Critical Review of book "pokonya menulis"

A.    INTRODUCTION

The wise man said: “if you want to be known and remembered, write a thing”. This wise word encourages us to be active in writing. It suggests that if some one wants to be well known and ever lasting remembered, he/she should write something that people can read it.   The fact that writing is easy is not true. Even it is, for some people, hard to do especially for the beginners. To be a good writer must be a good reader. Every good writer automatically must be a good reader, but not every good reader is a good writer. There are people who read a lot but they can write nothing. For this, writing is another skill that must be learnt, sharpened and exercised.

According To David P. Harris (1969) in Wahyu Wibowo (2001) said that there are four language skills; namely: (a) Listening (b) Speaking (c) Reading (d) Writing. All these skills can be mastered by more practices. Language is like a Self-defender (Pesilat). the more he/she practices regularly, the more he/she will be fluent in language, and so in writing, the more he/she practice writing, the better he/she can.      

B.     ABOUT THE BOOK

The book entitled “Pokoknya Menulis” Cara baru menulis dengan metode kolaborasi is written by A. Chaedar Alwasilah and Senny Suizanna Alwasilah. It gives another way how to write and to be a good writer. It is written by its experts who have experience and skill as well as talents.

C.    WHAT THE BOOK SAYS

The book offers some interesting ways; using some mnemonic phrases such as EDAN, AIM READY SIR, IREX, MINOR SINS, and MAJOR SINS etc, it is really friendly. It does not emphasize on merely theory but also it gives us more chance to try and practice writing. The authors try to share their ideas and experience. Therefore, I am immersed in this book.  

As lectures, they know more the difficulties of the students, especially in writing. Hence, they give the real examples that students mostly make some mistakes. They give some articles to discuss and then give some methods or way to cope with problems. Besides that, I can take benefit from the articles given. There are some information and knowledge that I have not known before.

D.    FOR WHOM THE BOOK PROVIDED

In fact, this book is aimed at providing writing subject at Indonesia University of Education. It consists of sixteen chapters for one semester. Even though this book can be used by any other people who want to explore their inner capacity or talent, because it is flexible and useable by everyone. It gives new atmosphere in learning how to write better and fast.

E.     WHAT ITS ADVENTAGES

1.      This book is designed in simple and practical way.

2.      It is a friendly book and invites the reader to immerse in it

3.      It emphasizes on practice better than theory and copes with the difficulties of the reader or writer.

4.      The authors are the expert of writing and used to writing the books and articles in several daily like Pikiran Rakyat, Madia Indonesia, Kompas and so on.

F.      WHAT ITS DISADVANTAGES

            In my opinion, this book is good and hard to find its disadvantages. But, however, I want to give suggestion to this book. Although this book does not emphasize on theory, it would be better to give a little bit of theory definition, so the reader/writer knows what he/she to do, for example it should give clear explanation of concept, credibility consideration, logical consideration, emotional emotion and so on.

G.    CONCLUSION

This book is different from other books concerning with how to write. It is suitable for beginners who want to write. It is more practical and simpler. It is also suitable for every one, since it gives some practical way and method to immerse in writing skill. However, it is suggested to one who is eager to be a good writer to practice more and more. The more he/she practices, the better he/she can be a good writer.