This study aims to: (1) assess the charge textbooks Syntax: "Sentence" bahasa Indonesia is based on a needs analysis; (2) analyzing the breakdown of understanding Syntax: "Sentence" Indonesian with contextual approach; (3) test the effectiveness of understanding Syntax: "Sentence" Indonesian with kontekstua approach. This research was conducted through qualitative and quantitative approaches with fourth semester students at three private colleges and the universities throughout Surakarta, Indonesia in 2014/2015. Quantitative study conducted through the instrument used by the student to understand Syntax Indonesian sentences by using a contextual approach to determine the ability of students to understand the syntax Indonesian sentences in solving these problems. All instruments before deploying were tested for validity and reliability of their needs. Qualitative studies are used to reinforce the results of interviews with six lecturers Syntax Study Program Indonesian language and literature at universities in Surakarta, namely the University of Veterans Bangun Nusantara Sukoharjo, Muhammadiyah University Surakarta, Widya Dharma University Klaten, Sebelas Maret University Surakarta. The results showed that the majority of students implement contextual learning by doing lesson plans that all students perform implement, but to look back make most students do not review anything. Based on the result of exposure to the development of prototypes, the value of t (8,24) > t table (1.69), then Ho is accepted. There are differences post test conventional class and experimental class on Indonesian syntactic ability. From the calculations, the average scores for post test conventional class is 70.45, while the average for post test 79.24. This indicates that the average score post test greater than the average score of pre test. Thus the effectiveness of the test results with the textbook syntactic contextual approach classed either.