Explanation Text

1.      Explanation Text

What is Explanation?

1.      Definition and purposes of Explanation

Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena. Explanation text is to say 'why' and 'how' of the forming of the phenomena. It is often found in science, geography and history text books.

2.      Generic structure of Explanation

·         General statement; stating the phenomenon issues which are to be explained.

·         Sequenced explanation; stating a series of steps which explain the phenomena.

3.      Language Feature

·         Featuring generic participant; sun, rain, etc

·         Using chronological connection; to begin with, next, etc

·         Using passive voice pattern

·         Using simple present tense

4.      Examples and structures of the text

Making Paper from Woodchips
A general statement	Woodchipping is a process used to obtain pulp and paper products from forest trees.
	The woodchipping process begins when the trees are cut down in a selected area of the forest called a coupe.
A sequenced explanation of	Next the tops and branches of the trees are cut out and then the logs are taken to the mill.
why or how something occurs	At the mill the bark of the logs is removed and the logs are taken to a chipper which cuts them into small pieces called woodchips.
	The woodchips are then screened to remove dirt and other impurities. At this stage they are either exported in this form or changed into pulp by chemicals and heat.
	The pulp is then bleached and the water content is removed.
Closing	Finally the pulp is rolled out to make paper.

Example of Explanation Text

A.     Tsunami

The term of “tsunami” comes from the Japanese which means harbour ("tsu") and wave ("nami"). A tsunamigk is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or the sea is rapidly displaced on a massive scale.

A tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Such large vertical movements of the earth's crust can occur at plate boundaries.

Subduction of earthquakes are particularly effective in generating tsunamis, and occur where denser oceanic plates slip under continental plates.

As the displaced water mass moves under the influence of gravity to regain its equilibrium, it radiates across the ocean like ripples on a pond.

Tsunami always bring great damage. Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal area.

(simplified from www.panda.org)

B.      How Day and Night Happen

The sun seems to rise in the morning, crosses the sky during the day and sets at night. However the sun does not actually move around the earth. Earth's turning on its axis makes it look as if the sun is moves.

The earth makes a complete turn on its axis for 24 hours. It is called as rotation. It causes day and night. The earth also moves around the sun. It takes 365 days or a year. This process is called revolution. The revolution process causes the changes of the season

C.      Why Summer Daylight is Longger than Winter Daylight

In the summer, the amount of daylight that we get is more than we get in winter. This is not because as much people think we are closer to the sun but because of the tilt of the earth.

The earth is actually closer to the sun in winter than it is in summer but you would be forgiven for thinking that this can not be true after looking out of your window on a cold and frosty morning.

It seems strange that as the earth get closer to the sun during its orbit then the amount of daylight that we get decrease. But that is the case. It is the tilt of the earth that determine the amount of daylight that we get and so the length of time that for us the sun is above the horizon.

 (Taken from: www.ictteachers.co.uk)

Generic Structure Analysis

General statement; stating the phenomenon whic daylight in summer is longer than in winter.

Explanation; it is the tilt of the earth that determines the amount of daylight not the distance of the earth from the sun.

Language Feature Analysis

Focusing generic participant; daylight.

Using chronological connection; then, so, but.

Using pasive voice; you would be forgiven.

Using present tense; the earth is actually closer to the sun.

2.      Hortatory Exposition Text

What is Hortatory Exposition?

1.      Definition of Hortatory Exposition

Hortatory exposition is a text which represent the attempt of the writer to have the addressee do something or act in certain way.

2.      Generic Structure of Hortatory Exposition

1. Thesis

2. Arguments

3. Recommendation

3.      Language Feature of Hortatory Exposition

1. Focusing on the writer

2. Using abstract noun; policy, advantage, etc

3. Using action verb

4. Using thinking verb

5. Using modal adverb; certainly, surely, etc

6. Using temporal connective; firstly, secondly, etc

7. Using evaluative words; important, valuable, trustworthy, etc

8. Using passive voice

9. Using simple present tense

4.      Examples and structures of the text

Thesis	In all discussion over the removal of lead from petrol ( and the atmosphere), there doesn’t seem to have been any mention of the diffence between driving in the city and in the country.
Arguments	While I realise my leaded petrol car is polluting the air wherever I drive, I feel that when you travel through the country,where you only see another car every five to ten minutes,the problem is not as severe as when traffic is concentrated on city roads. Those who want to penalise older , leaded petrol vehicles and their owners donn’t seem to appreciate thet in the country there is no public transport to fall back upon and ones own vehicle is the only way to get about.
Recomendation	I feel that country people, who often have to travel huge distances to the nearest town and who already spend a great deal of money on petrol,should be treated differently to the people who live in the city

Example of Hortatory Exposition

A.     Watch your Kids While Watching TV

Television becomes one of the most important devices which takes place in almost houses. It can unite all members of the family as well as separate them. However, is it important to know what your kids are watching? The answer is, of course, absolutely "Yes" and that should be done by all parents. Television can expose things you have tried to protect the children from, especially violence, pornography, consumerism and so on.

