Explanation Text

Definition

An Explanation Text is a type of writing that describes the process or reason behind something. Its primary purpose is to explain how something works or why something happens, providing clear, logical, and detailed information. 

The goal of an explanation text is to offer insight into a phenomenon, process, or concept in a way that helps the reader understand it better.

Aim of Explanation Text:

The main aim of an Explanation Text is to:

• Provide detailed information about a specific topic, process, or concept.
• Answer questions like "How?" and "Why?"
• Explain the reasons or causes behind certain events, phenomena, or processes.
• Help readers understand the relationship between different aspects of a subject.
• Clarify complex ideas in a simple, accessible manner.

Structure of Explanation Text:

Explanation texts typically follow a structured format that helps in delivering clear information. The common structure includes:

• Title: Introduces the topic or process being explained.
• General Statement: A brief overview or introduction to the phenomenon or process being explained.
• Sequence of Events or Steps: Describes the process or steps in a logical order, explaining how things happen or how something works.
• Explanation/Details: Further elaboration of the steps, reasons, or causes behind the topic being explained.
• Conclusion: Summarizes or reinforces the explanation (sometimes optional).

Example Structure:

1. Introduction (General Statement)
2. Process or Cause and Effect (Detailed Explanation)
3. Conclusion/Outcome (Optional)

Types of Explanation Text:

There are different types of explanation texts based on the content they explain:

• Cause and Effect Explanation: Explains why something happens, focusing on causes and their effects.
• Example: "Why do we have seasons?"
• Process Explanation: Describes a series of steps or stages that occur in a process or event.
• Example: "How does photosynthesis work?"
• Mechanism Explanation: Focuses on how something functions or operates, often relating to machines or biological systems.
• Example: "How does a car engine work?"
• Function Explanation: Describes how something serves a specific purpose or function.
• Example: "Why do birds migrate?"

 Language Components Used in Explanation Text

• Present tense: Used to describe facts, processes, or general truths.
• Example: "Water boils at 100°C."
• Action verbs: These describe actions or processes.
• Example: "The heart pumps blood throughout the body."
• Cause and effect conjunctions: Words like "because," "so," "therefore," and "as a result" help explain reasons or outcomes.
• Example: "The plant grows because it receives sunlight."
• Technical or subject-specific vocabulary: Specialized terms related to the subject are used for accuracy.
• Example: "Chlorophyll absorbs light during photosynthesis."
• Sequencing words: Words such as "first," "next," "then," "afterward," "finally" are used to organize the steps or stages in a process.
• Example: "First, mix the flour and sugar."
• Passive voice: Often used when the focus is on the process rather than the doer.
• Example: "The cake is baked for 20 minutes."
• Linking words and phrases: These help connect ideas and ensure the explanation flows logically.
• Example: "In addition," "Consequently," "For example."

Difference between Explanation Text and Procedure Text

Don't get confused between explanation text and procedure text . Because these two texts are similar, many people are often confused about differentiating them.

1. Difference in Objectives
Explanation text aims to explain how and why something can happen so that readers can understand the process that occurs.
Well, the purpose of a procedure text is to explain how to make or do something so that the reader can carry out the steps.

2. Structural Differences
The structure of explanation text and procedure text is also different. The structure of explanation text consists of title, general statement, explanation, and conclusion . Meanwhile, the structure of procedure text consists of goal, materials , and steps .

Summary

An explanation text is designed to inform and clarify how or why something happens. It typically follows a structured format that includes a general statement, detailed steps or events, and a conclusion. The language used in explanation texts is precise and includes action verbs, technical terms, cause-and-effect relationships, and sequenced instructions to ensure clear communication.

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Example 1

The Water Cycle

Water is an essential part of life. The earth has a limited amount of water, however, water is continually recycled in a process called the water cycle. It is made up of four main parts: precipitation, infiltration, evaporation, and condensation.

To begin with, precipitation occurs when so much water has formed that the air cannot hold it any longer. The clouds become heavier and as a result, water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or snow.

When water falls back to the earth as precipitation, it may fall back into the oceans, lakes, or rivers or it may end up on land. When it ends up on land, it soaks into the earth and is stored as groundwater. This process is called infiltration.

Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, or oceans and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake, or ocean and goes into the air. This stage is called evaporation.

The water vapor cools and this leads to clouds forming. However, the clouds are unable to hold the water vapor for a long. As a result, rain droplets form and it starts to rain. This process is called condensation.

Eventually, the water cycle begins again.

Example 2

How a Tsunami Can Happen After an Earthquake

General statement

A tsunami can happen after an undersea earthquake because the movement of the ocean floor pushes a large amount of water.

Explanation

First, an earthquake happens when tectonic plates suddenly move, and this movement can lift or drop the seabed. Then, when the seabed shifts, the water above it is forced upward or pulled downward, and waves start traveling across the sea.

After that, in deep water the waves may look small, but they move very fast and carry huge energy. Finally, when the waves reach shallow coastal areas, they slow down but grow taller, so the water rushes onto land.

For example, people at the beach might notice the sea level suddenly goes far back, and that can be a warning sign that a big wave may follow.

Conclusion

That is why early warnings and quick evacuation are important in coastal areas after a strong undersea earthquake.

Example 3

How Traffic Jams Happen

General statement
Traffic jams are common in big cities and they usually happen when too many vehicles use the same road at the same time.

Explanation
First, many people leave home at similar hours, for example in the morning before school and work, so the number of cars and motorcycles increases quickly.

Then, when one driver slows down or changes lanes suddenly, other drivers also brake, and this creates a chain reaction that reduces the speed of the whole lane.

In addition, traffic lights, intersections, and road narrowing make the flow even slower because vehicles must stop and start repeatedly.
As a result, even a small delay can grow into a long line of vehicles, especially when the road capacity is limited.

Conclusion
That is why traffic jams can appear fast, and better driving habits plus good traffic management can reduce them.

Example  4

How Seawater Becomes Salty

General Statement:

Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, and 97% of that is salty seawater. Only 3% of our planet’s water is fresh such as water in rivers, lake, and streams. This fresh water plays a big role in explaining how the sea becomes salty. Water moves around our planet in a cycle powered by the sun: from the sea, to the sky, to the land and then back to the sea.

Explanation:

When the sun heats seawater, it evaporates into water vapour that rises into the air. This vapour then cools and condenses into clouds, eventually falling back to Earth as precipitation such as rain, sleet, hail, or snow, before flowing through rivers and returning to the sea. Additionally, rainwater contains small amounts of carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, making it slightly acidic; this allows it to dissolve mineral salts like sodium and chloride from rocks, which then mix into the water.

Conclusion:

Thus, the main salt in seawater is sodium chloride. The rain water flows off the land and into the rivers and streams that lead all the way to the sea, carrying the dissolved salts along with it that makes the seawater salty.