boxes in writing some related subjects. Clustering also should be done before starting an overall written. By doing clustering technique, the students do not have
to be worried about the grammar or the other rules such as punctuation and etc., because they only have to write some subjects related to the topic. After that, the
students may try and omit several clusters before making it into the writing.
It can be concluded, by using clustering technique the students are hoped can easily start writing in generating their ideas that have written. The figure below is
the example of clustering:
Figure 2.1 Example of Clustering
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3. Steps of Using Clustering
As mentioned before, clustering technique is helpful for the students who like to do their thinking in a visual way. In this technique, the students could use lines,
boxes, arrows, and circles to show relationships among the ideas and details to occur to them. Here are the steps of clustering:
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a. Take a sheet of paper and write the main topic in the middle of a page and draw a circle around it.
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Langan, op. cit., p. 28.
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Clouse, op. cit., pp. 24 – 26.
Campus life Figure 2.2 the Circle of Main Topic beginning stage
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b. Write ideas relating to that topic around, circle them, and connect them to the central circle.
Figure 2.3 Grouping Ideas Second stage
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c. Write down facts, details, examples, or ideas related in any way to the main parts of the topic and circle it.
d. Continue and repeat writing ideas and joining them to circle that seem connected.
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Ibid.
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Ibid.
Figure 2.4 Circles the ideas third stage
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e. Keep writing until the ideas run out. Then, see if one particular circle is enough to begin a draft, make cluster again to expand the branches or to omit
the irrelevant words with the topic. After that, the students can begin a first draft in writing.
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Ibid.
Figure 2.5 Finishing the Clustering last stage
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4. Teaching Recount Text Using Clustering Technique
The followings are some steps in teaching recount text using clustering technique:
Step 1: The teacher explain about recount text, the kinds, schematic structures,
and linguistic features of recount text to students.
Step 2: Introduce the concept of clustering technique to the students. Tell them
what the definition of clustering technique is; the purposes, how it can work, and it would help them in generate ideas before they start to write.
Step 3: The teacher gives an example to generate ideas by using clustering
technique on the whiteboard as a model. Put the topic in the center by using box or other shapes and put keywords that related to the topic by using lines or arrows.
In this step, the teacher tells the students to not worry in generating ideas because
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Ibid.
it is free for them to write or organize all their ideas as long as it is related to the topic.
Step 4:
Ask the students to write the first draft based on the design of clustering technique samples that have been made on the whiteboard to know that students
have easy when started to write by using clustering technique.
Step 5: After the students are able to use clustering technique, give them a topic
about personal recount text that referred to their own experience. Then ask them to make their own clustering and leads the students to make the clustering of the
topic given. Last, give the students an evaluation to check their ability in writing recount text and to know their problem in writing.
D. Previous Study
