Explanation text

What is Explanation Text?
Explanatory text is more or less like the one you have read above, containing text to explain how and why something happened. Rarely do anyone realize that explanatory texts are actually in school knowledge books. For example, in a biology textbook there is a text that explains how butterfly metamorphosis is.

There are two types in explanatory text. The first type, text that explains why something happened, such as why the glass is dewy when we shower. Then the second type, text that describes how something happened, such as how landslides can occur.

The explanatory text is almost similar to the procedure text. The two texts have almost the same characteristics. The difference lies in the function of each text. Procedure text describes how to do something, while explanatory text describes how something happens.

Feature Explanatory Text
Explanatory text with the following characteristics:

Using the Simple Present Tense
The use of the simple present tense is because the explanatory text contains facts of an event or action.

Using Passive Voice
In the explanatory text there must be a passive voice. Why? because this text is a fact to explain an event or action (object) of its subject.

Using Chronological Connectors
Almost all text uses a chronological connector. Examples of chronological connectors:

First
Second
After that
Continue
Then
Finally
etc.
Using Nouns, Pronouns, and Action Verbs
Explanatory text is like any other text which consists of various nouns, pronouns (subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive pronouns), action verbs.

Structure Explanatory Text
Generally the explanatory text has the following structure:

Title: The explanatory text has a title that aims to grab the reader's attention. The title of the explanatory text usually begins with the words how or why.
General Statement: The first paragraph contains a general statement. Why? So that readers have an overview of the topics discussed.
Explanation: This paragraph describes how or why something happened.
Closing (Conclusion): Paragraph that summarizes the entire content of the text. This section is optional, you can use it or not.

  

How a tsunami happens

Tsunami originated from Japan, “tsu’ meaning harbor and “nami” meaning wave. They are normally caused by earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions in, or close to an ocean. After some sort of underwater disturbance, this causes energy to rise up to sea level pushing the water high into the air. Gravity kicks in and pulls it down again and then consequently causing the water to filter out into many different directions.

When a tsunami begins to approach the shore the energy in the wave is compressed. As a result, the water is pushed up into the wave, resulting in a powerful tsunami. If the trough hits the shoreline first, it then causes the tide to drastically retreat.