Writing is considered as an important skill in learning process which is needed to be mastered by the students. However, in teaching learning process at schools or universities, the assessment of writing skill is not becoming the focus of learning process and the assessment is administered inappropriately. In this present study, the researcher undertook the study which dealt with assessing descriptive paragraph writing ability of the students through picture description by employing an ex post facto as the research design. The present study was intended to answer the research problem dealing with the extent of the students’ achievement of descriptive paragraph writing ability which is assessed through picture description. The samples under the study were 40 students determined by means of random sampling technique with lottery system. The data were collected through administering picture description as the research instrument. The obtained data were analyzed by using norm-reference measure of five standard values. The results of the data analysis showed that there were 67.50% samples of the study were successful in writing descriptive paragraph, while there were 32.50% samples were unsuccessful in writing descriptive paragraph which was assessed by administering picture description test

This study aims to reveal the effect of self-efficacy on the elementary level students and factors causing the high level of self-efficacy and its influence on students' English speaking ability. The population of this study were all students of grade VIII SMPN 3 Gianyar, while the sample of this study was taken by random sampling technique with lottery system. For research and data collection methods, the researcher uses some valid and reliable instruments, namely (1) speaking performance appraisal to know students' ability to speak English consisting of 3 criteria ie smoothness, pronunciation and improvisation, (2) self-efficacy questionnaire for knowing the high level of self-efficacy and its influence on students' speaking ability consisting of 4 components ie learning experience, field experience, social invitation, and psychological and emotional condition and analyzed with SPSS 16.0, (3) FGD guide (Focus Group Discussion) to know the factors causing the high low self-efficacy consisting of these 8 interview questions. A total of 33 students with details of 12 male and 21 female students were grouped into 3 large groups (high, medium, low) to be interviewed through FGD. The results of this study is self-efficacy gives a significant effect on students' speaking ability at the basic level of contribution of 91%. It was also found that the four criteria in self-efficacy have significant influence on students 'speaking ability, the most dominant is the criteria of students' psychic and emotional state when learning to speak English. This study contributes empirically that teachers can update their teaching techniques by observing self-efficacy in students by using creativity in teaching. In addition students can find out what happens to them during English learning so that together can create a comfortable and conducive learning atmosphere.

Penelitian ini adalah penelitian tindakan kelas dengan menerapkan strategi KWL (Know, Want to know and Learn) yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pembelajaran dalam mempelajari teori sastra. Dalam penelitian ini, peneliti mengumpulkan data dari mahasiswa semester IV Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Mahasaraswati Denpasar yang mengambil mata kuliah Introduction to Literature. Strategi ini dapat membantu mahasiswa untuk memahami teori dan dalam KWL juga membantu dosen agar mahasiswa tetap termotivasi dan tertarik ketika mereka berpikir tentang apa yang ingin mereka ketahui dan apa yang telah mereka pelajari. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui pre-test, post-test dan angket di akhir siklus. Selanjutnya peneliti menggunakan teknik tes berupa tes lisan untuk semua siklus. Target pencapaian atau ketuntasan belajar siswa adalah A sebesar 50%, B sebesar 40%, C sebesar 10%, dan D 0%. Dari hasil nilai rata-rata siswa terjadi peningkatan secara signifikan. Selain itu, hasil angket yang telah diberikan menunjukkan bahwa mahasiswa merespon positif penerapan strategi KWL dalam prestasi belajar mahasiswa. Hal ini dapat dilihat dari hasil angket bahwa lebih dari 90% memberikan respon yang baik bahwa strategi KWL dapat meningkatkan prestasi belajar mahasiswa dalam teori sastra.