Writing is an important skill which must be teach to junior high school students especially at the grade VIII D of SMP Muhammadiyah Margasari Tegal. Based on the discussion between the researcher and the English Teacher of SMP Muhammadiyah Margasari Tegal Mr. Khafid Usman SHI about the problem faced by the students in learning English, the students have some problem in writing, it needs good solution to increase the learning process. The researcher tried and observed and improved the ability in writing recount text by using contextual teaching and learning approach. Therefore, to improve students’ writing skill, the researcher conducted a classroom action research. This research is conducted to answer the following questions: 1) How is the students’ participation of Recount Text after being taught using Contextual Teaching and Learning Approach at the grade VIII D of SMP Muhammadiyah Margasari Tegal in the Academic Year of 2015/2016?, 2) How is the improvement of students’ writing ability of Recount Text after being taught using Contextual Teaching and Learning Approach at the grade VIII D of SMP Muhammadiyah Margasari Tegal in the Academic Year of 2015/2016?
In this research, the researcher conducted a classroom action research as a method. The data were collected through three techniques: Observation, test, and documentation. This research focused on eighth D students of SMP Muhammadiyah Margasari Tegal. The criteria of writing assessment involve: content, organization, vocabulary, language use, and mechanics. This success can be seen from the result of students’ average score and good responses by students.
The result of the research showed that the use of contextual teaching and learning approach can improve students’ ability in writing recount text at the grade VIII d of SMP Muhammadiyah Margasari Tegal in the Academic Year of 2015/2016. In the preliminary research test, the researcher used conventional method and many students did not give attention to the material. The students did the evaluation test, and the mean score of students writing ability on recount text was 70. In the first cycle, the researcher used contextual teaching and learning, the mean result was increased from 70 to 73.56. In the second cycle, the researcher still used contextual teaching and learning, the result was improved than previous cycle. Their motivation and interest were also better in every cycle. The mean result was 75.06. It was higher than previous cycle. It was from 73.56 become 75.06. From the result, the researcher concluded that the students’ achievement in writing recount text using contextual teaching and learning approach had a significant improvement compared from the previous cycle.