An Analysis of Students’ Difficulties in Writing Recount Text at Tenth Grade of SMA N 1 Sungai Limau

This research based on students’ low of ability in writing especially in using correct grammar at SMA N 1 Sungai Limau. This research aims to find out students’ ability and their difficulties in writing recount texts at tenth grade of SMA N 1 Sungai Limau. This research is quantitative research. The subject of this research was students of SMA N 1 Sungai Limau. Cluster sampling was used to take the sample. The sample of this research was the students of class X.1 and X.3. The instrument of this research was writing test of recount texts. Then, the score was analyzed based on indicators. Then, it was interpreted to get the findings. Based on the analysis, students’ ability in writing recount text was weak with mean 2.3. Furthermore, it was found students’ difficulties in writing recount texts in using language features. They were in using simple past tense, action verb, linking, and pronoun. The causes these difficulties were Interlingual transfer, Intralingual transfer, and lack of vocabulary. It can be concluded that students still have some difficulties in writing correct sentences in recount texts. Moreover, it is hoped that teachers can give better techniques in teaching writing and students can do many practices to improve their ability in writing recount text.