The story line which is the backbone of any narrative typically consist of a chronological sequence of events each represented by verbs in the Simple Past
Tense, either with regular and irregular verbs and the use of connectors.
4
Related with the cases above, the students can come to an assumption that learning English needs the knowledge of its grammatical rules that they learn to
communicate well. And the teachers have to choose the best technique they will use in teaching English. Consequently, to make teaching and learning process run
well especially in teaching the Simple Past Tense, the teacher has big responsibility to do it as well as possible. The teachers should have the ability to
combine some techniques in teaching activities. The writer chooses the narrative text in this research because text is a unit
of meaning which coherent and appropriate for its context and the writer chooses text in narrative form because language feature of narratives text used Simple Past
Tense. With narrative text, students can study the Simple Past Tense happily and they not only can write in English but also can speak with correct grammar to
convey meaning accurately. Based on the explanation above, the writer would like to conduct a
research under the title:
“Developing Students’ Understanding of the Simple Past Tense by Using Narrative Text
” A Classroom Action Research at Second Grade of MTs. Al-
Falah Jakarta
”
4
Graham Lock. Functional English Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996, p. 154
B. The Limitation and Formulation of the Problem
In this “skripsi” the writer will discuss the students’ problem in learning Simple Past Tense. In this paper, the writer would like to limit the problem in
developing students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative
text. Based on the background above, the writer would like to formulate the
problem as follows:
“Is using narrative text as media effective to develop students’ understanding in learning Simple Past Tense at grade VIII-1 of
MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta?”
C. The Objective of Study
The objective of study is that the writer wants to know whether using narrative text is effective in teaching the Simple Past Tense.
D. The Significance of Study
This research is expected to give contribution for the related English education practicing, such as:
1. The writer, as the partial fulfillment of the requirements of Bachelor of Arts in
English Language Education. 2.
English teacher, to improve their skill in teaching narrative text especially Simple Past Tense as one of the language features of the text.
3. Other researchers, as a comparison and the starting point to make more
comprehensive research at school.
E. The Organization of Study
This paper is divided into five chapters:
Chapter I provides introduction which consists of background of the study, this is
the main part of fives chapter as in this chapter the writer shows her acceptable reason why she runs her paper, then it also provides the limitation and formulation
of the problem, the objective of study, the significance of study, and the last is the organization of study.
Chapter II covers theoretical framework which consists of definition and the form
of Simple Past Tense, the use of Simple Past Tense, definition and purpose of narrative text, schematic structure and grammatical features of narrative text.
Chapter III the writer explains detail descriptive Profile of MTs Al-Falah Jakarta
that including about historical background, vision and mission, objectives, academic and non-academic facilities.
Chapter IV is research methodology and finding. In research methodology, the
writer explains time and place of research, subject and object of the research, role of the researcher in Classroom Action Research, technique of collecting data,
technique of data analysis, design of Classroom Action Research, the Classroom Action Research procedures, the trustworthiness of study, and the criteria of the
action success. In research finding, consists of data description, the implementation of Classroom Action Research and the result of data analyzing.
Chapter V is conclusion; Conclusion provided explanation above and the last is
suggestion. It concern with in order to evaluate some must evaluated points
regarding with this skripsi.
6
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This chapter presents and discusses about the theoretical framework which is consist of what the Simple Past Tense is, the form of the Simple Past Tense, the use
of the Simple Past Tense, definition of narrative text and its purpose, schematic structure of narrative, and grammatical features of narrative.
A. Simple Past Tense
1. Definition of the Simple Past Tense
Azar, in her book Understanding and Using English Grammar said, “The
Past Tense indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past.”
1
It means that past tense refers to an activity that occurs in definite time in the past. It is in line with Frank who said that
“The Simple Past Tense represents definite time, whether a time word is given or not
.”
2
So, Simple Past Tense talks about an action or situation that happened in the past whether there is the time signal
or not.
1
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar, New Jersey: Prentice- Hall, Inc, 1989, p. 24
2
Marcella Frank, Modern English: A Practical and Reference Guide, New Jersey: Prentice- Hall, Inc, 1972, p. 73
