Definition of Explanation Text

According to Macmillan Dictionary, explanation is a description of how something works or of how to do something. Explanatory text is a description of how something works or how to do something.

explanation is a statement about how or why something is the way it is. An explanation is a statement of how or why something is like that.

If concluded, explanation text is a type of English text that contains how or why something happened.

Generally, this type of text describes the process of something happening. The things described in the explanatory text are in the form of natural and social phenomena.

Purpose of Explanation Text
– Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific, and cultural phenomena.
– To explain how or why something happens.

General Structure 

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

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

– Closing; is optional or not mandatory. Sometimes the last paragraph of this type of text is often considered the closing part, even though in fact the paragraph is still classified as part of the sequence of the events.

Structure of Explanation Text
Generally the explanation text has the following structure:

Title: Explanation text has a title that aims to attract the attention of the reader. The title of explanation text usually begins with the words how or why.

General Statement: The first paragraph contains a general statement. Why? So that readers have an overview of the topics discussed.

Explanation: This paragraph describes how or why something happened.

Closing (Conclusion): Paragraph that summarizes the entire content of the text. This section is optional, you can use it or not.

Language Features of Explanation Text

- Noun phrases, which functions as an adverbial. Adverbial referred to here is a word, phrase or clause that explains the entire clause by adding information on time, place, condition, way, reason or purpose. This noun phrase can also answer the questions "when", "where", "why" and "how". An example is The cells in the lining of the stomach and small intestine produce and release hormones that control the functions of the digestive system. Well, the first Phrase in bold is an example from Noun Phrase describing a place. Whereas the second phrase is an example of a Noun Phrase which describes purpose.

- Action verbs, is a verb used to describe an action taking place. for example, produces, enters, moves, and so on.

- Simple present tense, because it explains the facts, the tense used is the present tense.

- Passive voice, passive voice is used when the explanation focuses on the process or action, for example is produced, are fermented, is reflected, and others.

- Using Technical Terms, These technical terms refer to technical terms related to the topics discussed in this text. For example, in texts that discuss the origin of rain, of course there will be terms precipitation, condensation, evaporation, etc. This term is then called the technical term for the text regarding the origin of rain.

- Containing explanation of the process
Using Chronological Connectors
Almost all texts use chronological connectors. 

Examples of chronological connectors:

• First
• Second
• After that
• Next
• Then
• Finally
• etc.

EXAMPLES

How a Tsunami Happens?

General Statement

We all know that tsunamis are a series of destructive waves and powerful. Tsunami is the deadliest wave because the wave speed is incredibly fast. But do you know how a tsunami can happens?

Explanation

Tsunami originated from Japan, “tsu” meaning harbor and “nami” meaning wave. They are normally caused by landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions in, or close to an ocean. After some sort of underwater disturbance, this causes energy to rise up to sea level pushing the water high into the air. Gravity kicks in and pulls it down again and then consequently causing the water to filter out into many different directions.

When a tsunami begins to approach the shore the energy in the wave is compressed. As a result, the water is pushed up into the wave, resulting in a powerful tsunami. If the trough hits the shoreline first, it then causes the tide to drastically retreat.

Conclusion

So, tsunamis happen because of natural disasters such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. People who live near the shoreline have to be careful because they are threatened by tsunamis whenever there is an earthquake.