EXPLANATION TEXT

A. Understanding Explanation Text

Before starting to discuss about generic structure and explanation text features and for example,
I will start with the definition of explanation text in English and Indonesian. "Explanation is a
text which tells the processes of relating to natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena".
Explanation is a text that contains the processes associated with natural phenomena, social,
scientific, cultural and other.

B. The purpose of Explanation Text

To explain the phenomena or working of natural or socio-cultural phenomena.
The communicative purpose of explanation text is to explain the processes that occur in the
formation of something related to natural, social, scientific, cultural, and other phenomena
aimed at explaining how or why it can happen.

C. Generic Structure Explanation Text

1. General statement
about the general explanation of the phenomena to be discussed, may be the introduction
of such phenomena or explanations.
2. Squenced of explanation
contains an explanation of the process why the phenomenon can occur or be created. A
squenced of explanation is an answer to the author's 'why' and 'how' questions when
creating an Explanation text. In the squenced of explanation can consist of more than
one paragraph.
3. Closing
Actually the closing is not listed in the generic structure of the Explanation text, but
most people assume that the last paragraph of an Explanation text is closing, when it is
part of a squenced of explantaion that contains the final step described in the squenced
of explanation section.

D. Explanation Text Features

1. An Explanation text usually derives from the author's questions related to 'why' and
'how' to an existing phenomenon.
2. Because the appointed phenomenon is the focus of the material not on the object or the
person, but on events or events that occur in people or objects.
3. Using the Simple Present tense.
Sumber: Soal UN SMA 2010

The following text is for questions 37 to 40.

Human body is made up of countless millions of cells. Food is needed to built up new cells and
replace the worn out cells. However, the food that we take must be changed into substances that
can be carried in the blood to the places where they are needed. This process is called digestion.

The first digestive process takes place in the mouth. The food we eat is broken up into small
pieces by the action of teeth, mixed with saliva, a juice secreted by glands in the mouth. Saliva
contains digestive juice which moisten the food, so it can be swallowed easily.

From the mouth, food passes through the esophagus (the food passage) into the stomach. Here,
the food is mixed with the juices secreted by the cells in the stomach for several hours. Then the
food enters the small intestine. All the time the muscular walls of the intestine are squeezing,
mixing and moving the food onwards.

In a few hours, the food changes into acids. These are soon absorbed by the villi (microscopic
branch projections from the intestine walls) and passed into the bloodstream.

37. What is the text about?

A. The digestive system
B. The digestive juice
C. The method of the digestive system
D. The process of intestine work
E. The food substances
Kunci Jawaban ialah A, The digestive system.
Dilihat dari kalimat, "This process is called digestion".

38. How can we swallow the food easily?

A. The food changes into acids absorbed by the villi.
B. The food must be digested first through the process.
C. The food is directly swallowed through esophagus into the stomach.
D. The food is mixed with the juices secreted by the cells in the stomach.
E. The food we take must be changed into substances carried in the blood to the places.
Kunci Jawaban ialah B, B. The food must be digested first through the process..
Dilihat dari kalimat, "The food we eat is broken up into small pieces by the action of teeth,
mixed with saliva, a juice secreted by glands in the mouth. Saliva contains digestive juice which
moisten the food, so it can be swallowed easily".
 Exposition Text

Definition of Analytical Exposition Text

Analytical Exposition is a text that elaborates the writer's idea about the phenomenon
surrounding. Its social function is to persuade the reader that the idea is important matter, and to
analyze the topic that the thesis / opinion is correct by developing an argument to support it.
(Analytical Exposition is a text that describes the author's idea of the surrounding
phenomenon.The social function is to persuade the reader that the idea is important, and to
analyze the topic that thesis / opinion is correct by developing arguments to support it.)

The Purpose of Exposition Text

The main objective in Analytical Exposition Text is to try to convince the reader that the topic
presented is a topic that is important to be discussed or met by a point of argument or opinion
that supports the main idea or topic. Inside the Analytical Exposition Text not only contains one
argument, it can contain multiple arguments with the same purpose. You can easily find
examples in news editorial, ad text / advertisement, pamphlets, and more.

Generic Structure of Analytical exposition Text

1. Thesis: Introducing the topic and indicating the writer's point of view. (Introduce the
topic and show the author's point of view)
2. Argument: Explaining the argument to support the writer's position. The number of
arguments may vary, but each argument must be supported by evidence and explanation.
(Explain arguments to support the author's position The number of arguments may be
different, but each argument must be supported by evidence and explanation.)
3. Reiteration: Restating the writer's point of view / to strengthen the thesis. We can use
the following phrase to make conclusion in reiteration: We can use the following phrase
to make a conclusion in Reiteration:
 From the fact above ...
 I personally believe ...
 Therefore, my conclusion is ...
 In conclusion …
UJIAN NASIONAL SMA TAHUN 2002.

Read the following text to answer questions number 4 to 6.

Everybody should change their way of life to reduce global warming. There are several things
that we can do. One of them is by buying and consuming fresh local groceries as much as
possible. It of course includes local vegetables, fruits, bread, etc.

Local groceries don’t need much transportation to get it into the market. It of course means, the
amount of carbon dioxide produced is less than the groceries from other region. Therefore, by
buying local groceries we are helping reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced.

Consuming fresh groceries instead of frozen ones are healthier for us. Furthermore, fresh food
or groceries means no requirements for it to be freeze up. It means that no electricity is needed
and saving energy means reducing carbon dioxide and money.

So, from now on we should consume fresh local groceries to reduce global warming.
4. The text gives us information about ….
A. The ways to minimize global warning
B. The ways to increase global warning
C. The effects of global warning
D. The importance of consuming local groceries
E. The importance of knowing global warning

5. To reduce the global warming we should ….

A. Buy import product
B. Buy expensive clothes
C. Consume frozen foods
D. Consume fresh foods
E. Not use electricity efficiently

6. We are helping reduce the amount of global warming” (Paragraph 2) The underlined word
can be replaced by ….
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Improve
D. Add
E. Maximize

Kunci Jawaban
4. A
5. D
6. B