The Use of a Visual Image to Promote Narrative Writing Ability and Creativity

Abstract

Purpose: Second language writing as an inherentpart of ELT is no exception. One specific part ofsecond language writing in which visual images canbe used is narrative essay writing. Visual images, inthis case, comic series and pictures, can be a veryuseful aid in stimulating students’ ideas, creativity,as well as interest and ability in narrative essaywriting. Students’ writing activities in usingpictures and comic strips are discussed in this study, including students’ responses towardsthis particular topic, as well as the procedures of how these visual images are used. This studyis therefore aimed at disclosing how pictures and comic strips, as forms of visual images, canbe used to enhance students’ narrative writing ability as well as creativity. In writing narrativeessays with the help of visual images, students were helped in terms of generating ideas,developing logical and critical thinking, and improving reasoning skills.Research Methods: The design of this study was qualitative in nature. The participants werecomprised of 19 Professional Narrative Writing students. The data for this research was takenfrom documents, that is, students’ essays and journals which were written after the writingactivities were done, interviews with two students, and students’ scores. There were also pre-tests and post-tests given at the beginning and the end of the semester, but the scores weredescriptively presented. Interviews with two students were also conducted to validate thefindings. These students, whose essays were used as analyzed documents, were enrolled inthe Professional Narrative Writing class of the English Language Education Program, the Facultyof Language and Arts (FLA), Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW), Salatiga, Indonesia.The class was conducted in Semester I of the 2017-2018 academic year. The students werefourth-semester students. The Professional Narrative Writing course taught students how to beprofessional in writing narratives.Findings: The findings showed that pictures, as well as comic strips, were very useful inhelping students to write narratives. They helped students generate ideas, delve into morecreativity, as well as develop their imagination and motivation in writing, though somestudents experienced difficulties in some aspects like ideas, grammar, diction, and plot.Implications for Research and Practice: The results of the study hopefully can inspire othernarrative writing lecturers all over the globe to maximize the use of visual images, includingpictures and comic strips. These visual aids can enhance students’ writing abilities as well astheir creativity. Students taking writing courses can hopefully be motivated to write betternarratives.