EXPLANATION TEXT

Understanding Explanation Text

Explanatory text is a type of text in English that describes a process. Talking about the process, this text is almost the same as the procedure text. However, if the procedure text describes how to do something (process), it describes how that process occurs. In this way, we can see that the explanatory text serves to provide information to readers about a process. 

Explanation Text Characteristics

There are several characteristics of this text, namely:

Using the Simple Present Tense

This text uses the Simple Present Tense because it describes facts.

Using Action Verbs

Action Verbs are verbs used to describe an ongoing action. Examples are do, make, create, 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

Using Technical Terms

These technical terms refer to technical terms related to the topics discussed in this text.

Contains an explanation of the process

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. We can also explain by using the why and how questions, so that the explanation we convey is more comprehensive.

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.

Example of Explanation Text

Example Explanation Text 1 (about how to rain)

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.

Generic Structure:

General Statement (paragraph 1)

Contains general information about rain.

Explanation (paragraph 2)

Contains a series of stages for the occurrence of rain.

Closing (paragraph 3)

The closing or closing section contains additional information in the form of rain that falls in cold areas (snow) and in hot areas (Virga).

The following is an example of an Explanation Text, can you explain why this text is an Explanation Text by analyzing its characteristics and structure?

Example of Explanation Text 2 (about the metamorphosis of butterflies)

Butterfly Metamorphosis

            To grow into an adult, butterflies go through 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Depending on the type of butterfly, the life cycle of a butterfly may take anywhere from one month to a whole year.

A butterfly starts life as a very small, round, oval or cylindrical egg. The egg hatches and the young one called larvae or caterpillar comes out of the egg. The caterpillar first feeds on the egg shell from which it is born. It then starts feeding on the leaves and starts to grow. Its exoskeleton (skin) does not stretch or grow, so it grows by “molting” (sheding the outgrown skin) several times while it grows. As soon as a caterpillar is done growing and it has reached its full length/weight, it forms itself into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis. The pupa remains motionless in the chrysalis. In the chrysalis, the pupa undergoes a series of changes. After about 15 days, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges out of the chrysalis. When the butterfly comes out, it’s wings are small and wet, then the butterfly pumps fluids into them to make them strong and to expand. After a few hours, the wings become strong enough and the butterfly is able to fly.

this is youtube video about explanation tex :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZJ7tKNjJ_0