This research aimed to improve students’ reading comprehension using
DRTA Method in reading activity. It used classroom action research (CAR),
which was conducted at X-2 grade students of SMA N 1 Rawalo in Academic
Year 2011/2012 as the subject of this research. The population of the class was 32
students. It was done on 28th March until 11st April 2012.
This research did collaboration with the English teacher in the class. The
CAR was carried out based on Kemmis and McTaggart design. This research took
two cycles with 2 actions in each cycle. Each cycle consisted of planning, acting,
observing, reflecting and evaluating. This research applied both qualitative data
and quantitative data that were test, observation and questionnaire.
The result of this research showed that there was a significant
improvement in students’ reading comprehension after implementing the CAR
using DRTA Method in reading activity. The average score of the students in
reading test in cycle 1 was 58.65 and 69.00 in cycle 2. Therefore, the
improvement in cycle 1 was 40.07% and improved again to 64.8% in cycle 2. So,
the improvement of students’ reading comprehension from cycle 1 to cycle 2 was
24.73%. The improvement also happened in students’ reading activity. It was
40.05% in Cycle 1 and improved to 59.68% in Cycle 2. The improvement of
questionnaire which was gained from then 10 questions showed that the students
gave positive response to the implementation of DRTA Method in reading
activity. The average of the students’ questionnaire that filled “Yes” was 84.68%.
Those data proved that DRTA Method in reading activity could improve the
students’ reading comprehension