Improving Reading Comprehension of the Eighthgrade Students of SMP Widya Sakti Denpasar in the Academic Year 2023/2024 through Small Group Discussion

Reading is a process of constructing meaning through dynamic interaction between readers. Preliminary research showed that most of the eighth-grade students of SMP Widya Sakti Denpasar in the academic year 2023/2024 faced problems in reading comprehension especially in identifying general information, specific information, textual meaning, and textual references. Moreover, the research objective was to know whether reading comprehension of the eighth-grade students of SMP Widya Sakti Denpasar can be improved through Small Group Discussion. To achieve the objective, the researcher conducted classroom action research which was done in two cycles. The research instruments, tests and questionnaire, were administered to collect the required data. The data were then analyzed by comparing the results of the pre-test, and post-tests which showed there were significant improvements of the subjects’ mean scores. As the supporting data, the questionnaire was also administered at the end of the last cycle and the results showed positive responses on the implementation of Small Group Discussion. Based on the results of the research instruments, it could be concluded that reading comprehension of the eighth-grade students of SMP Widya Sakti Denpasar in the academic year 2023/2024 can be improved through Small Group Discussion.