cannot give them comprehension of the text that they read. Fifth, insufficient background for reading a selection, students do not have many background
knowledge, it caused they cannot relate their knowledge with the text that they read. Sixth, failure to adjust reading techniques for reading purpose and type of
reading material, students cannot differentiate technique in reading some materials, they read all materials by using one technique that is not suitable for
them. Last, lack of appropriate teacher guidance, the teacher does not use the suitable technique based on the
students’ difficulty, it causes students still have difficulty in comprehending the text.
Based on the explanation above, the writer sums up that reading has some problems. Those problems are the readers have some difficult in recognizing
vocabulary because they are unfamiliar with the text. The other problems maybe the readers do not have background knowledge to relate with the text. Therefore
the readers feel unconfident because based on their experience; they maybe think that reading is difficult.
B. DESCRIPTIVE TEXT 1. Definition of Descriptive Text
Descriptive text is a text which describes something. According to Djuharie, he said that descriptive text is a text which describes and gives more
detail information about particular people, thing, place and animal.
23
It means that descriptive text tells the readers to know about something specifically by giving
characteristic of something which described. Meanwhile, according to Oshima, descriptive text tells about the senses
how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, and sound.
24
It shows how the reader can feel and imagine the description of text. In addition, Buscemi stated that the
fundamental to describe is appealing to the senses sight, hearing, and touch.
25
It
23
Otong Setiawan Djuharie, Gendre Dilengkapi 700 Soal Uji Pemahaman, Bandung: Yrama Widya, 2007, p. 24.
24
Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, Introduction to Academic Writing 3
rd
Edition, New York: Pearson Longman, 2007, p. 61.
25
Santi V. Buscemi and Charlotte Smith, 75 Reading Plus 7
th
Edition, New York: The McGraw Hill Companies Inc, 2004, p. 44.
means that in describing something, it needs to explain what people see, hear, and feel.
In sum up, descriptive text is a text which describes something and includes of the characteristic of something. It tells the readers with detail
information that can help them to imagine and to describe in their mind about what the content of the text.
2. Purposes of Descriptive Text
Every text has own purpose. The purpose of descriptive text is to describe people, thing, place, and animal.
26
It means that descriptive text wants to give the description of something.
According to Anderson’s statement, the purpose of descriptive text is to tell about subject by describing the characteristic without
including personal opinions, the example of descriptive text are description of a particular building, description of a specific animal, description of a particular
place, and description of a specific person.
27
In sum up descriptive text has a purpose to describe a particular person, places, animals, and things that tells about their characteristics. Next, it helps the
reader to imagine what the text is about.
3. Schematic Structures of Descriptive Text
Generally, descriptive text has a schematic structure, there are:
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1. Identification
In this part is introduction of the thing, person, or place to be described. Therefore in the first paragraph give the reader about the when,
where, who or what of the subject.
26
Otong Setiawan Djuharie, Gendre Dilengkapi 700 Soal Uji Pemahaman, Bandung: Yrama Widya, 2007, p. 24.
27
Mark Anderson and Kathy Anderson, Text Types in English, South Yarra: Machmillan Education Australia, 1998, p. 26.
28
Otong Setiawan Djuharie, Gendre Dilengkapi …………………………………….…. p. 24.
2. Description
This part gives the details information about the characteristic of subject, for example the characteristic of personality, attitude, physically,
specific feature, quality and so on. The example of schematic structure of descriptive text:
My Best Friend
I have a lot of friends. But my closest friend is Prabu Perdana.
Prabu is my classmate. He is so handsome and cute. He has short wavy but rather blonde hair, which is always
combed neatly. His skin is white. He has bluish back eyes with thick eyebrows and outstanding eyelashes. His round
face makes him more impressive. Although Prabu is not so tall, he has a well-built body. People frequently think he is
a European or American offspring, but he is actually a Sundanese genuine. He looks more handsome when he is
smiling. Prabu is pleasing peer. I am happy to spend my time
with him. He is always available to help his friends who are in trouble. He is never angry with any friends who try to
annoy him. Because he is so smart, most of his classmates seek him to explain any difficulties in any school subjects. I
am proud of having such best friend.
Title Identification
Description
