35 not agree that the use of blogs in Basic Writing class was in accordance with their
expectations. Overall, from the results of the questionnaire and the interview about the students’ perception on the implementation of blogs in Basic Writing
class, the researcher concluded that most of the respondents had the positive tendency to the implementation of blogs in Basic Writing class. It was proved by
the positive percentages result of the questionnaire which dominated the results. However, it was apparent that the implementation of blogs in Basic Writing class
should be balanced by the presence of the educator. From the results of the interview, most of the respondents claimed that they did not really agree that the
implementation of blogs had been in accordance with their expectation because the lecturer did not give feedback to their writing.
2. Students’ Perception on the Impact of Blogs in Students’ Writing in Basic
Writing Class
This section aims to inquire further into the students’ perception related to the impact on writing that they obtained from using blogs in Basic Writing class.
In this section, the researcher used the questionnaire and also the interview. In the questionnaire section, the particular numbers related were number 8 to 15. In
addition, Table 4.2 is presented in this section.
36
Table 4.2 Students’ Perception on the Impact of Blogs in Students’ Writing in Basic Writing Class
No. Statements
Frequencies of Responses 1 SD
2 D 3 A
4 SA N
N N
N
8. Blog explored my creativity of
Basic Writing skill 2
3.92 5
9.8 31
60.78 14 27.45
9. Blog helped me to develop my
Basic Writing skill better such as grammar, punctuation, and
accuracy in writing 1
1.96 7
13.72 31
60.78 12
22.2
10. Blog improved my content of
writing in Basic Writing class 9
17.64 36
70.58 6
11.76 11.
Blog encouraged me to learn more about Basic Writing skill
12 22.2
35 68.62
4 7.84
12. Using blog in Basic Writing
class made me practice more in writing
2 3.92
9 17.64
30 70.58
4 7.84
13. Blog increased my critical
thinking of writing in Basic Writing class
2 3.92
8 15.68
36 70.58
4 7.84
14. Using blog in Basic Writing
class encouraged
my self-
expression in writing
7 13.72
36 70.58
8 15.68
15. Using blog in Basic Writing
class increased
my self-
confidence in writing 13
25.49 28
54.9 10
19.6
As presented in Table 4.2 in the eighth statement, there were 60.78 of the respondents who agreed, 27.45 of them who strongly agreed, 9.8 of them who
disagreed and merely 3.92 of them who strongly disagreed with this statement. From the total percentages of agreement level reaching 88.23, it apparently
showed that most of the respondents believed that blogs could explore their creativity of Basic Writing skill.
In discussing the results of the ninth and tenth statements, the researcher found that there was insignificant range of the results between both statements.
The total percentages of agreement level of those statements reached 82.98 and 82.34 of the respondents, whereas the total percentages of disagreement level
37 merely reached 15.68 and 17.64 of the respondents. The results also obviously
indicated that most of the respondents had good responses to the use of blogs in helping them to develop their Basic Writing skill better and in improving their
content of writing in Basic Writing class. Regarding the encouragement of using blogs in learning more about writing
skill, there were 76.46 of the respondents who agreed and strongly agreed, whereas 22.2 of them who disagreed. Meanwhile, there were also 86.26 of the
respondents who agreed and strongly agreed that blogs could encourage their self- expression in writing and solely 13.72 of them who disagreed with the
statement. Related to the statements stated that blog encouraged students to learn more about writing skill and encouraged their expressions in writing, none of the
respondents strongly disagreed with those statements. It also showed that most of the respondents had positive attitude to the statements. However, it can also be
seen that the respondents were encouraged more to express themselves in writing than to learn more about writing skills.
Related to the twelfth statement, there were 58.82 of the respondents who agreed that using blogs in Basic Writing class could make them practice more in
writing. In addition, 19.6 of the respondents strongly agreed, 17.64 of the respondents disagreed and 3.92 of the respondents strongly disagreed. It
indicated that more than half of the respondents had positive responses. It was also proved by the total numbers of agree and strongly agree percentages reaching
78.42.
38 Then, most of the respondents believed that blogs could increase their
critical thinking of writing in Basic Writing class. It was shown by the total of agree and strongly agree percentages reaching 78.42. Meanwhile, the total of
disagree and strongly disagree percentages reached 19.2. In the statement about using blogs in Basic Writing class increased students’ confidence in writing, most
of the respondents also indicated the positive tendency. It was proved by the total percentages of agreement level reaching 74.5, whereas total of disagreement
level reaching 25.49. The differences of agreement percentages between the two statements were not too significant. However, it could be also concluded that the
respondents thought that the blogs increased their critical thinking skill more in writing than increased their self-confidence in writing.
