the semantic mapping technique is successful in improving both the students’ ability in comprehending English texts report texts and the students’
involvement in reading activities. The improvement can be seen from the increase of students’ mean scores
and the students’ individual score percentage from preliminary study to Cycle 2. The students’ mean score had improved greatly from 35.00 to 68.33. Besides, The
students’ individual score percentage had achieved to a great extent from 0 to 44.44 equal or greater than 70. Those scores obtained by the students in the two
cycles were shown by reading comprehension tests or quizzes. Dealing with the students’ involvement, most of students 93.75 were involved actively in the
reading activities in the third meeting of Cycle 2. The result of the analysis showed that there is a difference between the
students score before using semantic mapping technique and after given a semantic mapping technique in reading comprehension. Moreover, the
enthusiastic of students in reading activities also have improvement. The writer concludes that the semantic mapping technique can be used for influence the
students in the result of reading activity.
2.1.2 Improving Students’ Reading Comprehension through Semantic Mapping Strategy
In 2010, Muhtar conducted the research to explore the reading comprehension through semantic mapping strategy. The objective of the research was to examine
whether the use of semantic mapping strategy can improve the students’ reading
comprehension. Besides, the research was also designed to study what may happen when semantic mapping strategy was implemented in the classroom
practice. The research was carried out in the eighth year students of SMPN 1 Sine
in the academic year of 20092010. This research was conducted in two cycles by following the procedure of action research, i.e. planning, implementing,
observing, and reflecting. In collecting the data, the researcher used observation, interview, questionnaire, and test. The teacher was the researcher assisted by
collaborators as observers, while the researcher was implementing the research. The interview and questionnaire were given to the students before and after the
implementation of semantic mapping strategy. The tests were in the form of pre- test and post-test. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The
qualitative data were analyzed using Constant Comparative Method. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The results of the research showed that semantic mapping strategy was able to improve the students’ reading comprehension. It was proved by the
increase of the students’ mean score from 55.89 in the pre-test to 63.16 in Cycle 1, and 75.05 in Cycle 2. Furthermore, the class situation also improved. The class
became more enjoyable and fun. The students became more active individually and in group. Based on the result of the research, it could be concluded that the
use of semantic mapping strategy has proven to be an effective way in teaching- learning of reading comprehension in the eighth year students of SMPN 1 Sine in
the academic year of 20092010.
