The Analysis of Explanation Text

THE ANALYSIS OF
EXPLANATION TEXT
What is an
explanation text?
An explanation text gives you

information about a subject that
you are interested in and would
like to know more about.
It is usually a text that aims to Can you think of

explain a process e.g. How glass any other topics
is recycled you could choose
for an explanation
text?
DEFINITION AND
PURPOSE
• 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.
GENERIC STRUCTURE

• General statement : stating the phenomenon issues which
are to be explained.
• Sequenced explanation : stating a series of steps which explain
the phenomena.
• Closing : sump up the explanation and talks about
its applications.
LANGUANGE FEATURES
• Featuring Generic Participants; sun, rain, etc.
• Using chronological connection; to begin with, next, etc
• Using passive voice pattern
• Using simple present tense
• Using abstract noun
• Using action verb
• Using conjunction of time
• Using noun phrases
• Using adverbial phrases
• Using technical terms
EXAMPLE OF LANGUANGE FEATURES
• Featuring Generic Participants; tsunami
Tsunami • Using passive voice pattern: A tsunami
The term of “tsunami” comes from the will be generated when the sea floor
Japan which means harbor ("tsu") and wave
• Using simple present tense: Tsunami
("nami"). A tsunami is a series of waves
generated when water in a lake or a sea is always bring great damage
rapidly displaced on a massive scale. • Using abstract noun: vertical, horizontal,
A tsunami will be generated when the sea height
floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces
the overlying water. Such large vertical
• Using action verb: movement, move
movements of the earth's crust can occur at the • Using conjunction of time: when
plate boundaries. Subduction of earthquakes are
particularly effective in generating tsunami, and • Using noun phrases: rapidly displaced
occur where denser oceanic plates slip under • Using adverbial phrases: lake or a sea is
continental plates. As the displaced water mass
rapidly displaced on a massive scale
moves under the influence of gravity to regain
its equilibrium, it radiates across the ocean like • Using technical terms: wave, gravity,
ripples on a pond. equilibrium
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.
EXPLANATION TEXT ALSO INCLUDES
Structure
Structure
An explanation text
usually starts with a
statement that introduces
the subject or topic to the What Next?
reader, such as; Next there comes a series of steps that explain
how things happen or the reasons why, such as;

'Lots of animals like 'This is because it gets much colder and darker
hedgehogs, badgers and during the winter months.'
mice hibernate during
winter.' 'When it gets colder, food like berries and insects
become harder to find. Therefore, some animals
find a safe place to sleep and store energy until
the plants start to grow again and food is more
plentiful.'

These steps continue until the question has been
answered or the explanation is complete.
Present Tense
Explanation texts are usually written in the

present tense because they are explaining how or
why something happens. To do this they explain it as
if it is happening now.
Connectives
• Explanation texts usually use words called connectives that explain things in
order, one after another.
Some of the connectives you might find are:
• Firstly
• Next
• Then
• After that
• Meanwhile
• Eventually
• Later
• Finally
Other connectives explain how things work or why things happen, such as:
• Because
• So
• This means
Diagram and picture
• Explanation texts often include diagrams, pictures or charts to help you understand
Diagrams and charts always have a title, and pictures will always have a caption
underneath.
For example:

Animals like this badger hibernate during winter.

Make sure that your caption explains exactly what is going on to help the reader to
understand why it is there.
Writing an explanation text
• Title
Titles that use words like 'how' or 'why', will help readers to understand what the text is
about and make them want to find out more. For example:
'Why' do animals sleep through the winter?'
• Paragraphs
You need to write in paragraphs to break up your text and make sure it follows a
sequence. Use connectives like 'Firstly' and 'So' to put it in the right order.
• Style
Use a question or a statement as your title. Keep this in mind so you stick to the point. Use
the rest of your writing to make points that help to answer your question or support your
statement.
• Interesting facts
Throw in a few interesting facts to make your writing come alive and keep your reader
interested.
• Re-read
Re-read your explanation text when you have finished. Make sure you've answered your
question or supported your statement.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF
EXPLANATION AND PROCEDURE TEXT
The Similarities :
• Using chronological connection

• Using passive voice pattern
• Using simple present tense
• Have the answer of two question ‘why’ and ‘how’
• Explain about the process
THE DIFFERENCES
Explanation Text Procedure Text

• The text will be spesifically • More general
explain • Sequential chronology
• Not all of the material can be • Example ‘the way how you go to
used campus’, ‘making a food’, etc.
• Usually explain about
phenomena
EXPLANATION TEXT AND REPORT TEXT
Similarities Differences
• Explain about the result of • Explanation text
observation, research, and study. More to process about
something that happened or why it
existed and is formed. Ex: ‘how
volcano explode?’
• Report text
explain anout the circumstances
or elements that participants have.
Ex: The volcanoes has very hot
larvae which can damage the
surrounding environment
EXPLANATION AND DESCRIPTIVE TEXT
The similarities:
Explanation text and descriptive text if we see a glimpse already

seen the difference. Both of them have in common only on the
structure of sentence is use simple present tense
THE DIFFERENCES
Explanation Text Descriptive Text
• Explain about how the • Describe about something
process of something that general like a particular
happened and why it person, place, or thing. Ex:
happened. Ex: Raining, my dog, may cat, etc.
Tsunami, etc. • The generic structure of
• The generic structure of descriptive text are
explanation text are general identification and description.
statement, sequenced
explanation, and close.

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THE ANALYSIS OF

An explanation text gives you

It is usually a text that aims to Can you think of

Explanation texts are usually written in the

Animals like this badger hibernate during winter.

• Using chronological connection

Explanation Text Procedure Text

Explanation text and descriptive text if we see a glimpse already

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