The Effect of Personal Photographs on Students’ Ability to Write Descriptive Texts

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of using personal photographs on students’ ability to write descriptive texts among eighth-grade students of SMP Negeri 4 Kutacane in the 2024/2025 academic year. The research was conducted due to students’ difficulties in generating ideas, organizing descriptions, and applying appropriate vocabulary and grammar in descriptive writing. To overcome these challenges, personal photographs were utilized as a visual and contextual learning medium to support students’ writing development. This study employed a quantitative approach using a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design. The population consisted of 74 eighth-grade students, and 24 students were selected as the sample through purposive sampling. Data were collected through writing tests administered before and after the treatment, and students’ writing was assessed using a rubric covering content, organization, vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show a significant improvement in students’ descriptive writing ability after the use of personal photographs. The mean score increased from 45.42 in the pre-test to 76.25 in the post-test, and 84% of the students achieved scores above the Minimum Mastery Criterion of 70. Additionally, the decrease in standard deviation indicates more consistent writing performance. These findings demonstrate that personal photographs have a positive and significant effect on students’ descriptive writing ability and can be an effective instructional medium in junior high school contexts.