Improving Students’ Reading Comprehension of Descriptive Text by Using Pictures and Semantic Mapping at Grade VII.1 of SMPN 2 X Koto Diatas Solok Regency.

Based on the researcher‟s experience and observation, students‟ reading comprehension of descriptive genre text at grade VII.1 SMPN 2 X Koto Diatas Solok Regency was still low. The problem was caused by several factors; the students were lazy to read the text, the lack of vocabulary and the lack of good techniques. As a result, it was hard for them to figure out the information or ideas of the text and differentiate the genre texts. The research was aimed to explain to what extent the pictures and semantic mapping can improve students‟ reading comprehension of descriptive texts and what factors influencing the using of this technique could better improve students‟ reading comprehension of descriptive text at grade VII.1 of SMPN 2 X Koto Diatas Solok Regency through classroom action research. The research was done in two cycles. Each cycle consists of four steps; planning, action, observation, and reflection. The quantitative data was collected by the reading test in multiple choices and the qualitative data trough observation, field notes and interview. The quantitative data was analyzed by using average score formula and comparing with the minimum passing grade criteria (KKM). The qualitative data was analyzed by qualitative procedure by Yasin. The result of the both data would be compared and connected to explain about the students‟ improvement and the factors that were influenced it. The findings of this research showed that the students‟ reading comprehension of descriptive text improved after they used pictures and semantic mapping in order to understand the text. In addition, it has been found that the factors that were influenced the improvement are the materials, the technique, the classroom management, the media, the teacher‟s strategy and the teacher‟s approach.