ENGLISH SUMMARY

EXPLANATION TEXT

Group Members (XI MIPA 1):

 Dewa Gede Agung Ari Wiguna (05)
 I Made Yudis Radana (13)
 I Putu Rian Pratama Putra (15)
 Ngakan Made Darmantya Arsa Wibawa (21)
 Ni Kadek Ayu Dwi Anggraeni (22)
 Ni Putu Iliana Wijaya (33)

SMA NEGERI 1 SUKAWATI

2023
 THEORY
A. INTRODUCTION
A phenomenon, in scientific context, is something that is observed to occur or
to exist. Phenomena are categorized in a number of ways. In this chapter, we are
going to learn about natural phenomena and social phenomena which are
presented through explanation texts.
Natural phenomena are observable events that occur in the universe and that
can we use our science knowledge to explain or predict, such as tornadoes,
earthquakes, etc. Social phenomena are the constantly evolving individual and
external influences that significantly affect our behaviors and opinions, such as
unemployment, bullying, etc. Texts discussing about the phenomena are usually
called academic or scientific texts. Some of the use explanation genre and passive
voice. So in this summary, we are going to discuss more about explanation texts
about natural and social phenomena and passive voice without the doer.

B. EXPLANATION TEXT
A genre used to explain how something works or the processes involved in
actions, events, or behaviors is called explanation genre. It is also called factual
genre. As a genre, explanations detail and logically describe the stages in a
natural, social, or technological phenomenon of our world. In other words, an
explanation text is a kind of text which tells or explains processes relating to
forming of natural or social phenomena or how something works.
1. Social Function
The following are the social functions or purposes of explanation text.
a. To tell why and how of the forming of the phenomena.
b. To explain why things are as they are and how they are formed or made.
c. To explain the processes involved in the evolution of natural and social
phenomenon or how something works.
d. To explain how something works or the process involved in actions, events,
or behavior.
2. Types of Explanation Text
a. Sequential Explanation (How something works/occurs)
b. Cause and Effect Explanation (Why something occurs)
 Types of Explanation
Texts
Explanation texts are categorized
according to the type of process
they describe.

Sequential Explanation Cause and Effect Explanation

Explanations text that links cause

Explanations that describe natural
and non-natural phenomena, for and effect in explaining how and
why an event occurred, for
example life cycles.
example volcanoes.

3. General Structure of Explanation Text

a. Title
 A title that identifies the topic to be explained.
b. General Statement (Introduction)
 It is about the phenomenon issue which is to be explained. It is to
introduce the topic. The process being explained may be highlighted in a
little or in the first sentence or stage.
c. A Sequenced Explanation of the Stage
 It consists of sequenced explanation of why or how something occurs, or
a series of chronological steps which explain how or why something
happens.
d. Conclusion (if any)
 A concluding paragraph that puts all the information together.
4. Language Features of Explanation Text
a. Focus on generic, non-human participants, or things, for example,
earthquakes.
b. Use of abstract nouns, for example, movement.
 c. Use of simple present tense. For example: This sudden release of energy
cause the seismic waves that make the ground shake.
d. Use of temporal and causal conjunctions, for example, after a while.
e. Use of passive voice. For example: Earthquakes are usually caused when rock
underground suddenly breaks along a fault.
f. Use of action verbs to explain cause, for cause, for example, slide, push, rub.
g. Use of noun phrases, for example; the ground, the sudden breaking, the
earth’s rocky outermost crust.
h. Use of complex sentences. For example: When two blocks of rock or two
plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little.
i. Use of technical terms of words chains about a subject, for example, tectonic
plates.

C. PASSIVE VOICE
Most explanation texts use passive voice. Passive voice is also called passive
sentence. The following are the differences between passive voice and active
voice.

Active Voice Passive Voice

The sudden release of energy The seismic waves are
causes the seismic caused by the sudden release
of energy.

We use passive voice in the following situations when:

1. We don’t know the doer or the actor.
2. We think that the doer or the actor is not important.
3. We want to hide the doer or the actor. Its purpose is to make the sentence more
polite.
4. we talk about the general truth or fact.
5. We are writing in a scientific genre or academic writing.
Passive voice in useful in academic writing because it is to highlight the most
important participants within sentences by placing them the beginning of the
sentence. Using passive voice is also a way to avoid informasi personal pronouns.
 Passive Voice
When emphasis is on the
action (verb) and the object
of a sentence rather than the
subject of a sentence.

It means that

Action is more
Subject is Even when the
important than the
unknown. subject is known, it
subject.
is put at the end.

Passive voice is usually used when the focus is on the action. Here is the
pattern.

Be + Verb 3

Examples

 Natural gas is formed by the decay of organic

matter.
 A rock concert is being held in an open field.
 The artefact was found in a small village.
 The road will be used to transport woods.
 Coastal flooding can be caused by strong winds.
 Rules of Passive Voice
1. The finite form of the verb is changed (be + past participle).
2. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence.
3. The subject of the active voice becomes the object of the passive voice or it
is omitted. Therefore, there is no preposition “by”.

Preposition “by”
In passive sentences, preposition “by” is used to indicate the person that
does something. When we want to mention the doer, we use the preposition
“by”. Normally in explanation text, we are not interested in the doer of an
action in a passive voice. When we use preposition “by”, the whole phrase is
called by-agent.
Examples:
a. The rubbish was thrown by the villagers into the river. (With
preposition “by” to mention the doer)
b. The rubbish was thrown in the river. (No mention the doer)
 TEXT

Earthquakes
Earthquakes being among the most deadly natural hazards strike without any
prior warning, leaving catastrophe in their wake with terrible loss of human lives as
well as economic loss. This causes earthquakes to be feared by everyone.
Technically, an earthquake (also known as tremor, quake or temblor) is a kind
of vibration through the earth's crust. This vibration occurs as a result of powerful
movement of rocks in the earth's crust. These powerful movements trigger a rapid
release of energy that creates seismic waves that travel through the earth. Earthquakes
are usually brief, but may repeat over a long period of time. (Earth Science. 2001)
Earthquakes are classified as large and small. Large earthquakes usually begin
with slight tremors but rapidly take form of violent shocks. The vibrations from a
large earthquake last for a few days known as aftershocks. Small earthquakes are
usually slight tremors and do not cause much damage. Large earthquakes are known
to take down buildings and
cause death and injury
(Richter, 1935). According
to some statistics, there
may be an average of
500,000 earthquakes every
year but only about 100,000
can be felt and about 100 or
so can cause damage each
year.

(Earthquake disaster pictures)

QUESTIONS