EXPLANATION

What is AN EXPLANATION ?

An explanation tells how or why something occurs. Explanations can be

spoken or written and their purpose is to tell each step of the process
(the how) and to give reasons (the why) for it.

Examples of explanations texts include:

• how something occurs
• why something happened
• why things are alike or different
• how to solve a problem
 EXPLANATION
Features of AN EXPLANATION

Constructing an explanation
A written explanation usually involves three steps. First, there is the
general statement about the event or thing. Next follows a series of
paragraphs that tell the hows and whys. The final step is a concluding
paragraph.

Grammatical features of an explanation

Explanations usually include the following grammatical features:
• technical language
• words that show cause and effect
• use of timeless present tense
 EXPLANATION
The EXPLANATION scaffold

1 Description in the introductory

paragraph
2 A sequence of sentences that tell how
or why
3 A conclusion
 EXPLANATIONS
MODEL OF AN EXPLANATION
Grammatical
Structures features

QUESTION What causes food poisoning

HEADING

INTRODUCTION Food poisoning is a disorder of the stomach and intestines USE OF

DECRIBING caused by bacteria or chemical in foods. TECHNICAL
SUBJECT TERMS
The classic form of food poisoning is caused by
staphylococci (bacteria commonly known as staph). The
staph germs enter the food during preparation. As a result of WORDS
the food not properly refrigerated the bacteria multiply SHOWING
EXPLANATION hourly, contaminating the food with toxin (poison). As staph HOW AND WHY
SEQUENCE
germs and their toxins are odourless and tasteless the
contaminated food smells and tastes normal.
Eating contaminated food causes vomiting, abdominal TIMELESS
cramps and diarrhoea within one to six hours. PRESENT TENSE
Thus, food poisoning is frequently caused by
CONCLUSION staphylococci, which contaminate food during preparation
and enter the stomach and intestines during eating. GENERIC TERMS