Learning needs of Grade VIII students of SMPN 3 Kalasan. Appropriate comic strips for learning writing materials for Grade VIII

“associating” and “creating” activities. This part was developed based on the Curriculum 2013. The last part of the unit was reinforcement. The reinforcement covered the self-evaluation part. This part was ca lled “reflecting”. Students were encouraged to make their own summaries based on what they have learnt.

B. Suggestions

1. For other material developers

a. Material developers should consider the students’ needs before developing materials. b. Material developers should consider developing the materials in all skills speaking, listening, writing and reading, because one skill is not enough to cover the all the needs of students. c. Material developers must be aware of the English proficiency of the students, because it will not help them while the materials are too difficult or too easy for students. d. The students should be familiar to the themes used in learning materials. It is better to choose the themes around their surroundings. 2. For English Teachers English teachers are encouraged to use various interesting materials. English teachers can develop their own media by following the steps used by the researcher. The process is started by doing needs analysis to expert judgment. Moreover, English teachers are encouraged to use comic strips as writing media. REFERENCES Borg, W. R and Gall, M.D. 1983. Educational Research. New York; Longman. Branden, Kris Van den. 2006. Task – Based Language Education, from theory to practice in M. H. Long and J. C. Richards Eds.. Cambridge Applied Linguistics Series. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Brown, H. Douglas. 2001. by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy 2nd Edition. San Fransisco: Longman. ______. 2004. Language Assessment: Principles and Classrooms Practices. San Fransisco: Longman. Clysdesdale, Jacqui. 2007. “A Bridge to Another world: Using Comics in The Second Language Classr oom”. University of Calgary, pp. 1-12. Cohen, Louis., et al. 2005. Research Methods in Education, 5 th Edition. London: Routledge Falmer. Davis, Randall S.1997. “Comics: A Multi-dimensional Teaching Aid in Integrated- skills Classes”, www.esl-lab.comresearchcomics.htm. Retrieved on February 12, 2015. Derrick, Justine. 2008. “Using Comics with ESLEFL Students”, http:iteslj.orgTechniquesDerrick-UsingComics.html. Retrieved on February 12, 2015. Edmunds, William. 2006. “Why Should Kids Read Comic?”, http:comicsintheclassroom.netooedmunds2006_08_24.htm. Retrieved on February 10, 2015.