11 Here is an example of paragraph comprehension in the paragraph.
Instruction: Read the text carefully then answer the following question
The legend of Lake Toba
Once upon a time, in the North of Sumatera there was a handsome man. His name was Toba. He liked fishing. One day, he caught a fish. He was surprised
to find out that the fish could talk. The fish begged him to set it free.
1. Which statement is NOT TRUE based on the paragraph?
a. The fish asked him to set free. b. A handsome man liked fishing.
c. He caught a fish that could talk. d. He was very happy to find out that fish.
Answer: d Taken from http:kumpulan-contoh-narrative-text-bahasa-inggris
Explanation: we can see that the statements that stated in option a, b, c are correct. From the paragraph, we know that the man was surprised to find out that the fish
could talk. It means that he did not happy. So, the best answer is d.
2.1.4 Text Comprehension
Comprehending the text and getting the writer’s idea belong to the purpose of reading. McWhorter 1989:131 states that a whole text consists of words,
sentences, and paragraphs. It means that the students have to comprehend the words, the sentences, and the paragraphs in order to gain the writer’s idea in a
text. In this research, text comprehension means the students’ ability in
comprehending the message of the text not only comprehending the words, the sentences, or paragraphs, but also comprehending the whole text. Here is an
example of text comprehension
12 Instruction: Read the text carefully then answer the following question
Dayang Sumbi
Once, there was a kingdom in Priangan Land. There lived a happy family. They were a father in form of dog,his name is Tumang, a mother
which was called is Dayang Sumbi, and a child which was called Sangkuriang.
One day, Dayang Sumbi asked her son to go hunting with his lovely dog, Tumang. After hunting all day, Sangkuriang began desperate
and worried because he hunted no deer. Then he thought to shot his own dog.
Then he
took the
dog liver
and carried
home. Soon Dayang Sumbi found out that it was not deer lever but Tumangs,
his own dog. So, she was very angry and hit Sangkuriangs head. In that incident, Sangkuriang got wounded and scar then cast away from their
home.
Years go bye, Sangkuriang had travel many places and finally arrived at a village. He met a beautiful woman and felt in love with her.
When they were discussing their wedding plans, the woman looked at the wound in Sangkuriangs head. It matched to her sons wound that had left
several years earlier. Soon she realized that she felt in love with her own son.
She couldnt marry him but how to say it. Then, she found the way. She needed a lake and a boat for celebrating their wedding day.
Sangkuriang had to make them in one night. He built a lake. With a dawn just moment away and the boat was almost complete. Dayang Sumbi had
to stop it. Sangkuriang failed to marry her. She was very angry and kicked the boat. It felt over and became the mountain of Tangkuban Perahu
Bandung.
1. What does the text tell us about? a. Tells about the lovely dog named Tumang.
b. The history of a kingdom in Priangan Land. c. The Legend of Tangkuban Perahu
d. Sangkuriang as a hunter. Answer: c
Taken from http:drogpatravel.biz201305
13 Explanation: the answer is “c” because from the text, we can understand that
the story tells us about the legend of Tangkuban Perahu. It started from how Sangkuriang became a hunter and then fell in love with her mother. But
Dayang refused it and kick the boat. It felt over and became the mountain of Tangkuban Perahu Bandung.
2.2 Narrative Text
Based on KTSP curriculum, there are several types of texts that should be taught to the grade eight students of junior high school. One of them is narrative
text. In this research, the researcher will use narrative text because this kind of text will be taught in the second semester of the grade eight. Narrative text is a
kind of English text that tells about story fiction or nonfiction tales fables myths and its plot consist of climax of the story complication then followed by
the resolution. Chatman 1993:3 states that narrative is kind of text which tells a story or it presents a unified sequence of events that add up to something, a plot
with some kinds of point. Mostly, a narrative text consists of several events that make the story become interesting. The social function of narrative text is to
amuse or entertain the readers about the story happened in the past.In this research, the researcher will use narrative text because by reading a narrative text,
the students can learn something based on what they have read. It occurs because this text always gives moral values or good messages to the readers that can be
applied in the daily life. The generic structure of narrative text is as the following.
Generic Structure:
Orientation : Sets the scene and introduces the participants
Complication : A crisis arises
Resolution : The crisis is resolved, for better or for worse
In addition, there are some language features of narrative text as follows. 1. The use of specific individualized participants: Malin Kundang, Loro
Jonggrang, The King, etc. 2. The use of chronological connection: First, after that, finally, etc.
