The Effectiveness of Using Mind Mapping in Writing a Descriptive Text (An Experimental Study on MAS Al-Ishlah Al-Aziziyah Banda Aceh)

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of using mind mapping in writing descriptive text among twelfth-grade students of MAS Al-Ishlah Al-Aziziyah Banda Aceh. This research employed a quantitative approach using a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test and post-test design. The population of this study consisted of 55 students, while the sample was 30 twelfth-grade students selected as a single intact group. The instrument used in this research was a writing test administered through a pre-test and a post-test. The data were analyzed using the Normality Test, Paired Sample T-Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and N-Gain Test. The findings showed that students’ writing ability improved after the implementation of mind mapping. In the pre-test, only 2 students achieved the minimum passing grade of 71, while 28 students scored below the criterion. After the treatment, 24 students achieved scores equal to or above the minimum passing grade, while only 6 students remained below the criterion. The result of the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed a significance value of less than 0.05 (p < 0.001), indicating a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores. Therefore, the alternative hypothesis (H₁) was accepted, and the null hypothesis (H₀) was rejected. Furthermore, the N-Gain Test showed a mean score of 57.02, which was categorized as moderate improvement. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that mind mapping was effective in improving students’ ability in writing descriptive text at MAS Al-Ishlah Al-Aziziyah Banda Aceh.