Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena. Explanation text is to say ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the forming of the phenomena. It is often found in science, geography and history text books.
2. Generic structure of Explanation
General statement; stating the phenomenon issues which are to be explained.
Sequenced explanation; stating a series of steps which explain the phenomena.
3. Language Feature
Featuring generic participant; sun, rain, etc
Using chronological connection; to begin with, next, etc
Using passive voice pattern
Using simple present tense
4. Examples and structures of the text
Making Paper from Woodchips
A general statement
Woodchipping is a process used to obtain pulp and paper products from forest trees.
The woodchipping process begins when the trees are cut down in a selected area of the forest called a coupe.
A sequenced explanation of
Next the tops and branches of the trees are cut out and then the logs are taken to the mill.
why or how something occurs At the mill the bark of the logs is removed and the logs are taken to a chipper which cuts them into small pieces called woodchips.
The woodchips are then screened to remove dirt and other impurities.At this stage they are either exported in this form or changed into pulp by chemicals and heat.
The pulp is then bleached and the water content is removed.
Closing
Finally the pulp is rolled out to make paper.
Example of Explanation Text
A. Tsunami
The term of “tsunami” comes from the Japanese which means harbour (“tsu”) and wave (“nami”). A tsunamigk is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or the sea is rapidly displaced on a massive scale.
A tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Such large vertical movements of the earth’s crust can occur at plate boundaries.
Subduction of earthquakes are particularly effective in generating tsunamis, and occur where denser oceanic plates slip under continental plates.
As the displaced water mass moves under the influence of gravity to regain its equilibrium, it radiates across the ocean like ripples on a pond.
Tsunami always bring great damage. Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal area.
B. How Day and Night Happen
The sun seems to rise in the morning, crosses the sky during the day and sets at night. However the sun does not actually move around the earth. Earth’s turning on its axis makes it look as if the sun is moves.
The earth makes a complete turn on its axis for 24 hours. It is called as rotation. It causes day and night. The earth also moves around the sun. It takes 365 days or a year. This process is called revolution. The revolution process causes the changes of the season
C. Why Summer Daylight is Longger than Winter Daylight
In the summer, the amount of daylight that we get is more than we get in winter. This is not because as much people think we are closer to the sun but because of the tilt of the earth.
The earth is actually closer to the sun in winter than it is in summer but you would be forgiven for thinking that this can not be true after looking out of your window on a cold and frosty morning.
It seems strange that as the earth get closer to the sun during its orbit then the amount of daylight that we get decrease. But that is the case. It is the tilt of the earth that determine the amount of daylight that we get and so the length of time that for us the sun is above the horizon.
Generic Structure Analysis
General statement; stating the phenomenon whic daylight in summer is longer than in winter.
Explanation; it is the tilt of the earth that determines the amount of daylight not the distance of the earth from the sun.
Language Feature Analysis
Focusing generic participant; daylight.
Using chronological connection; then, so, but.
Using pasive voice; you would be forgiven.
Using present tense; the earth is actually closer to the sun.
Tsunami
A general Statement:
A tsunami is a very large sea wave that is generated by a disturbance along the ocean floor. This disturbance can be an earthquake, a landslide, or a volcanic eruption. A tsunami is undetectable far out in the ocean, but once it reaches shallow water, this fast-traveling wave grows very large.
Explanation:
Tsunamis occur when a major fault under the ocean floor suddenly slips. The displaced rock pushes water above it like a giant paddle, producing powerful water waves at the ocean surface. The ocean waves spread out from the vicinity of the earthquake source and move across the ocean until they reach the coastline, where their height increases as they reach the continental shelf, the part of the Earth’s crust that slopes, or rises, from the ocean floor up to the land.
Closing:
Tsunamis wash ashore with often disastrous effects such as severe flooding, loss of lives due to drowning, and damage to property.
Petroleum Product
Petroleum products, such as gasoline, kerosene, home heating oil, residual fuel oil and lubricating oils, come from one source. Crude oil is found below the earth surface, as well as under large bodies of water, from a few hundred feet below the surface to as deep as 25.000 feet into the earth interior. Crude oil is obtained by drilling a hole through the earth, but sometimes more dry holes are drilled than those producing oil. Pressure at the source, or pumping, forces the crude oil to the surface.
