Explanation text

An explanation text is a non-fiction text that is used to describe how or why things happen. It
usually includes a sequence of events ( explaining how) and provides reason for a process or
phenomenom (why).
For example :
Rain, The water cycle, Earthquakes.

Types of explanation text

Explanantion text are categorized according to the type of process they describe.
1. sequential explanation
Explanation that describe natural and non-natural phenomena, for example life cycles.
2. cause and effect explanation
Explanation that lins cause and effect in explaining how and why an event occured, for example
volcanoes.

Structure of an explanation text

Social function
An explanation text is used to describe how or why a certain phenomenon happen.

General structure
 A title that identifies the topic to be explained.
 An opening statement that identifies the process to be explained.
 A clear order of paragraphs that describe how and why.
 A concluding paragraph that puts all the information together.
 Finally, a visual text (a labeled image).

Linguistic features
 Focuses on general group rather than specific.
 Use of linking world like in general, rather for instance.
 Use of action verbs like breaks, erupts.
 Use a present tense like is, wake, are.
 Reference to people should not to be given.
 Passive voice may be used.
 Use of technical terms and language relevant to the subject.
 Conjuctions should be used to make connections like and, but.
 Give detailed description to create a rich meaning.
Example :

Tsunami

In Indonesia, we are very familiar with the word " Tsunami ". This natural disaster has ever killed
thousands of lives in Banda Aceh a few years ago. Indonesia mourned, the world mourned. Then, how the
Tsunami happens? Here is a brief explanation of the process of how the Asian tsunami happens.

Tsunamis can occur if there is a phenomenon which causes the displacement of large amounts of water
in the ocean, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, and meteors that fall to Earth. However,
90% of tsunamis is the result of underwater earthquakes.

Vertical movement in the Earth's crust in the bottom of the ocean causes a sudden up or down
movement of sea floor which then causes the water balance disorders above it. This disturbance causes
the occurrence of the flow of the massive sea water energy, that once it reaches the shore, it becomes
huge waves resulting Tsunami.