EXPLANATION TEXT

Concept Maps

GENERIC
PURPOSE STRUCTURE
MEANING

LANGUAGES
FEATURE

EXAMPLES
 MEANING

Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of

natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena

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 Purpose
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.
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 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.
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 Language Feature

⬗ Featuring generic participant; sun, rain, etc

⬗ Using chronological connection; to begin with, next,
etc
⬗ Using passive voice pattern
⬗ Using simple present tense
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 EXAMPLE

⬗ 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.
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 Mengapa Summer Daylight Lebih Lama dari Musim Dingin?

⬗ Di musim panas, jumlah siang hari yang kita dapatkan lebih dari yang kita dapatkan
di musim dingin. Ini bukan karena banyak orang mengira kita lebih dekat dengan
matahari tapi karena kemiringan bumi.
⬗ Bumi sebenarnya lebih dekat ke matahari di musim dingin daripada di musim panas
tapi Anda akan dimaafkan karena berpikir bahwa ini tidak mungkin benar setelah
melihat keluar dari jendela Anda pada pagi yang dingin dan dingin.
⬗ Kelihatannya aneh bahwa saat bumi semakin dekat dengan matahari selama
orbitnya maka jumlah siang hari semakin berkurang. Tapi begitulah yang terjadi. Ini
adalah kemiringan bumi yang menentukan jumlah siang hari yang kita dapatkan dan
lamanya waktu yang bagi kita matahari berada di atas cakrawala. NEXT

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 Generic Structure Analysis on Explanation Text Sample

1. General statement: Stating the phenomenon that is the daylight in summer

is longer than in winter.
2. Explanation: It is the tilt of the earth that determines the amount of daylight
not the distance of the earth from the sun.

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 Language Feature Analysis on
Explanation Text

* Focusing generic participant:

daylight.
* Using chronological connection:
then, so, but.
* Using passive voice: you would
be forgiven.
* Using present tense: the earth
is actually closer to the sun.

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Thanks!
Any questions?

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