Crude oil wells flow at varying rates, from ten thousands of barrels per hour. Petroleum products vary greatly in physical appearance: thin, thick, transparent, or opaque. Their chemical compositions are made up of only two elements: carbon and hydrogen, which form compounds called hydrocarbons. Other chemical elements found in the union with the hydrocarbons are few and are classified as impurities. Trace elements are also found, but these are of such minute quantities that they are disregarded.
The various petroleum products are refined from the crude oil by heating and condensing the vapors of crude oil. These products are called light oils such as gasoline, kerosene, and distillate oil.
Photosynthesis
What is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is a food-making process that occurs in green plants. It is the chief function of leaves. The word photosynthesis means putting together with light. Green plants use energy from light to combine carbon dioxide and water to make sugar and other chemical compounds.
How is the light used in photosynthesis?
The light used in photosynthesis is absorbed by a green pigment called chlorophyll. Each food-making cell in a plant leaf contains chlorophyll in small bodies called chloroplasts. In chloroplast, light energy causes water drawn from the soil to split into hydrogen and oxygen.
What are the steps of photosynthesis process? Let me tell you the process of photosynthesis, in a series of complicated steps, the hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide from the air, forming a simple sugar. Oxygen from the water molecules is given off in the process. From sugar together with nitrogen, Sulphur, and phosphorus from the soil-green plants can make starch, fat, protein, vitamins, and other complex compounds essential for life. Photosynthesis provides the chemical energy that is needed to produce these compounds.
How is a Kite Flying?
A kite is an object which is made from a light material stretched over a frame. Due to its light material a kite will lift off the ground and fly when it is tilted into the wind.
A kite is uses wind to make it fly because it is heavier than air. When wind travels over the surface of the kite, it is split into two streams of air. One stream of the air goes over the kite while the second stream goes under the kite.
The upper stream creates an area of low pressure above the kite. The lower stream hits the kite at a shallow angle and creates an area of high pressure.
The high pressure area has a pushing effect while the low pressure area has a pulling effect. The combination of push and pull can creates enough force to lift the kite into the air.
Kites have been known for thousands of years. They are used for military or scientific purposes. Today’s kites are much used for leisure and competition.
Versi Indonesia
A. Defenisi
Explanation adalah sebuah teks yang berisi tentang proses-proses yang berhubungan dengan fenomena-fenomena alam, sosial, ilmu pengetahuan, budaya dan lainnya.
B. Tujuan Explanation Text
To explain the processes involved in the formation or working of natural or socio-cultural phenomena.
Tujuan komunikatif dari explanation text adalah untuk menerangkan proses-proses yang terjadi dalam pembentukan sesuatu yang terkait dengan fenomena-fenomena alam, sosial, ilmu pengetahuan, budaya, dan lainnya yang bertujuan menjelaskan bagaimana atau mengapa hal tersebut bisa terjadi.
C. Generic Structure Explanation Text
General statement
tentang penjelasan umum tentang fenomena yang akan dibahas, bisa berupa pengenalan fenomena tersebut atau penjelasannya.
Squenced of explanation
berisi tentang penjelasan proses mengapa fenomena tersebut bisa terjadi atau tercipta. A squenced of explanation berupa jawaban dari pertanyaan ‘why’ dan ‘how’ penulis ketika membuat sebuah Explanation text. Dalam squenced of explanation bisa terdiri lebih dari satu paragrap.
Closing
Sebenarnya closing itu tidak tercantum dalam generic structure dari Explanation text, tetapi kebanyakan orang beranggapan bahwa paragrap terakhir dari sebuah Explanation text adalah closing, padahal itu merupakan bagian dari squenced of explantaion yang berisi tentang langkah akhir yang dijelaskan pada bagian squenced of explanation.
D. Ciri-ciri Explanation Text
Sebuah Explanation text biasanya berasal dari pertanyaan penulis terkait ‘why’ dan ‘how’ terhadap suatu fenomena yang ada.
Karena yang diangkat adalah fenomena maka fokus materinya bukan pada bendanya atau orangnya, melainkan pada kejadian atau peristiwa yang terjadi pada orang atau benda tersebut.
