xxv Another expert said that clustering is an invention activity which
reveals possible relations among facts and ideas. Unlike listing the next mapping strategy, clustering requires a brief period of initial planning.
You must first come up with a tentative division of the topic into subparts or main ideas.
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Based on the definition above, the writer summarizes that clustering is making a visual map or new associations that allows thinking more
creatively and to begin without clear ideas. Clustering can be useful for any kind of writing. Writers use it in the
early stages of planning an essay in order to find subtopic in a topic of to organize information. They may try and discard several clusters before
finding one that is promising. Writers also use clustering to plan brief sections of an essay as they are drafting.
2. Definition of Technique
According to Oxford Advance Learners’ Dictionary of Current English by A. S. Hornby, it is defined that, technique is method of doing
something expertly.
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Before we know other definition about technique, there are three terms that must be differentiated because these terms used in teaching
learning activity and people often confuse with these terms. They are approach, method, and technique.
From the statement above, Edward Anthony in 1963 identified three levels of conceptualization and organization, which he termed approach,
method, and technique. The arrangement is hierarchical. The organizational key is that techniques carry out a method which is consistent with an
approach. An approach is a set of correlative assumptions dealing with the nature of language teaching and learning. An approach is axiomatic. It
15
Rise B. Axelord and Charles R. Cooper, The ST.Martin’s Guide to Writing, New York: ST. Martin’s press, 1985, p.461
16
A. S. Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Curent English, New York: Oxford University Press, 1974, p.887
xxvi describes the nature of the subject matter to be taught. While method is an
overall plan for the orderly presentation of language material, no part of which contradicts, and all of which is based upon, the selected approach.
An approach is axiomatic, a method is procedural. Within an approach, there can be many methods.
From the idea previously, it can be concluded that a technique is implementation-that which actually takes place in a classroom. It is a
particular tricks, stratagem, or contrivance used to accomplish an immediate objective. Technique must be consistent with a method, and
therefore in harmony with an approach, there can be many methods.
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While, Diane Larsen-Freeman says that technique is the behavioral manifestation of the principles.
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In other words, the classroom activities and procedures derived from an application of the principles.
Based on the statement above, it can be said that, technique is a way of doing an activities derived from application of principles.
So, we can conclude that, clustering technique is one of ways to help other people especially students in expressing many ideas using the right
brain to come up with their own unique over view of subject and a way of tricking the left-brain into silence.
There are many advantages of teaching writing of narrative text using clustering technique. Such as; it can motivate the students to write and to
stimulus their ideas, students are also use to create patterns, make students to think more creative, and clustering is an effective tool for the prewriting
stage of the writing process. Clustering can be useful for any kind of writing. Writers use it in the
early stages of planning an essay in order to find subtopic in a topic of to organize information. They may try and discard several clusters before
17
Jack C. Richards and Theodore S. Rodgers, Approaches...., p. 15
18
Diane Larsen-Freeman, Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching,New York: Oxford University Press, 1986, p.xi
xxvii finding one that is promising. Writers also use clustering to plan brief
sections of an essay as they are drafting.
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3. The Application of Clustering Technique
