CLARA TAROCI MEDA Pengarang GRACIA M. N. OTTA Dosen Pembimbing 2 Soleman Dapa Taka Dosen Pembimbing 1 Novriani Rabeka Manafe Ketua Penguji Gracia M. N. Otta Penguji 2 Soleman Dapa Taka Penguji 1

This study aims to improve the reading comprehension of descriptive texts among Grade XI students at SMA Negeri 8 Kupang through the implementation of the mind mapping technique. The research adopts a qualitative approach involving observations, interviews, and reading tasks to explore how mind mapping helps students in understanding descriptive texts. The participants were 30 students from Class XI-B. The results showed that 80% of the students actively engaged in the mind mapping activities, and 90% of them reported an improvement in their comprehension after applying the technique. Students stated that mind mapping helped them organize ideas, visualize key points, and made the learning process more enjoyable. The findings indicate that mind mapping is an effective strategy to enhance reading comprehension, especially in identifying main ideas and understanding text structures. This technique also fosters creativity and motivation among students. Thus, integrating mind mapping into reading lessons can significantly support students' comprehension of descriptive texts. Keywords: Descriptive Text, Learning Strategy, Mind Mapping, Reading Comprehension, Visualization