This final project is about teaching Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) technique to seventh graders of SMP Hasanuddin 10 Semarang. The objective of study was to investigate whether CIRC technique was effective in improving students’ writing achievement in descriptive texts. Research design of this study was experimental research using quasi experimental group design included in quantitative method. Population of the study was seventh graders of SMP Hasanuddin 10 Semarang in academic year of 2016/2017 with a total number of 235 students. The writer used a convenience sampling technique and two classes were taken as samples, they were VII E as control class and VII F as experimental class. The instrument of study used was writing test. The writer used two kinds of test: pre-test and post-test. Pre-test was given to both groups before giving treatment. A post-test was given after treatments. The data from two tests were scored used SPSS for Windows version 16.0 to analyze the result of pre-test and post-test. The result of T-test showed mean of experimental group in pre-test was 57.69 and mean of control group was 57.05. After conducting experiment, the writer gave post test. The mean score of control group post-test was 68.72 and experimental group was 76.67. T-test calculation shows that the difference is significant. It was supported by result of pre-test and post-test in experimental class was sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < 0.05. It means that H1 hypothesis was accepted. So, using CIRC technique was effective to improve students’ writing achievement in descriptive text.

Key words: Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) technique, Writing, and Descriptive