Four Square Writing Method Applied in Product and Process Based Approaches Combination to Teaching Writing Discussion Text

Four Square Writing Method is a writing method which helps students in organizing concept to write by using a graphic organizer. This study aims to examine the influence of applying FSWM in combination of product and process based approaches to teaching writing discussion texts toward students� writing skill, the teaching-learning writing process and the students� attitude toward the implementation of the writing method. This study applies a mixed-method through applying an embedded design. 26 EFL university students of a private university in West Java, Indonesia, are involved in the study. There are 3 kinds of instrument used, namely tests (pre and post-test), field notes, and questionnaires. Data taken from students� writing test are analyzed statistically to identify the influence of applying the writing method toward students� writing skill; data taken from field notes are analyzed qualitatively to examine the learning writing activities at the time the writing method is implemented; and data taken from questionnaires are analyzed descriptive statistic to explore students� attitude toward the implementation of the writing method. Regarding the result of paired t-test, the writing method is effective in improving students� writing skill since level of significant (two-tailed) is less than alpha (0.000<0.05). Furthermore, the result taken from field notes shows that each steps applied and graphic organizer used in the writing method lead students to compose discussion texts which meet a demand of genre. In addition, regard with the result taken from questionnaire, the students show highly positive attitude toward the treatment since the mean score is 4.32.Keywords: FSWM; combination of product and process based approach, discussion text