Explanation Text

 

BUILDING BLOCKS

Explanation Text is a type of text in English that describes a process. Talking about the process, this text is almost the same as procedure text. However, if the procedure text describes how to do something (process), this text describes how a process occurs. That way, we can know that the explanation text serves to provide information to readers about a process.

 

Explanation Text characteristics:  

1. Using the Simple Present Tense 

2. Using Action Verbs  

3. Using Passive Voices  

4. Using Noun Phrases 

5. Using the Technical Terms  

6. Contains an explanation of the process

 

Generic Structure of Explanation Text : 

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

2. 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.

3.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

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 of "How Does Rain Happen" text: 

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

1. Using the present tense.

2. Using action verbs, for example: experiences and drop.

3. Using passive voices, for example: "Condensed vapor is formed from droplets so that when the air temperature is higher.."

4. Using noun phrases, for example: Earth's water surface.

5. Using technical terms, for example: Evaporate, Condensation, and Virga.

6. Contains an explanation of the process of rain.

 

Generic structure of "How Does Rain Happen" text:

1. General Statement (Paragraph 1): Contains general information about rain.

2. Explanation (Paragraph 2): Contains a series of stages for the occurrence of rain.

3. Closing (Paragraph 3): Contains additional information in the form of rain. 

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Conclusion :

Explanation Text is a type of text in English that describes a process, this text describes how a process occurs.