Explanation Text

Explanation Text

 

Definition of Explanation Text

According to Macmillan Dictionary, explanation is a description of how something works or of how to do something. Explanatory text is a description of how something works or how to do something.

Meanwhile, according to Vocabulary.com, explanation is a statement about how or why something is the way it is. An explanation is a statement of how or why something is like that.

If concluded, explanation text is a type of English text that contains how or why something happened.

Generally, this type of text describes the process of something happening. The things described in the explanatory text are in the form of natural and social phenomena.

Purpose of Explanation Text
– Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific, and cultural phenomena.
– To explain how or why something happens.

General Structure 

– General statement
General statement; stating the phenomenon issues which are to be explained.

– Sequenced of explanation
Sequenced explanation; stating a series of steps which explain the phenomena.

– Closing; is optional or not mandatory. Sometimes the last paragraph of this type of text is often considered the closing part, even though in fact the paragraph is still classified as part of the sequence of the events.

Structure of Explanation Text
Generally the explanation text has the following structure:

Title: Explanation text has a title that aims to attract the attention of the reader. The title of explanation text usually begins with the words how or why.

General Statement: The first paragraph contains a general statement. Why? So that readers have an overview of the topics discussed.

Explanation: This paragraph describes how or why something happened.

Closing (Conclusion): Paragraph that summarizes the entire content of the text. This section is optional, you can use it or not.

Language Features of Explanation Text

- Noun phrases, which functions as an adverbial. Adverbial referred to here is a word, phrase or clause that explains the entire clause by adding information on time, place, condition, way, reason or purpose. This noun phrase can also answer the questions "when", "where", "why" and "how". An example is The cells in the lining of the stomach 

and

small intestine produce and release hormones that control the functions of the digestive system. Well, the first Phrase in bold is an example from Noun Phrase describing a place. Whereas the second phrase is an example of a Noun Phrase which describes purpose.

- Action verbs, is a verb used to describe an action taking place. for example, produces, enters, moves, and so on.

- Simple present tense, because it explains the facts, the tense used is the present tense.

- Passive voice, passive voice is used when the explanation focuses on the process or action, for example is produced, are fermented, is reflected, and others.

- Using Technical Terms, These technical terms refer to technical terms related to the topics discussed in this text. For example, in texts that discuss the origin of rain, of course there will be terms precipitation, condensation, evaporation, etc. This term is then called the technical term for the text regarding the origin of rain.

- Containing explanation of the process
Using Chronological Connectors
Almost all texts use chronological connectors. 

Examples of chronological connectors:

• First
• Second
• After that
• Next
• Then
• Finally
• etc.

EXAMPLES : 

TEXT 1

How Does Rain Happen?

We all know that rain is primary source of fresh water for most areas of the world, providing suitable condition for diverse ecosystems. Rain is water that descends from the sky through several processes until the rain occurs. Do you know how does rain happen?

The phenomenon of rain is actually a water circle. The concept of water circle includes the sun heating the Earth’s water surface and causing the water surface to evaporate. Earth’s water includes water from lake, river, and ocean. Then, the water vapor experiences condensation and becomes condensed vapor. Condensed vapor is formed from droplets so that when the air temperature is higher, it makes the droplets gather, condensed and formed into clouds. The presence of winds helps clouds move and gather in other places that have lower temperatures. At that time, the droplets become heavier and unstoppable and cause the droplets to fall so that there is rain.

If the droplets drop in an area with very cold temperatures, the droplets will drop as snow. However, not all rain reaches the surface. Some evaporates while falling through dry air. This is called Virga, a phenomenon which is often seen in hot, dry desert regions.

Explanation:

The example of the text above is an explanation text because the text describes a natural phenomenon, namely the occurrence of rain. In addition, the text has the same characteristics and structure as the Explanation Text, namely:

Characteristic features:

Using the Simple Present Tense

We can see that all the sentences in the text use the Simple Present Tense.

Using Action Verbs. For example, experiences and drop.

Using Passive Voices. For example, "Condensed vapor is formed from droplets so that when the air temperature is higher ...".

Using Noun Phrases. For example, Earth's water surface.

Using Technical Terms. For example, evaporate, condensation, and Virga.

Contains an explanation of the process of rain.

Structure:

Title: How does Rain Happen?

General Statement :

We all know that rain is primary source of fresh water for most areas of the world, providing suitable condition for diverse ecosystems. Rain is water that descends from the sky through several processes until the rain occurs. Do you know how does rain happen?

Explanation : 

The phenomenon of rain is actually a water circle. The concept of water circle includes the sun heating the Earth’s water surface and causing the water surface to evaporate. Earth’s water includes water from lake, river, and ocean. Then, the water vapor experiences condensation and becomes condensed vapor. Condensed vapor is formed from droplets so that when the air temperature is higher, it makes the droplets gather, condensed and formed into clouds. The presence of winds helps clouds move and gather in other places that have lower temperatures. At that time, the droplets become heavier and unstoppable and cause the droplets to fall so that there is rain.

Closing ( Conlusion ) :

If the droplets drop in an area with very cold temperatures, the droplets will drop as snow. However, not all rain reaches the surface. Some evaporates while falling through dry air. This is called Virga, a phenomenon which is often seen in hot, dry desert regions.