Explanation Text

Explanation text is a text that contains the processes involved in natural and social phenomena, or to explain how something works. These texts answer the questions “how” or “why”. It is often found in science, geography, and history text books.

The elements of the explanation texts are :

1.     General statement

General statement which explains the processes involved in natural and social phenomena, or to explain how something works.

2.     Explanation

It’s explains how or why something occurs.

3.     Conclusion (optional)

Language Feature of explanation text :

1.     Focus on generic participant

Example : tree, chocolate, sun, rain, etc

2.     Using chronological connection

Example : to begin with, next, etc

3.     Using cause/effect relations

Example : as then, as a consequence, so, if, etc

4.     Using time relations

Example : first, then, following, finally, etc

5.     Using Adverbial Phrases

Example : especially know as, etc

6.     Using a logical relations

7.     Using Simple Present Tense

8.     Using Passive Voice

9.     Using Noun Phrases

10.   Using Action Verbs

EXAMPLE

                                                       WHERE DOES RAIN COME FORM ?

•[statement] Rain always comes from clouds. But where do clouds come from? How does all that water get into the sky? 

•[explanation] Think about your bathroom. There is hot water in your bath. Steam goes up from the hot water. The steam makes small clouds in the bathroom. These warm clouds meet the cold walls and windows, and then we see small drops of water on the walls and windows.

•[explanation] The world is like your bathroom. The water in the oceans is warm when the sun shines on it. Some of this water goes up into the sky and makes clouds. The wind carries the clouds for hundreds of kilometers. Then the clouds meet cold air in the sky, and we see drops of water. The drops of water are rain. 

[conclusion] The rain falls and runs into rivers. Rivers run into oceans. And the water from oceans makes clouds and more rain. So water is always moving from oceans to clouds to rain to rivers to oceans. So the rain on your head was on other heads before! The water in your garden was in other gardens in other countries.