DEVELOPING WRITING MATERIALS BASED ON PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING FOR EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AT SMP NEGERI 27 MEDAN

The objectives of this study are: (1) to identify the students’ needs in writing recount text, and (2) to develop writing materials based on problem-based learning for eighth grade students at SMP Negeri 27 Medan. This study was conducted by using Research and Development (R&D) design through six phases namely: gathering information and data, analyzing data, designing materials, validating new materials by experts, revising materials based on experts’ suggestions and revised developing materials (final product). The subjects of this research were students in grade VIII at SMP Negeri 27 Medan. The data of this study was existing materials for students in junior high school grade VIII. The data and sources of data were the existing materials, syllabus and interview the English teacher’s result. After analyzing the data, the students’ needs were found that the existing materials were not relevant to the syllabus which made the students confused. The new writing materials were developed based on problem-based learning and had been validated by experts. The average scores are 4.79 from English subject teacher and 4.44 from English lecturer. It means the developed writing materials based on problem-based learning are categorized as relevant or appropriate and categorized as good for students at SMP Negeri 27 Medan.