COMMENT FOR GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS By: Ratna Nur'aini

                  I agree that teaching and learning using Graphic Organizers are a good way and more effective to be applied in the English class with the four skills of language- listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It will be easier for the learners of SMAN7 who learn listening and speaking, for example when they are given any pictures as any illustration while they are listening the texts or dialogues as well as practicing for speaking in pairs or in groups. Graphics or pictures help them understand and predict the content or the meaning of the texts or dialogues given through compact disk (CD). When the learners are sure with their prediction about the content of text they have heard while confirming to the pictures given, they may have ideas to create some words, phrases or sentences. Then they order those sentences into a short paragraph to form a story in their version using their own words. Finally, the learners are bravely enough to demonstrate orally in front of class or in front of groups if the class are divided into group works.  Then each group is given their chance to retell the texts or show their works orally as a means of practicing speaking. While some other groups are asked to give some comments or may add information related to the text.

                  I also agree that Graphic organizers are effective enough to be used in teaching reading and writing. Something to make the learners easier to understand the reading texts is using any media. The following is a part of the graphic media such as a chart containing some words in a form of synonym, antonym or words as clues. In this case, the learners can learn or increase their vocabularies. At the end of the meeting for each competence, the class will be ended by the writing activities. The learners themselves should find out the genre of the texts given. During the discussion of the texts teachers help them as a facilitator to find out the generic structures of the discussing texts. The class in groups is asked by the teacher to generalize the texts given and answer some questions to make sure whether they have already understood about the texts. Therefore, when they are asked to find the genre of the texts the learners will not find many problems to face. With the help of graphic organizers the learners will be easier to work than before. Finally, they feel more relax and happy to learn English. They do not feel getting any burden when they get some assignment.

The following is the example of the text given to the learners of SMAN7:

Britney Spears-Lutfi Investigated for “Drugging” Spears      Caption: Britney Spears is followed by a frenzy of photographers while shopping at Fred Segal in West Hollywood. Los Angeles, California-15.02.08.      Britney Spears estranged manager Sam Lutfi is under investigation by Los Angeles police over allegations he drugged the troubled star. Lutfi was served a restraining order earlier this month (Feb 2008) and was instructed to keep his distance from the Spears family after Britney’s mother Lynne claimed the manager had admitted he drugged her daughter. According to website TMZ, the allegations are now being investigated by the Major Crimes Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.      Lutfi’s new spokesman Michael Sands tells TMZ.com he is aware of the investigation. Spears had been hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation at Los Angeles UCLA Medical Centre, but was discharged last week (06 Feb 2008) after a seven-day stay.( taken from:LKS Modul Bahasa Inggris semester genap kelas X.Penerbit Hayati Tumbuh Subur)

The examples of activities given to the learners:

a.     Guess the meaning of the words from the text!

1.     Allegation       : ……….             6. Drugged                    : ………. 2.     Discharge       : ……….             7. Claimed                     : ………. 3.     Estranged       : ……….             8. Psychiatric                : ………. 4.     Spokesman    : ……….              9. Restraining order    : ………. 5.     Investigation : ……….             10. Admitted                 : ……….

b.     Complete the table based on the generic structure of the text!

Text Element	Paragraph/Sentences
Newsworthy event	…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………
Background event	…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………..
Source	…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………

c.     Create a short paragraph based on your knowledge to summarize the news by answering the following some leading questions. Elaborate your paragraph!

1.     Who was the doer or the actress that was reported in the news? ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2.     Where was the event occurred? ……………………………………………… 3.     What was the event experienced by the doer or the actress? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4.     What did the manager and the family do toward the doer or the actress? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5.     Who was responsible with the news? …………………………………………………………. 6.     How was the condition of the doer or the actress after having that experience? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

d.     Make your own dialogue related to the NEWS REPORT you have just learned and discussed. Demonstrate it in front of class!

Student A	Student B
1.     Question ………………. 2.     Answer ………………….. Question ………………… 3.     Answer ………………….. Question ……………….. 4.     ………………………………. ………………………………. 5.     ………………………………. ……………………………….	1.     Answer ………………… Question ……………… 2.     Answer ………………… Question ……………… 3.     Answer ……………….. Question …………….. 4.     ……………………………… ………………………………. 5.     ………………………………. ……………………………….