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In relation to the students’ understanding of texts, Parekeme and Abgor 2012 state that one of the factors determining students’ understanding of a text is
text readability. Thus, this becomes the reason that the researcher decides to conduct this study on analyzing the readability level of selected reading texts in the
English Zone textbook for the tenth grade of senior high school students by Penerbit Erlangga to see their readability level. The researcher also chooses this
textbook because this is claimed to allow students to practice the four-skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing in order to help them to develop their
discourse competence. Finally, this study is aimed at knowing the readability level of reading
texts in English Zone textbook for the tenth grade of Senior High School students published by Penerbit Erlangga.
B. The Problem of the Study
Based on the background of the study, the research problem is formulated as follows:
“How is the readability level of reading texts in English Zone textbook for the
tenth grade of Senior High School Students?”
C. The Objective of the Study
The objective of the study is to find out the readability level of the reading texts in English Zone textbook for tenth grade of senior high school
students published Penerbit Erlangga.
D. The Scope of the Study
This study is conducted to describe the readability level of five reading texts that are taken from the English textbook entitled English Zone. The three
texts are chosen randomly from 29 texts provided in the textbook. The description consists of analysis on words, sentences and syllables of the selected texts. The
researcher is using Flesch Reading Ease Formula and Cloze Test to measure the readability of the textbook.
E. The Significance of the Study
The findings of this study are expected to provide information which may have theoritical as well as practical values or significances.
1. Theoritical Significances The result of the study later will add some new theories and
information in selecting the appropriate English textbook. 2. Practical Significances
a. For Teachers The finding of this study will be useful for English teachers
in selecting English textbooks and knowing whether the reading texts in the textbook are readable and suitable for their students.
For the students, reading the readable text will help them in improving their reading skill
b. For the Researchers of Textbooks The result of the study can give them consideration on how to
make good materials for reading that are appropriate for the target students.
c. For Other Researchers This research finding will be useful for other researchers who
want to investigate the English textbook, especially dealing with the readability.
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CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusion
The problem of this study tries to observe is the readability level of reading texts. To get the data about this, the researcher distributed the Flesch
Reading Ease and Cloze Test of the five reading texts. After analyzing and interpreting the data of the five reading texts in the English Zone textbook through
Flesch Reading Ease and Cloze Test. After analyzing and intpreting the data, the researcher finds that there is 1 text classified into two Easy Level. It is Dear Diary
and Nyai Lara Kidul, this text is basically suitable for the 6th grade students. Further, there are 2 texts that are classified into Fairly Easy Level they are Gatot
Kaca and Romeo and Juliet, there texts are basically suitable for 7th grade students. There is 1 text that classified into Very Easy Level. It is Hercules, this
text is basically suitable for the 5th grade students. From the result of Cloze Test, the researcher got the data where the
text “Dear Diary” gains cloze test score 60, it means that the texts are falls in Independent
Level . The text “Gatot Kaca” gains the cloze test score 49.90 in which it falls in
Instructional Level . The text “Hercules” gains cloze test score 54.67 in which it
falls in Independent Level. The text “Nyai Lara Kidul” gains the cloze test score
32.64 in which it falls in Frustation Level . The text “Romeo and Juliet” gains
cloze test score 58.75 in which it falls in Independent Level. The average readability score of the five texts is 51.20 Independent Level. The text are
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predicted to be of appropriate difficulty, it means that the students may need some continuing assisstance with the texts.
Through Flesch Reading Ease Formula, the readability score for the whole texts of the English textbook entitled English Zone. Based on the Flesch Reading
Ease Scale 82.6, this score shows that the texts are easy to be understood. While from the Cloze Test, the textbook has lower readability which can be seen by its
readability 51.20. the textbook is not suitable for students of the tenth grade of SMA N 2 Bandar.
B. Suggestions
Based on the research findings, there are some suggestions which can be recommended.The suggestions are intended to principals, to English teachers,
to the publishers and authors, and to other researchers. 1. To principals
The principals must be careful in dealing with publishers to the textbooks offered by publishers. The principal has to make sure that the textbook
have a good quality before they are distributed to the students to be used in the instructional activities.
2. To English teachers The English teachers should not depend only on one textbook in using
instructional materials. The English teachers should prepare and select teaching materials well, not only from one textbook, but also from other
sources. The teacherv have to select a suitable textbook for their students which are readable, understandable, and interesting.
