EXPLANATION
TEXT
1. DEFINITION
Explanation is a text which tells the processes relating to forming of natural, social,
scientific and cultural phonomena.
Explanation Teks adalah sebuah teks yang menceritakan proses yang berkaitan
dengan fenomena pembentukan alam, sosial, sains, dan budaya.
This text explains”why” and “how” the phenomena happens.
Teks ini menjabarkan sebab “mengapa” dan “bagaimana” dari suatu fenomena itu
terjadi. Pada umumnya, teks seperti ini dapat ditemukan dalam buku bidang sains,
geografi, dan sejarah.
Contoh :
1. Mengapa kaca berembun ketika mandi?
2. Bagaimana tanah longsor dapat terjadi?
2. PURPOSE
What is the purpose or function of an explanation text?
1. Provide information to readers
2. To educate
3. TYPES OF EXPLANATION TEXT
1. Sequential Explanations/Urutan Suatu fenomena
Tell the detailed stages of the event with connecting words in order or time.
Examples include:
a. Then (Kemudian)
b. After that (Setelah itu)
c. However (Akan tetapi
d. Although (Meskipun)
e. In addition (Selain itu)
f. Moreover (Selain itu)
Eg: How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly; Life cycle of frog
2. Causal Explanation/Penyebab Perubahan Fenomena
Explain in detail what caused the change with a conjunction that indicates cause
and effect. Examples include:
a. Because (Karena)
b. Since (Karena)
c. As (Karena)
d. Because of (Oleh sebab)
e. So (Jadi)
f. Therefore (Oleh karena itu)
g. Caused by (Disebabkan oleh)
h. Due to (Disebabkan oleh)
Eg: Why tsunamis occur; How president is elected
Generic Structure (Susunan Umum)
A. Structure of Explanation Text
Explanation text consists of four parts, namely title, general statement
explanation, and conclusion. Let's discuss them one by one.
1. Title
The first structure is the title or title. The title of the text gives an idea of what
the text is about.
2. General Statement
In the second part, which is a general statement, it will be explained about the
general overview of what is explained in the text.
3. Explanation
Next, there is an explanation section. This section provides a series of
processes about how and why something happened or cause and effect
explained through a sequence of events. FYI, this explanation part can consist
of more than one paragraph.
4. Conclusion
Finally, there is the conclusion section, which contains the conclusions of the
entire process that has been explained earlier.
Contoh Explanation Text
How Seawater Becomes Salty
General Statement:
Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, and 97% of that is
salty seawater. Only 3% of our planet’s water is fresh such as water in
rivers, lake, and streams. This fresh water plays a big role in explaining
how the sea becomes salty. Water moves around our planet in a cycle
powered by the sun: from the sea, to the sky, to the land and then back to
the sea.
Explanation:
When the sun heats the water in the sea, it changes into gas called
water vapour and rises into the air, through a process called evaporation.
After that, the water vapour turns back into liquid water while floating in
the air, forming clouds through a process called condensation. Then this
water eventually falls from the clouds in the sky as rain, sleet, hail or snow
in which the process is also called precipitation. When these flows into
streams and rivers, and eventually makes its way back to the sea.
Furthermore, the rain that falls from the sky contains small amounts of
chemicals called carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide which makes the rain
slightly acidic. This acid can absorb small amounts of mineral salts,
including sodium and chloride. These mineral salts are dissolved from the
rocks which then enter the water.
Conclusion:
Thus, the main salt in seawater is sodium chloride. The rain water
flows off the land and into the rivers and streams that lead all the way to
the sea, carrying the dissolved salts along with it that makes the seawater
salty.
Language Features
1. Abstract nouns: kata benda yang tidak berwujud
Eg. Phoneomenon, procces, love Etc
2. Simple Present Tense: kata kerja bentuk pertama
Eg. Tiger lives in the jungle
3. Passive Voice: Subjectnya dikenal pekerjaan. Patternya: to be + V3
Eg. Cactus is grown for pretection
4. Action Verbs: Kata kerja yang menjelaskan aksi.
Eg. Do, make, create, remove, etc.
5. Technical Terms: Istilah teknis terkait fenomena
Eg. Precipitation, condensation, evaporation, etc.
