5 Examples of Explanation Text with Generic Structure
31 August 2020
This lesson is about an example of explanation text. What is explanation text? An explanation text basically talks about how and why things formed or happen. There are two types of explanation text. They are about natural and social phenomena. The social function of explanation text is giving the complete description on the process of forming things. It is far different from historical recount text which retell the past events
There are two topics e used as the example of explanation text. They are the example of explanation text about natural phenomena and the explanation text about social phenomena. The examples of explanation text about natural phenomena can be like explanation text about earthquake, explanation text about rain, explanation text about tsunami, explanation text about rainbow, or water cycle explanation text . Meanwhile, the explanation text social phenomena can be like explanation text about health, explanation text about covid-19, or other topics relating to social cause effect phenomena.
Writing an example text for explanation genre should follow the generic structure which include a general statement and followed with a sequenced explanation. Take a look on the following examples which are completely given with the analysis on the generic structure on each text.
1. Explanation Text about Seasons
This very short explanation text for learning an explanation genre is given with generic structure. The text explanation is written orderly through the general statement and followed by a sequenced explanation
Why Summer Daylight is Longer than Winter DaylightGeneric Structure Analysis
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.
Taken from: www.ictteachers.co.uk
Please pay attention on the arrangement of paragraph which build a complet text unity into an explanation text as bellow:
1. General statement; stating the phenomenon whic 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.
Language Feature Analysis
Languange deature is typixal gramatical structure and vocabularies which are commonly used to writean explanation text.
1. Focusing generic participant; daylight.
2. Using chronological connection; then, so, but.
3. Using pasive voice; you would be forgiven.
4. Using present tense; the earth is actually closer to the sun.
2. Example of Explanation text
This is a good explanation text with question and answer for exercise to make the questions whether LOTS, MOTS, or HOTS questions for exposition text. This text sample is about how chocolate is made. As an explanation text, it explains the process from the rough to the delicious chocolate.
How Chocolate is MadeNote on the generic structure of this explanation sample.
Have we wondered how we get chocolate from? Well this time we will enter the amazing world of chocolate so we can understand exactly how chocolate is made.
Chocolate is taken from 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 makers. The chocolate makers work by roasting the beans to bring out the flavour. The beans from different places have different qualities and flavour. So they are often sorted 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 beans from the shell. Then the nibs are blended. The blended nibs are ground to make liquid. The liquid is called chocolate liquor. It tastes bitter.
All seeds contain amount of fat and cacao beans are not different. However, cacao beans are half fats. They are pure bitter chocolates.
Every text genre has its special purpose or social function. However if we see the generic structure point, we will get the understanding which both the explanation and procedure text have similar purposes. Both explain how to make or form something. However the procedure text will explain how to form or make something completely by instruction way. That is why most of procedure text is composed in command sentences. In the other hand, explanation text will show a knowledge about how thing is formed.
The above example of explanation text has the following generic structure:
1. General statement; it is a statement which says about chocolate and how it is formed
2. Sequenced explanation; it is a series of explanation on how chocolate is formed before we eat. First, the chocolate is coming from the cacao tree. Then it is fermented and ship to the chocolate producer. The cacao bean then are roasted and winnowed.
3. How a Kite Flies: Example of Explanation
How a kite flies is best at giving example of Explanation text. This kind of text is composed to determinedly make clear explanation on how something is processed and why the thing is formed. Explanation text is one of the text types which is similar to Procedure. What makes superficially different is the way how they are structured.
In one side, Explanation text is structure in the mode of description. It focuses on the thing which is explained. In the other side, Procedure text is constructed in the mode of instruction and commend. That is why Procedure is sometimes called instruction text. It focuses on the second person to explain how to form the thing. In the previous example was given to show how the explanation text gives clear note on "Why something is formed" To get clearer understanding of explanation text, now let's see another example of "How something is precessed/formed" which belongs to explanation text's social function. It really helps to make better understanding on explanation text.
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 thousand of years. They are used for military or scientific purposes. Todays kites are much used for leisure and competition.
The Generic Structure
From the above example of Explanation text, we can see that the text has the following generic structure:
1. General Statement; the introduction of the topic on with a brief definition on kites.
2. Sequenced Explanation; this is the main element of explanation text. It explain the important points of the kite. The explanation of how kites fly is given in order.
4. Why Eiffel Tower was Built: Example of Explanation Text
The explanation text mostly is about how but sometime it can be about the reason. This explanation text about Eiffel Tower is written to show you an explanation text example on WHY. The explanation text examples about reason is good enough to be an explanation text exercise
Why Eiffel Tower was BuiltGeneric Structure of Explanation Text
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.
Simplified from http://ezinearticles.com/
The best discourse on how and what is explanation text is answering the question word “how” and “why”. Such question words need detail explanation on it relates. However, explanation text is written in narrative style and not instructional. If it is written for the purpose of instruction, then the text genre will be labeled as PROCEDURE.
From the above example of explanation text, we see that it has the generic structure as follow:
1. General Statement; the introduction of the passage on why the Eiffel Tower was built.
2. Sequenced Explanation; this is the main element of explanation text. This explanation is explored to answer the “why” or “how” question introduced in the general statement. From the example above, the text was written to explain why, not how, the Eiffel Tower was built. Then it elaborates the reasons. First is for the show case and the second is for scientific and technological purposes.
5. Example of Explanation Text: How Roman Road was Built
Most explanation text are about natural phenomena but sometime it can be about social phenomena in certain people group. This examples of explanation texts are give to show what are cause and effect text. The texts are not jut about explanation text rainbow or explanation text about rain. This is a social phenomena explanation text sample with generic structure.
How Roman Roads were BuiltGeneric Structure Analysis
The system of roads for mobility has been begun early decades. It was started since the Roman Empire conquered the world. The roads in Roman era were known as the best construction.
The Romans built roads are for the purpose of mobility, especially for the army. Having the best road, the army could march from one place to another. They built the roads as straight as possible, so that the army could take the shortest route.
It is interesting to know how the roads were built, which some of them are still in use today. First, the Romans builders would clear the ground of rocks and trees. Then they dug a trench where the road was to go and filled it with big stones.
Next, they put in big stones, pebbles, cement and sand which they packed down to make a firm base. After that, they added another layer of cement mixed with broken tiles. On top of that rough construction, then they put paving stones to make the flat surface.
These stones were cut so that they fitted together tightly. As the finishing touch, kerb stones were put at each sides of the road to hold in the paving stones. It was also used to make a channel for the water to run away.
Partly taken from: www.teachingideas.co.uk
Now we are going to see the generic structure of the explanation sample above. Every explanation text will be started with:
1. General Statement of the text. It is purposely to introduce the topic of the text. From the example above, we point that the Roman road architect is the main discussion, just seeing from the first sentences.
2. A Sequenced Explanation. It is the blueprint of the general statement which needs to be explained in detail on how or why something is formed. In the last paragraph, we clearly get the explanation on how formerly the Roman Empire Roads were built step by step.
These are some samples of an explanation text about social culture an d natural phenomena. The natural topics can be like an explanation text earthquake, explanation text tsunami, or how does rain happen. When you write the organization of the text, please pay attention on the generic structure.