducted in Al Alaq Elementary school, Jatiasih, Bekasi in 2017. Of some types of creative writing, this thesis focuses on narrative writing. Assigning students to write a narration is not an easy task for a teacher because students are not eager to write a story. A new way is needed to motivate students to write a story and writing a story using a comic can be an option. However, creating a comic is not an easy task for students since it requires certain level of drawing skills. To overcome this, a computer program is used and a comic maker application, called Cartoon Story Maker, is used to help students in writing a story in a fun and easy way. This action research, as the research method, comprises three cycles. In each cycle, students’ comics were assessed by two raters and students’ writing skills were tested using a picture cued test. The action research process consists of planning, acting, observing and reflecting. The students’ writing skill improvement in appliying elements of writing was analyzed carefully and necessary action was taken in the next cycle. Observation by the researcher and a fellow teacher were also conducted to give deeper findings. Moreover, a semistructure interview was done using a purposely random sampling to find students’ attitude towards the technique used. The interviews were recorded on audiotape and then categorized and interpreted.