Menggunakan Simple Present tense.
E. Contoh Explanation Text dan Penjelasannya
Contoh 1:
How Earthquakes Happen
Earthquake is one of the most destroying natural disasters. Unluckily it often happens in several regions. Recently a horrible earthquake has shaken West Sumatra. It has brought great damages. Why did it occur? Do you know how an earthquake happens?
Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves. It make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don’t just slide smoothly. The rocks are still pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while, the rocks break because of all the pressure that’s built up. When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs.
During the earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock start moving, and they continue to move until they get stuck again. The spot underground where the rock breaks is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus is called the epicenter of the earthquake.
Penjelasan:
Paragraf Pertama adalah tentang General Statement (pernyataan umum). Melihat dari teks tersebut tentu GSnya adalah an Earthquake happening.
Paragraf kedua: Squenced of explanation adalah penjelasan tentang bagaimana Earthquake bisa terjadi. Gempa bumi bisa terjadi pada dasarnya adalah karena “rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault”. Penjelasan lainnya adalah tentang kronologi how rock underground breaks along a fault.
Paragraf ketiga: closing yang menerangkan bahwa pergeseran lempeng bumi terus terjadi dan menerangkan bahwa titik di bawah bumi dimana batu mengalami patahan (where the rock breaks) disebut sebagai Focus of the eartquake dan tempat di atas titik tersebut disebut epicenter of earthquake.
Examples
Why Eiffel Tower was Built
If we talk about the Wonders of the World buildings, then we will see Eiffel Tower as one of them. However many of us do not know the tower’s past history on why it was build. Everything has the reasonable background, especially for the tower which is to be one of the most recognized buildings in the world.
Primarily, the Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition. It was called Paris Exposition in 1889. The exhibition was organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The purpose of building Eiffel Tower in such structure was to show to the world France’s advancement of technology and beauty. The Eiffel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel. It seemed that then the name of the tower was derived from the designer’s last name, “Eiffel”
Another reason on why the tower was built was for scientific progress. Although few realized it, the Eiffel Tower would become the prominent structure in terms of science and technology. Many experiment with temperature, pressure and pendulums were performed atop the unique famous building. Additionally the Eiffel Tower was used for radio transmission tower. Many experiments were conducted atop the Eiffel Tower for radio transmission advancement. Once the Eiffel Tower was proposed to be demolished but it was spared because the tower had the promising future as a radio tower.
How do car engines work?
For over 100 years, people have been getting about using cars. Prior to the invention of the motor car, all but the adventurous stayed within a few miles of where they were born but once the car had become common place, people felt empowered to travel to far flung places and explore the world. This would never have happened without the invention of the motor car so how does it work?
How Chocolate is Made
Have we wondered how we get chocolate from? Well this time we will enter the amazing world of chocolate so we can understand exactly we are eating.
Chocolate starts a tree called cacao tree. This tree grows in equatorial regions, especially in place such as South America, Africa, and Indonesia. The cacao tree produces a fruit about the size of a small pine apple. In side the fruits are the tree's seeds. They are also known as coco beans.
Next, the beans are fermented for about a week, dried in the sun. After that they are shipped to the chocolate maker. The chocolate maker starts by roasting the beans to bring out the flavour. Different beans from different places have different qualities and flavour. So they are often shorted and blended to produce a distinctive mix.
The next process is winnowing. The roasted beans are winnowed to remove the meat nib of the cacao bean from its shell. Then the nibs are blended. The blended nibs are ground to make it a liquid. The liquid is called chocolate liquor. It tastes bitter.
All seeds contain some amount of fat and cacao beans are not different. However, cacao beans are half fat, which is why the ground nibs from liquid. It is pure bitter chocolate.
How does Rain Happen?
Rain is the primary source of fresh water for most areas of the world, providing suitable conditions for diverse ecosystems, as well as water for hydroelectric power plants and crop irrigation.
The phenomenon of rain is actually a water circle. The concept of the water cycle involves the sun heating the Earth's surface water and causing the surface water to evaporate. The water vapor rises into the Earth's atmosphere. The water in the atmosphere cools and condenses into liquid droplets. The droplets grow until they are heavy and fall to the earth as precipitation which can be in the form of rain or 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.
