IMPROVING STUDENT'S ABILITY IN WRITING RECOUNT TEXT THROUGH ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC (RAFT) STRATEGY (An Experimental Study for Class X Students of SMA 2 Kutablang)

This study aims to find out the relevance of adopting the RAFT strategy to improve students' writing abilities in recount text at SMA 2 Kutablang tenth grade. this research used a quantitative design with an experimental approach. the instruments in this research were Pre-test and Post-test. The participants in this research were 26 tenth-grade students of SMAN 2 Kuta Blang. In conclusion, the study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic) strategies in enhancing students' recount text writing skills. The initial analysis of pre-test scores revealed that students exhibited poor writing skills, particularly in recount texts, characterized by issues in vocabulary, structure, coherence, and mechanical errors. Upon implementing the RAFT strategy, a remarkable improvement was observed, with the average student score increasing from 49 to 78.36. The findings underscored that the RAFT strategy not only positively influenced students' writing skills but also heightened their enthusiasm and engagement in the learning process. Students displayed enhanced imagination, motivation, and willingness to express ideas, contributing to the development of well-crafted recount texts. Comparisons with previous research, such as Septi Wuryani's study, supported the notion that RAFT strategies are effective in improving writing skills. The study also incorporated statistical analysis, demonstrating a significant increase in the experimental class's N-gain score, further validating the efficacy of the RAFT strategy. Therefore, the study concludes that the RAFT strategy, developed by Carol Santa in 1988, is a valuable tool for English teachers seeking to enhance students' recount text writing skills. The strategy addresses various aspects of writing, including content, grammar, structure, vocabulary, and mechanics. By mitigating boredom and fostering active participation, the RAFT strategy emerges as a meaningful and practical approach to the teaching and learning of writing skills, contributing positively to the overall English education curriculum.