Asnafiah, Elis. 2016. An Analysis On Students’ Writing In English Narrative Texts To The Third Year Of SMP Negeri 2 Balikpapan. (Under Supervisor Of Prof. Dr.Susilo,M.Pd and Istanti Hermagustiana, M.A). Samarinda: Unpublished Thesis. Mulawarman University.

This research was conducted to find out the the students’ ability in English Narrative Texts to the third year of SMP Negeri 2 Balikpapan and the problems the students had in writing narrative texts.

The population of this research was the third year students of SMP Negeri 2 Balikpapan. The samples takes were 11 of them by random cluster sampling. The data for this research were the students’ work on narrative writing composition and the students’ responds on the questionnaire. The research was held for 3 meetings for the material, writing test, and responding to the questionnaire. The students’ narrative writing compositions then were assessed using The Narrative Marking Guide by MCCECDYA. After having the writing test, the research explored the students’ opinion about their problems they had in writing narrative texts.

Results of the research showed that the students’ ability in writing narrative texts was categorized Fair. It could be seen from the result of the average score of their writing test that was 58,54. While, based on the results on the questionnaire showed that the students had problems on 5 criteria needed in writing narrative text. The criteria were developing ideas, developing the character and setting, choosing the precise vocabularies, using time connection, producing the appropriate sentence structure.

The result of the research suggested that the English teachers can also need media to aid the students to write their narrative texts in order to make the students more understand and better in writing narrative texts.In addition, it is also suggested to the next researchers who interested in investigating the same field to find out the better strategy and approach to improve the students’ ability in writing narrative texts.

Keywords: The Ability, Writing, Narrative Texts, Problems