Explanation Text

 What is Explanation Text?

Explanation Text is more or less like the one you have read above, text whose purpose is to explain how and why something happened. Rarely do people realize that the explanation text is actually in the school knowledge book. For example, in a biology textbook there is a text that explains how butterfly metamorphosis is.

There are two types of writing explanation text. The first type, text that explains why something happened, such as why the glass is dewy when we shower. Then the second type, text that describes how something happened, such as how landslides can occur.

Explanation text is almost similar to procedure text. The two texts have almost the same characteristics. The difference lies in the function of each text. Procedure text explains how to do something, while explanation text explains how something happened.

Explanation Text Characteristics

Explanation text has the following characteristics:

Using the Simple Present Tense

The use of the simple present tense is because the explanation text contains the facts of an event or action.

Using Passive Voice

In the explanation text there must be a sentence passive voice. Why? because this text aims to explain an event or action (object) rather than its subject.

Using Chronological Connectors

Almost all texts use chronological connectors. Examples of chronological connectors:

First

Second

After that

Next

Then

Finally

etc.

Using Nouns, Pronouns, and Action Verbs

Explanation text is the same as any other text which consists of various nouns, pronouns (subject pronoun, object pronoun, possessive pronoun), action verbs.

Explanation Text Structure

Generally the explanation text has the following structure:

Title: Explanation text has a title that aims to attract the attention of the reader. The title of explanation text usually begins with the words how or why.

General Statement: The first paragraph contains a general statement. Why? So that readers have an overview of the topics discussed.

Explanation: This paragraph describes how or why something happened.

Closing (Conclusion): Paragraph that summarizes the entire content of the text. This section is optional, you can use it or not.

How a Tsunami Happens?

Tsunami originated from Japan, “tsu’ meaning harbor and “nami” meaning wave. They are normally caused by earthquakes, landslides, or 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.