CHAPTER 3

CREATING CAPTIONS / CAPTION TEXT

What is a caption text?

A title or brief explanation appended to a picture, video, illustration, poster, table, and graph.
Caption can consist of a few words of description or several sentences. Caption also include a
short title or heading of an article in magazine or newspaper. A good caption clearly
identifies the subject of the picture without detailing the obvious.

What is the caption function?

1. To help the reader or viewer to understand more information that may not be in a photo or
video.
2. To explain what is shown in a picture

Generic Structure of caption text

1. The lead (The first part of caption text, a short phrase) yaitu bagian pertama dari teks
caption, frasa singkat.
2. Description (highlighting the main theme of the sub-section) yaitu menyoroti tema utama
dari sub-bagian.

Language Feature of caption text

1. Exclamation (Seruan)
Ex : How beautiful the place is!
2. Question (Pertanyaan)
Ex : Have you ever visited that place?
3. Adjective Phrase
Ex : Big house, Beautiful place

Rules of writing a caption

1. Supply specific information (answering 5 wh-question)
2. Use Present Tense on the first sentences
3. Caption is a written in a complete sentences
4. Clearly identify the people and location in the photo

How to write a caption text

1. Observe the picture or video that you will give the caption
2. Find out the message from the picture before you write the caption
3. Write a sentences or phrase under the picture