Explanation text

 

Understanding of the explanation text

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

Explanation aims to explain something, for example natural phenomena or social or historical phenomena.

The explanation here is why or how something happened (natural phenomenon, social phenomenon, history).

Explanation Text Characteristics

• Using the Simple Present Tense

because this text describes the facts

• Using Action Verbs

Action Verbs are verbs used to describe an action that takes place, for example, produces, enters, moves, and so on.

• Using Passive Voices

The use of Passive Voices aims to emphasize the focus on the event that is taking place rather than the subject

• Using Noun Phrases

examples of blue color in the sky, the roasted beans, a brief transient sound, and others.

• Using Technical Terms

These technical terms refer to technical terms related to the topics discussed

Generic Structure of Explanation Text

There are two parts to the Explanation Text, namely:

• General Statement

Contains general information on topics to be discussed in the text.

• Explanation 

Contains a series of events (sequence of events) from a process which is the topic of the text.

• Closing

The closing or closing part is optional or does not have to be in this text. This section may contain additional information or the author's opinion on the topics discussed.

Characteristics Explanation Text

An explanatory text usually comes from the author's questions related to 'why' and 'how' to an existing phenomenon. Because what is raised is a phenomenon, the focus of the material is not on the object or person, but on events or events that occur to that person or thing using the Simple Present tense.

Types of Explanation Texts: Explanation texts are categorized according to the type of process they describe. 

Cause and Effect Explanation: Explanation text that links cause and effect in explaining how and why an event occurred, for example volcanoes. 

Sequential Explanation: Explanations that describe natural and non-natural phenomena, for example life cycles.

Example of explanation text 

How a Tsunami Happens?

General Statement

We all know that tsunamis are a series of destructive waves and powerful. Tsunami is the deadliest wave because the wave speed is incredibly fast. But do you know how a tsunami can happens?

Explanation

Tsunami originated from Japan, “tsu” meaning harbor and “nami” meaning wave. They are normally caused by landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions in, or close to an ocean. After some sort of underwater disturbance, this causes energy to rise up to sea level pushing the water high into the air. Gravity kicks in and pulls it down again and then consequently causing the water to filter out into many different directions.

When a tsunami begins to approach the shore the energy in the wave is compressed. As a result, the water is pushed up into the wave, resulting in a powerful tsunami. If the trough hits the shoreline first, it then causes the tide to drastically retreat.

Conclusion

So, tsunamis happen because of natural disasters such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. People who live near the shoreline have to be careful because they are threatened by tsunamis whenever there is an earthquake.

Video material on explanation text :

https://youtu.be/VINvR1GuYXY