The Realization of Written Model Texts in the Junior High School English Textbook

Toni Hartono Politeknik Negeri Semarang Abstract: The new curricula for high schools (Competence-based Curriculum 2004 and School-based Curriculum 2006) brought about changes in English teaching from focusing on grammar to focusing on discourse. The changes cover both content and organization of learning. The content influences materials in the textbook, and the organization takes effect on the classroom programming. The study investigates realization of English model texts for Junior High School especially in a textbook for year VIII. It includes their genres, cohesion and coherence. The method employed is discourse analysis and the approach is qualitative. The data are 16 reading texts used as models for writing in the English on the Sky (EOS) textbook. The result shows that most of the texts (87.5%) display appropriate aspects of the genres. Two texts (12.5%) are problematic and not suitable for use as models. All of the texts are cohesive and most of them are coherent. The textbook writers are suggested to be more selective in providing written materials especially on genres and proportional use of cohesive ties. The result is expected to give English teachers an insight into genres, cohesion and coherence. Keywords: genre, generic structure, linguistic features, cohesion, coherence