To support the results of the questionnaire about the impact on the use of blogs in Basic Writing class, the researcher also conducted an interview. There
were two questions related to the interview in this section. The first question was about the use of blogs in Basic Writing class in encouraging the students to learn
more about writing skills. The second question was about the effects of using blogs in Basic Writing class on students’ writing skills.
Based on the results of the interview related to the use of blogs in Basic Writing class in encouraging the students to learn more about writing skills, six of
eight respondents agreed that the use of blogs in Basic Writing class could encourage them in learning more about writing skill. Since their writings were
published in blogs, Respondents 13, 27, 34 and 50 claimed that they were motivated to do the best for their writing. Then, Respondents 41 added that the
39 use of blogs in Basic Writing class made her more confident in writing. In a blog,
she was free to express her imagination in writing and to design the blog as attractive as possible. Respondent 30 also added that there was a pride when her
writing was published, so she was encouraged to learn more about writing skills. “Iya sih, soalnya kalau pakai blog kan senang aja gitu kalau nulis mungkin
bisa mengekspresikan perasaan dan senang aja kalau dilihat orang, ada suatu kebanggaan gitu. Cuma, kalau kita lihat sisi negatifnya, kalau kita
kan nggak tahu benar atau salah jadi kurang aja gitu jadinya, tapi yah intinya encourage sih. R30
Yes, I am so happy to use blogs. I can also express my feeling in the blogs. There is a pride for me when people see my writing in the blogs. Then,
when we look at the negative side, sometimes we do not know whether our writing is correct or not. However, I am still encouraged to use blogs.
Meanwhile, Respondents 6 and 7 doubted that the use of blogs in Basic
writing class could encourage them in learning more about writing skills. Respondent 6 revealed that she did not really like writing so it made her tired to
write. Then, Respondent 7 said that the use of blogs actually could improve her knowledge. Nonetheless, she still doubted since she merely answered that
sometimes it could encourage her. “Sometimes yes, sometimes not. Hmm..yah karena dasarnya aku kurang
suka nulis yah, jadi kadang-kadang yah kalau itu apa yah untuk tugas yang otomatis memotivasilah, tapi kadang juga capek.” R6
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Actually, I do not really like writing. Sometimes, I feel motivated if it is carried out for the sake of assignments.
However, sometimes I also feel exhausted to write. Related to the effects of using blogs in Basic Writing class on students’
writing skill, Respondents 27, 30 and 41 agreed that the use of blogs in Basic writing class could increase their confidence in writing. Respondent 27 added that
the use of blogs could improve her knowledge of the minimum requirements, the
40 use of language, grammar and diction in writing. Respondents 30 and 41 said that
they could also express their imagination in writing when they used blogs. Respondent 13 expressed that since the blog was provided in a computer, it
eased her to write her writing well, so she could realize what grammar mistakes she made in her writing. Respondent 6 said that the use of blogs could improve
her minimum requirements of writing. It was also as the same as what had been stated by Respondent 27. On the other hand, Respondent 7 revealed that the use of
blogs in Basic Writing class merely introduced her to blogs as media. She added that the blog also facilitated her in submitting her assignments. Then, Respondents
34 and 50 agreed that the use of blogs could motivate them in writing. It also provided the opportunity for them to write an interesting writing since their
writing was published in the blogs. “Saya kira sama, ide kita sama. Kita lebih termotivasi toh karena tulisan itu
tidak hanya kita sendiri yang baca, teman-teman sekelas dan juga kalau secara umum itu sanata dharma gitu loh karena kita mencantumkan nama
di situ, jadi kita tidak hanya bertanggung jawab untuk diri kita sendiri, tetapi juga secara umum seluruh sanata dharma.” R50
I think our idea is similar. We are more motivated because not only us that can read the writing but also our friends and all students of Sanata Dharma
University can see our writing. It is also because we put our names in the writing that we post in the blogs. Therefore, we have to be responsible for
our writing since it is published widely. As seen in the results of the questionnaire and the interview about the
impact of using blogs on the students’ writing in Basic Writing class, the researcher concluded that most of the respondents had the positive tendency. It
was proved by the positive percentages result in each statement of the questionnaire and also from the positive statements revealed by the respondents
41 who were interviewed. It was very obvious that the respondents were encouraged
by the presence of blogs in Basic Writing class. It was also because most of them thought that they paid more attention to their grammar, diction and the use of
language in writing when they published their writing in blogs.
3. Students’ Personal Evaluation of the Use of Blogs in Basic Writing class
