EXPLANATION TEXT, B.INGGRIS KLS XII SMA/MA

Explanation Text

Definition of Explanation:

Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena,or others.

(Explanation text adalah: Teks yang digunakan untuk menerangkan cara/proses-proses yang terjadi atau kegiatan yang terkait dengan fenomena alam, dunia ilmiah, atau sosial budaya, atau lainnya)

Social Function/Purpose:

ž     to tell how or why things occur,

ž     to explain the processes involved in the formation or workings of natural or socio cultural   

  phenomena.

Text Organization/Generic Structure:

ž  General Statement (pernyataan/penjelasan umum) : provide a general  statement to position the reader

ž  Sequenced Explanation (penjelasan tentang proses) : tells a sequenced explanation of why or how something occur

Language Feature/ Ciri-ciri :

ž  Menggunakan kata benda umum, misal: petroleum products

ž  Menggunakan kata kerja tindakan, misal: start, force, obtain

ž  Menggunakan simple present tense, misal: air rises as it enters an area of flow preasure, 

    petroleum product vary greatly.

ž  Menggunakan kalimat pasif, misal: it is often laid on a leaf, the air is heated from the ground

ž  Menggunakan kata hubung penunjuk waktu dan akibat, misal: before, then, because

ž  Menggunakan frasa benda, misal: flow pressure, water droplets, lubricating oil

ž  Menggunakan kata kerja abstrak, misal: life

ž  Menggunakan kalimat majemuk, misal: this tends occur mainly in the tropics, where the air in 

     contact with the ground is warmer than the air above….

ž  Menggunakan istilah teknis, misal: orographic rain, convectio rain.

Examples/ Contoh2:

1.

HOW CHOCOLATE IS MADE

Have we wondered how we get chocolate from? Well this time we will enter the amazing world of chocolate so we can understand exactly we are eating.

         Chocolate starts a tree called cacao tree. This tree grows in equatorial regions, especially in place such as South America, Africa, and Indonesia. The cacao tree produces a fruit about the size of a small pine apple. In side the fruits are the tree's seeds. They are also known as coco beans.

            Next, the beans are fermented for about a week, dried in the sun. After that they are shipped to the chocolate maker. The chocolate maker starts by roasting the beans to bring out the flavour. Different beans from different places have different qualities and flavour. So they are often shorted and blended to produce a distinctive mix.

          The next process is winnowing. The roasted beans are winnowed to remove the meat nib of the cacao bean from its shell. Then the nibs are blended. The blended nibs are ground to make it a liquid. The liquid is called chocolate liquor. It tastes bitter.

            All seeds contain some amount of fat and cacao beans are not different. However, cacao beans are half fat, which is why the ground nibs from liquid. It is pure bitter chocolate.

Generic Structure Analysis of  HOW CHOCOLATE IS MADE:

ž  General statement; it is a statement which says about chocolate and how it is formed

ž  Sequenced explanation; it is a series of explanation on how chocolate is formed before we eat. First, the chocolate is coming from the cacao tree. Then it is fermented and ship to the chocolate producer. The cacao bean then are roasted and winnowed.

2. 

WHY SUMMER DAYLIGHT IS LONGER 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 of  WHY SUMMER DAYLIGHT IS LONGER THAN WINTER                                                                 DAYLIGHT :

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

·  Sequenced 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 :
* Focusing generic participant; daylight.
* Using chronological connection; then, so, but.

     * Using passive voice; you would be forgiven.

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

3. (Exercise)

How Roman Roads were Built

The system of roads for mobility has been begun early decades. It was started since the Roman Empire conquered the world. The roads in Roman era were known as the best construction.

            The Romans built roads are for the purpose of mobility, especially for the army. Having the best road, the army could march from one place to another. They built the roads as straight as possible, so that the army could take the shortest route.

             It is interesting to know how the roads were built, which some of them are still in use today. First, the Romans builders would clear the ground of rocks and trees. Then they dug a trench where the road was to go and filled it with big stones. Next, they put in big stones, pebbles, cement and sand which they packed down to make a firm base. After that, they added another layer of cement mixed with broken tiles. On top of that rough construction, then they put paving stones to make the flat surface. These stones were cut so that they fitted together tightly. As the finishing touch, kerb stones were put at each sides of the road to hold in the paving stones. It was also used to make a channel for the water to run away.

                                                                                                                            (Partly taken from: www.teachingideas.co.uk)

Generic Structure Analysis of How Roman Roads were Built :

ž  General Statement : ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ž  Sequenced Explanation:  .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

* Language Feature :

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Acid Rain

Acid rain is rain that is highly acidic because of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and other air pollutants dissolved in it. Normal rain is slightly acidic, with a Ph of 6. Acid rain may have a pH value as low as 2.8.

Acid rain can severely damage both plant and animal life. Certain lakes, for example, have lost all fi sh and plant life because of acid rain.

Acid rain comes from sulphur in coal and oil. When they burn, they make sulphur dioxide (SO2). Most sulphur leaves factory chimneys as the gaseous sulphur dioxide (SO2) and most nitrogen is emitted as nitrogen oxides (NO or NO2), both of which are gases. The gases may be dry deposited–absorbed directly by the land, by lakes or by the surface vegetation. If they are in the atmosphere for any time, the gases will oxidise (gain an oxygen atom) and go into solution as acids. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and the nitrogen oxides will become nitric acid (HNO3). The acids usually dissolve in cloud droplets and may travel great distances before being precipitated as acid rain. Catalysts such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone and ammonium help promote the formation of acids in clouds. More ammonium (NH4) can be formed when some of the acids are partially neutralised by airborne ammonia (NH3). Acidification increases with the number of active hydrogen (H+) ions dissolved in acid. Hydrocarbons emitted by for example, car exhausts will react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides to produce ozone. Although it is invaluable in the atmosphere, low level ozone causes respiratory problems and also hastens the formation of acid rain.

When acid rain falls on the ground it dissolves and liberates heavy metals and aluminium (Al). When it is washed into lakes, aluminium irritates the outer surfaces of many fi sh. As acid rain falls or drains into the lake the pH of the lake falls. Forests suffer the effect of acid rain through damage to leaves, through the loss of vital nutrients, and through the increased amounts of toxic

metals liberated by acid, which damage roots and soil micro organisms.

Taken from Science and Technology Encyclopedia, 2006

Questins/soal2:

1. What is acid rain?

2. What is the pH of normal rain?

3. How is sulphur dioxide formed?

4. What will happen to sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide if they enter the atmosphere?

5. What substances react to form nitric acid?

6. What helps to promote the formation of acids in clouds?

7. What infl uences the increase in acidifi cation?

8. How is ozone produced?

9. Does low level ozone harm respiratory organs?

10. How does acid rain affect forests?

Answers/Jawaban2:

1. Acid rain is rain that is highly acidic because of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and other

2. The pH of normal rain is 6.

3. When coal and oil burn, they make sulphur dioxide (SO2).

4. If they are in the atmosphere for any time, the gases will oxidize (gain an oxygen atom)        and go into solution as acids.

5. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and nitrogen oxides do.

6. Catalysts such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone and ammonium do.

7. The number of active hydrogen (H+) ions dissolved in acid does.

8. Hydrocarbons emitted by for example, car exhausts react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides      to produce ozone.

9. Yes, it does.

10. Forests suffer the effect of acid rain through damage to leaves, through the loss of vital        nutrients, and through the increased amounts of toxic metals liberated by acid.