57 ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education ISSN 2301-7554 Vol.2, Issue 1, December 2013 http://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE IMPROVING STUDENTS’ COMPETENCE IN WRITING DESCRIPTIVE TEXTS THROUGH “FRESH” TECHNIQUE Faisal Department of English Education, Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto, Indonesia E-mail: faisal_aulia@yahoo.com Yasinta Wulandari Department of English Education, Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto, Indonesia E-mail: yasinta9074@yahoo.com APA Citation: Faisal & Wulandari, Y. (2013). Improving students’ competence in writing descriptive texts through “fresh” technique. English Review: Journal of English Education, 2(1), 57-65 Received: 18-07-2013 Accepted: 29-10-2013 Published: 01-12-2013 Abstract: This research was aimed to know whether “FRESH” technique can improve students’ competence in writing descriptive texts. This research was conducted in one of the junior high schools in Banyumas in academic year 2012/2013. The method of this research is Classroom Action Research (CAR). The research participants were the students of VIII E class consisting of 28 students. The treatment was carried out in two cycles of four actions, from November 9 th , 2012 to December 1 st , 2012. The quantitative data (tests) were evaluated by using Burhan Nurgiyantoro’s Writing Evaluation Criteria which consisted of evaluation in content, organization, vocabulary, language, and mechanics. Based on the data analysis, it could be described that the students’ competence in writing descriptive texts improved. It could be seen from the improvement of students’ score in pre-test and post test. The improvement of students’ score was 23.607%. This meant that “FRESH” technique improved the students’ competence in writing descriptive text in the eighth grade students of in academic year 2012/2013. Keywords: descriptive text, FRESH technique, classroom action research, writing competence written form, as writing is a means of communication. In the teaching and learning writing process in Indonesia, students have been introduced since they were in the elementary school, from the simplest form e.g. writing words to writing sentences. In the junior high level, students are taught to write more complex sentences and paragraphs. Based on the junior high level syllabus, there are some texts that should be learned by the students, especially in the eighth grade. Those are descriptive, narrative, and recount texts. The purposes of learning those texts is that the students can express their ideas in a simple written form such as functional text and essay, and can use those texts in their daily life. INTRODUCTION Writing is said to be the fourth competence in learning language. Although many students said that writing is a dificult competence, yet writing is actually an easy and enjoyable activity if there are appropriate methods, interesting teaching techniques, and actual materials. Writing is an activity in which learners form graphic symbols, arrange them to form words, and put the words in order and link them together in a certain way to produce a logical sequence of sentences (Hernowo, 2004: 43). It is a complex activity since requiring students’ comprehensive abilities such as mastering grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. Besides, to write well, the students are expected to be able to present their ideas in the