2. Explanation
Text
Definition of Explanation Text
Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of
natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena. Explanation text is to say
‘why’ and ‘how’ of the forming of the phenomena. It is often found in
science, geography and history text books.
3. Generic Structure of Explanation Text
General statement
General statement; starting the phenomenon issues which are to be explained.
Sequenced of explanation
Sequenced explanation; starting a series of steps which explain the How’s or why’s phenomena.
Concluding paragrapgh
An optional concluding statement can tie up the explanation
4. Language Features of Explanation Text
In an explanation text, there are linguistic features as below :
•Using simple present tense
•Using abstract noun (no visible noun) e.g. heat, earthquakes.
•Using Passive voice
•Use of action verbs to explain cause, e.g. from, started from.
•Use of adverbial phrases of time and place to tell where and when actions occurred, e.g. It is to be found in North America
America
•Containing explanation of the process e.g diagram picture.
5. Example of explanation text
How Chocolate is Made
Have we wondered how we get chocolate from? Well this time we will enter the amazing world of chocolate so we can
understand exactly we are eating.
Chocolate starts a tree called cacao tree. This tree grows in equatorial regions, especially in place such as South America,
Africa, and Indonesia. The cacao tree produces a fruit about the size of a small pine apple. Inside the fruits are the tree’s
seeds. They are also known as coco beans.
Next, the beans are fermented for about a week, dried in the sun. After that they are shipped to the chocolate maker. The
The chocolate maker starts processing by roasting the beans to bring out the flavor. Different beans from different places
have different qualities and flavor. So they are often shorted and blended to produce a distinctive mix.
The next process is winnowing. The roasted beans are winnowed to remove the meat nib of the cacao bean from its shell.
shell. Then the nibs are blended. The blended nibs are grounded to make it liquid. The liquid is called chocolate liquor. It
tastes bitter.
All seeds contain some amount of fat and cacao beans are not different. However, cacao beans are half fat, which is why
they ground nibs from liquid. It is pure bitter chocolate.
6. Bagaimana Coklat Terbentuk?
Sudahkah kita bertanya-tanya bagaimana kita mendapatkan cokelat? Nah kali ini kita akan memasuki dunia
coklat yang menakjubkan sehingga kita bisa mengerti persis yang kita makan.
Coklat memulai pohon yang disebut pohon kakao. Pohon ini tumbuh di daerah khatulistiwa, terutama di
tempat seperti Amerika Selatan, Afrika, dan Indonesia. Pohon kakao menghasilkan buah seukuran apel pinus
7. The above example of explanation text
has the following generic structure:
General statement; it is a statement which says about chocolate and how it is formed
Sequenced explanation; it is a series of explanation on how chocolate is formed before we eat. First,
the chocolate is coming from the cacao tree. Then it is fermented and ship to the chocolate producer.
The cacao bean then are roasted and winnowed.
8. The similarities of explanation
and procedure text
The similarities
•Using chronological connection
•using passive voice pattern
•Using simple past tense
•Have the answer of two question “why” and “how”
•Explain about the process
9. The differences
Explanation text
•The text will be specifically explain
•Usually explain about phenomenon or event happens
•Formed in the mode of description
Procedure text
•More general
•Usually describe how to make something which is to our daily activity
•Formed in the mode of instruction
10. Text 1
Do you know how hurricanes happen in America? Hurricanes always start in the tropics. It is because an area of
the tropics that lies between five degrees north and five degrees south latitude of the equator has ocean waters of at
at least 27° Cover a large area. This is the first ingredient needed for a hurricane to develop. The second ingredients
are wind blowing westward off the continent of Africa.
Hurricanes feed on warm moist air rising from the Atlantic Ocean. Warm water evaporates, turning into water
vapor, from the surface of the ocean and rises. As it rises, it cools. This causes the water vapor to condense, or to
become more dense or compact, forming cumulonimbus cloud that extends to a great height. Once these clouds are
formed, the first stage of hurricane development has begun.
1. What is the text about?
a) How hurricanes happen
b) What a hurricane is like
c) When hurricanes happen
d) What effect caused by a hurricane
e) How to avoid a hurricane to happen
11. Text 1
Do you know how hurricanes happen in America? Hurricanes always start in the tropics. It is because an area of
the tropics that lies between five degrees north and five degrees south latitude of the equator has ocean waters of at
at least 27° Cover a large area. This is the first ingredient needed for a hurricane to develop. The second ingredients
are wind blowing westward off the continent of Africa.
Hurricanes feed on warm moist air rising from the Atlantic Ocean. Warm water evaporates, turning into water
vapor, from the surface of the ocean and rises. As it rises, it cools. This causes the water vapor to condense, or to
become more dense or compact, forming cumulonimbus cloud that extends to a great height. Once these clouds are
formed, the first stage of hurricane development has begun.
2. Why do hurricanes only happen in the tropics?
a) Because it has high humidity
b) Because the area has ocean waters of at least 27°C
c) Because the wind blows westward off the Africa
d) Because the sun shines along the year
e) Because rains often fall in this area
12. Text 1
Do you know how hurricanes happen in America? Hurricanes always start in the tropics. It is because an area of
the tropics that lies between five degrees north and five degrees south latitude of the equator has ocean waters of at
at least 27° Cover a large area. This is the first ingredient needed for a hurricane to develop. The second ingredients
are wind blowing westward off the continent of Africa.
Hurricanes feed on warm moist air rising from the Atlantic Ocean. Warm water evaporates, turning into water
vapor, from the surface of the ocean and rises. As it rises, it cools. This causes the water vapor to condense, or to
become more dense or compact, forming cumulonimbus cloud that extends to a great height. Once these clouds are
formed, the first stage of hurricane development has begun.
3. If you see cumulonimbus clouds in the sky, what does it mean?
a) There will be a cyclone
b) Heavy rain falls will come soon
c) The winter season will come soon
d) A hurricane has developed its first stage
e) The day will be bright and rather hot