HOW TO KEEP THE BODY HEALTHY
The body healthy is very important life. You know, why? Because if the body healthy, we can do all activity happily. But, can you tell me what the body healthy is? Well, let’s me explain. The body healthy is the condition of body that can protect from the virus attack. To keep the body healthy, we can do many actions.
Physical exercise. Physical exercise is one of way to keep the body healthy. You know, why? Because physical exercise can increase the immune system and it makes the virus cannot attack us. We can begin the physical exercise with the little action. For example jogging. Jogging is an instant sport. We can do this every morning. If we do this regularly, our body always health. Besides jogging, we can do the other way. Fitness. Fitness is physical exercise that many benefit. Beside give us the high immune system, fitness also give us right body shape. Jogging and fitness are the example of physical exercise. Both of them have same function. Actually, there are many sports that can make our body healthy, such as playing football and swimming.
Beside physical exercise, we must manage our food. I suggest, you must apply food diet. Beside food diet, to keep our body healthy is eat the high nutrient food. The high nutrient food is foods that consist of carbohydrate, protein and fat balance. Carbohydrate and fat give us energy to do all activity. Protein has the function to repair the broken cells. So, they are very important parts of food. Besides that, to make our food perfect, we must eat the foods that consist of vitamin and calcium. The example of this is eat the side-dish, and don’t forget the vegetables. To make it perfect, we can drink the milk and the last eat the fruits. Milk contains the calcium. The calcium is very good for our bone to grow. Fruits contain many vitamin, like vitamin A and C. Vitamin C can increase our immune system and it make our body difficult to be attacked by virus. Well, now we know the important of food diet.
Oh, I almost forgot. The most important that we must do is take enough rest. Enough rest makes our body fresh. Because in that time, all of body parts are not working hardly. Otherwise, our body become relaxes and it makes our energy increase again. If you do this activity regularly, your body becomes fit every time.
Well guys, let’s do all this action regularly to make our body always healthy. This is a little action that has many benefits for us. If our body is healthy, it will make our soul to be healthy too.
Exercise
Asthma
What are the symptoms
The main symptoms is breathlessnesss accompanied by a feeling of painless tightness in the chest, along with wheezing, the amount of varies gratly. Sometmes only a doctor’sstethoscope can catch the sound of wheezing- or it maybe loud enough to carry across a crowded room. In severe cases, the effort of breathing out (which is when the wheezing is most pronounced) may causean increase in pulse rate, sweating and severe anxiety. Often, he sufferer finds that it helps to sit up straight, with the arms held stiff to support the chest. With increased breathlessness, breathing becomes increasingly shallow and fast, and wheezing sounds grow louder. In very severe attracks, the face and lips may turn bluish (cyanosis), because of the diminishingsupply of oxygen in the circulation, or the skin mamy become very pale and clammy. In very severe attacks, the wheezemay lessen.
Sometimes, a dry cough may be the only or the most obvous symptoms of asthma. A cough may also occur duringattacks of obvious asthma, when the sufferer may cough up sputum that has accumulated in the lungs.
All of the symptoms listed below found in the one who suffers from asthma, except:
A.Breathlessness
B.Tightness in the chest
C.Wheezing
D.The arms held stiff to support the chest
The one who has difficulty breathing (in asthma case)may have these related symptoms except,
A.Swelling
B.Severe anxiety
C.Sweating
D.Increasing pulse rate
When someone suffers from asthma, he oor she may produces abnormal sounds from the respiratory track, the sound is known as:
A.Breathing
B.Dry cough
C.Wheezing
D.Coughing up sputum
When does the braethingbecome increasingly fast and shallow?
A.When the breathlessness increases
B.When suffering from dry cough
C.When suffering from cough with phlegm
D. When the supply of oxygen is diminishing
What parts of body obviously turn bluish when there is severeattack of asthma
A.Ears
B.Face and lips
C.Chest
D.Hairs
Refereces:
https://pakpuguh.wordpress.com
http://inggrisonline.com
http://kadrybonjoly.blogspot.co.id
http://www.sekolahbahasainggris.com
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