A. What is Explanation Text?

Explanation text is a text to provide a clear explanation. Usually, explanation texts contain
explanations about social, natural, or cultural phenomena. The purpose of writing this text is to
inform the reader about how something works or why something happens.

B. Purpose of Explanation Text

What is the function of explanatory text?

1. Provide information to the reader

In accordance with its understanding, explanatory text contains an explanation of why
something can happen. Therefore, the main function or social function is to answer
questions that may arise in the general public.
2. To educate or provide education
You must have read the reasons why rain can fall from the sky, right? Well, this process can
be explained in the form of an explanation text which usually appears in school Geography
books. So, explanation text can certainly be a medium for educating students.

C. Why is it called Explanation Text?

The difference between explanation text and other texts lies in the general structure (text structure)
and language features (language features).

D. Generic Structures of Explanation Text

Explanation text is composed of a title, general statement (introducing or identifying the

phenomenon), series of sequenced paragraphs, supporting facts (diagram or flow chart), and
conclusion.

Title

Explanation text has a title that guides the reader to find the essence of the text. Title of explanation
text is usually the answer to “how” and “why”.

General Statement

The first paragraph of an explanation text is a general statement. The statement is an identification or
description of the core of a phenomenon.

Sequenced Statement

Explanation text is a text that develops a relationship between the cause and effect of an event. This
section also contains scientific facts that provide concrete evidence to the reader.

In addition, explanation text also contains diagrams or flow charts as additional information data to
support facts.

Concluding Statement

Contains the conclusion of the contents of the entire reading.

As a supporting structure, explanation text also has linguistic characteristics such as the use of
present tense, action verbs, conjunctions, adverbial phrases, pronouns, technical words, time
connectives, noun groups, and abstract nouns.

Language Features of Explanation Text

The thing that distinguishes explanation text from other texts is the style of language used. Are as
follows.

• Using present tense.

• Using technical words: pharynx, larynx.

• Using complex noun groups to build complex description: the enormous expanse of arid land, the
rampaging, threatening river.

• Using abstract noun: earthquake, heat.

• Use pronouns as opening text.

• Explanation text generally explains the phenomena associated Witha object: rain, mountains,
rocks.

• Use sentences with clear subject and verb agreements.

• Using action verbs to explain causes or reason: from, started from.

• Use adverbial phrases of time and place to describe when and where events occurred: it happened
in Zimbabwe.

• Use connecting phrases to connect time: so, after, finally.

• Using a passive voice that directs to cause and effect.

•Using time conjunctions: as, when.

E. Selection of Vocabulary in Explanation Text

A reading indicates that it is an explanation text or not, we can see from the generic structures of the
text. In addition, the choice of words can also affect the reader’s understanding.

That’s why there are several words that describe explanation text in general. Among them are
conjunctions, words linking cause and effect, comparative, action verbs, and technical topic words.

Conjunctions

Some examples of conjunctions in explanation text include alternatively, previously, afterward, after,
because, although, however, however, while, indeed, therefore, then, or, if, so, and, like, etc.

Words Linking Cause and Effect

Some examples of words linking cause and effect in explanation text include because, therefore,
caused this, because, led to, due to, created, brought about, culminated in, stemmed from,
encouraged, a source of, grew out of, shaped by, influenced by, as a result of, inspired, etc.
Comparative

Some comparative examples in explanation text include but, however, that is, instead, whereas, also,
for example, while, in fact, etc.

Action Verb

Some examples of action verbs in explanation text include send, pull, push.

Technical Topic Words

Some examples of technical topic words in explanation text include the larynx, pharynx, epiglottis,
trachea, cost, price, demand, supply, field, circuit, plate, energy.

Example explanation text

How Do Fish Breathe?

All animals breathe just like humans. How they breathe, however, varies. Breathe by inhaling oxygen
and exhaling carbon dioxide as waste. Air flows in through the human’s nose or mouth into the lungs
where oxygen is transported through the blood to the rest of the human body. Humans need air to
breathe. So, what does that mean for animals that live in the water?

Like humans, fish also need oxygen and emit carbon dioxide to survive. But using the lungs, these
creatures that live in water use organs called gills. The gills are organs located on the sides of the
fish’s head. These gills have many small blood vessels called capillaries.

When the fish opens, the water will flow over the gills. After that, the blood in the capillaries will pick
up oxygen that is soluble in water. The blood then moves through the fish’s body to provide oxygen
throughout the body, just like in humans.

All bony fish also have a bony plate called an operculum. This operculum is useful for opening and
closing to protect the gills. Breathing underwater is difficult. The air we breathe has an oxygen
concentration of 200,000 parts per million.

Whereas water only has a concentration of 4 to 8 parts per million. This means fish need to flow a lot
of water over their gills to get the amount of oxygen to survive. In addition, the gills are very useful
for extracting the oxygen needed by fish.

Breathing becomes more difficult as the oxygen concentration decreases. Low levels of oxygen
concentration make it impossible for animals to survive. Although it can occur naturally, it can also be
created by human activity.

When pollution is high, such as waste dumped into the sea, this will cause algae blooms which then
die and decompose. Furthermore, it will cause the zone to have a low oxygen concentration level of
oxygen.

Fish need clean water to breathe. Similarly, humans need clean air to breathe. Humans can help
these gilled creatures to thrive by keeping their habitat free of pollutants.