Recently, a study demonstrated that spending too much time on watching TV during the day or at bedtime often cause bed-time disruption, stress, and short sleep duration.

Another research found that there is a significant relationship between the amount of time spent for watching television during adolescence and early adulthood, and the possibility of being aggressive.

Meanwhile, many studies have identified a relationship between kids who watch TV a lot and being inactive and overweight.

Considering some facts mentioning above, protect your children with the following tips:

• Limit television viewing to one-two hours each day
• Do not allow your children to have a TV set in their own bedrooms
• Review the rating of TV shows which your children watch
• Watch television with your children and discuss what is happening in the show

Notes on the Generic Structure of this Hortatory Exposition example

Firstly, we have to always remember that the social function of hortatory exposition text is driving the readers to act like the writer thought as stated in the text. Then the purpose of this hortatory is influencing and persuading the readers by presenting the supporting arguments. In many social activities, hortatory is applied for writing recommended thought, sales letter, advertising, speech campaign, and news advertorial.

Thesis: The writer's thought is presented as thesis which is proven with several arguments. In the first paragraph, the writer points his thought about the importance of accompanying children while they are watching TV show. It is important to protect the children from the bad influences of TV show.

Arguments: The next paragraphs show the writer arguments in supporting his thesis. It is supported by various researches that there are a great relationship between watching TV and the watcher's personality. One study describes that much time in watching TV can cause bed-time disruption. The others show the possibility of becoming an aggressive character because of watching television too much.

Recommendation: After stating the thesis and proving with various arguments, the text is completed with the writer's recommendation on how the parents should protect the children from the bed effect of watching TV.

Basically, both hortatory and analytical exposition have the similar position. Both take place as argumentative essays. Both show how important idea of the writer to be known. However the last paragraph of the essay usually make the difference from hortatory and analytical exposition. If it is a hortatory text, it will be ended with a strong recommendation while for analytical exposition, it will be closed with restatement of the writer's first paragraph.

B.      More Dust Bins is Cleaner; example of hortatory

To improve comfort and cleanliness at the school, there should be an increasing number of dust bins.

When we look at classroom, school corridors and schoolyard, there papers, mineral water cops, straws, and napkin everywhere. The condition of unseemliness really hinders learning and teaching environment. They can be filled out with water coming from the rain. This can be placed for mosquito to spread out.

Anyway I notice that most of the students have responsibilities for their school environment. They put their litter on the proper place but some of them are not diligent enough to find the dust bins. The numbers of the dust bins in the school are not enough. More dust bins should be put beside each step, outside of the classrooms and some along of the corridors. Probably one dust bin should be in every ten meters. So when students want to throw away their litters, they can find the dust bins easily.

When school is equipped with sufficient dust bins, students do not have problem of discomfort any more. So provide more dust bins and school will be very clean and become a very nice place to study.

C.      Where should be after High School?; a hortatory text

The National examination result will be publicly enounced in next short time. Euphoria will flood for those who get success. In the other hand, It will be sorry to hear that there are some of them do not succeed in their national final examination. For those who succeed soon will think to decide; where will they be after graduating high school? Actually it will be easy to decide for those has been arranged and thought earlier but for those have not planed yet, it will be quite confusing.

Continuing study or looking for work is the primary choice among them. When they think about continuing study, they will think hard about the time and cost. How long the higher study will last? And how high is about the cost. In the same way, when they think about straightly seeking job, what skill and competence they have got is a big matter of questioning. So, doing both choices in the same time is an alternative.

Continuing study as well as seeking job is possibly done but it will be hard for them. Conventionally studying in the university needs much time to spend especially in the first year. It is true because they have to do and adapt a lot of things in their new higher school. it will be very hard to looking for job. Therefore it should come to their mind of continuing studying at higher school from their own home. As result, the available time will be more flexible for them. Then it will be very possible to seek job and get the appropriate one. This type of studying is publicly known as distance learning.

As the alternative method of studying, besides the conventional studying which students and the lecturer have to meet in the fixed time and place regularly, distance learning provides possibility to grow better. Possibly working and studying surely will create high quality graduate. Distance learning should appear as a considerable choice for them.

D.     Millions from Property Market; a hortatory exposition text

Dear friend,

Are you tired of the daily grind? Sick of working all hours of the day for litle reward? Tired of having enough money to really enjoy yourself? Well, now there is a way out.

We can show the way to give up work. Sit back and make millions for yourself and your loved ones on property market.

Albert Smith felt just like you untill he read our leaflet. Now he drives a sport car arround the South of France and his wife has one of her own too.

Generic Structure Analyse

Thesis; there is a way out of financial problem.

Argument; Albert Smith is the proof.

Recommendation; Join property market !

Language Feature Analysis

Using abstract noun; reward

Using action verb; give up, make, etc

Using thinking verb; felt

Using simple present tense; are you tired?, he drives a sport car, etc