Explanation text is a text genre which tries to explain how a thing happens or why the thing is made.

Explanation text actually is similar to procedure text, however, explanation text tends to explain. While
the procedure text is intended to instruct how to form or make something.
Bellow are some examples of explanation text which are grouped into several topics. This list of links
relating to explanation text hopefully helps students to get more understanding about text genres,
especially an explanation text.
Explanation texts about food
How a chocolate is made
Explanation texts about toy play
How a kite flies
Explanation texts about natural phenomena:
How a tsunami happens
How a Venus eclipse happens
How an earthquake happens
How rain happens
How seasons happen
How day and night happens
Why daylight in summer is longer than in winter
Explanation texts about technology
How a cell phone works
How a fuel light works
Explanation texts about monumental things
How roman roads were built
Why Eiffel tower was built
Explanation texts about diseases
How a cancer is formed

Tsunami
The term of tsunami comes from the Japanese which means harbour ("tsu") and wave
("nami"). A tsunami is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or a 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 tsunami, 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.

How Venus Eclipse Happens

On May 16, 2010, people in most regions in the world have seen a very rare natural phenomenon. It was
Venus eclipse. It was very rare amazing natural event. It was reported that the Venus eclipse will seen
again in the future in 2050. Do you know how this rare Venus eclipse happens?
Well, actually Venus eclipse is like Sun eclipse. Venus eclipses occurs when the position of the earth,
moon and Venus is parallel. Venus planet will slowly disappear for a moment because it is covered the
surface of the Moon. Venus planet seems to move to the back side of the Moon.
The moon and planets are sharing a similar apparent path in the sky. That is why, it is not unusual for the
moon to appear to pass close to Venus. In fact, the moon appears somewhere near it about once a
month. However, most people dont see these events because they are visible in the evening sky only half
the time, and then only for a short period after sunset. The apparent closeness varies from month to
month as well.

How Earthquakes Happen

Earthquake is one of the most destroying natural disasters. Unluckily it often happens in several
regions. Recently a horrible earthquake has shaken West Sumatra. It has brought great damages.
Why did it occur? Do you know how an earthquake happens?
Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This
sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves. It make the ground shake. When two blocks

of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don't just slide
smoothly. The rocks are still pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while, the rocks
break because of all the pressure that's built up. When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs.
During the earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock start moving, and they continue
to move until they get stuck again. The spot underground where the rock breaks is called the
focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus is called the epicenter of the earthquake.
Mainly taken from: www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/why.html

How does Rain Happen?

Rain is the primary source of fresh water for most areas of the world, providing suitable conditions for
diverse ecosystems, as well as water for hydroelectric power plants and crop irrigation.
The phenomenon of rain is actually a water circle. The concept of the water cycle involves the sun
heating the Earth's surface water and causing the surface water to evaporate. The water vapor rises into
the Earth's atmosphere. The water in the atmosphere cools and condenses into liquid droplets. The
droplets grow until they are heavy and fall to the earth as precipitation which can be in the form of rain
or snow.
However, not all rain reaches the surface. Some evaporates while falling through dry air. This is called
virga, a phenomenon which is often seen in hot, dry desert regions.

How do seasons happen?

Seasons come to us regularly. We have probably noticed that it gets warmer in summer or dry season
while it get colder in the winter or wet season. However do we know how these seasons change?
Seasons happen and change every year. This happens because the earth tilts back and forth as it goes
around the sun. During the summer, the earth tilts toward the sun. It makes half of the earth hotter. this
condition is what we call summer. During the other half of the year, the earth tilts away from the sun. As
a result, it makes that half of the earth cooler. This cool condition is then what we call winter.
The different parts of the world have the same season at different times. In the northern half of the
world , winter happens during the months of December, January and February. The regions are such
North America and Europe. In the other hand, the southern half of the world have winter during the
months of June, July and August.The regions are like South America and Australia. How does this
difference happen? The same season happens at different times because the top and bottom halves of
the earth tilt away from the sun at different times.

How Day and Night Happen: an explanation

text
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

Why Summer Daylight is Longger than

Winter Daylight; an explanation text
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.

The United States of America is where the Venuss fly trap has its origins. The Venuss fly trap
is a unique plant. It belongs to a group of plants called carnivorous plants. These plants feed on
insect. The Venuss fly trap has a special mechanism by which it traps its prey. This is how it
works.
At the end of each leaf which grows from the base of a long, flowering stalk there is a trap.
The trap is made up of two lobes and is covered with short, reddish hairs which are sensitive.
There are teeth like structures around the edge of the lobes.
The trap contains nectar which attracts insect. When an insect comes in contact with the nectar,
the trap snaps shut. There are certain digestive juice inside the trap which digest the insect. It
takes about ten days for a trapped insect to be digested. We can tell when this digestion is
complete, for then the walls automatically open to wait for another victim.
There are two hundred species of carnivorous plants. Another kind of these well- known species
is the pitcher plant. What differentiates this plant from the Venuss fly trap is the shape; the
mechanism to catch insects is the same in both plants.
The pitcher plants which cling to other plants by means of tendrils. At one end of the tendril,
there is a pitcher shaped vessel with an open lid. The mouth and the lid of the pitcher contain
glands which produce nectar to attract insect. When an insect settles on the nectar, the lid of the
pitcher shuts, trapping its victim. The digestive juices inside the pitcher then begin to work.
Contoh 2
The effects of acid soil
Soils with a pH of less than 7.0 are acid. The lower the pH, the more acid the soil. When soil pH
falls below 5.5, plant growth is affected. Crop yields decrease, reducing productivity
Soils provide water and nutrients for plant growth and development. Essential plant nutrients
include phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and sulfur. Plants require other elements such as
molybdenum, in smaller quantities. Some elements eg aluminium and manganese, are toxic to
plants.
Nutrients become available to plants when they are dissolved in water. Plants are able to take up
phosphate, nitrate, potassium and sulfate ions in solution.
The solubility of nitients changes with pH. In acid soils (low pH), molybdenum becomes less
soluble and aluminium becomes more soluble. Therefore, plant growth may be affected by either
a deficiency of molybdenum or too much aluminium.
Both crop and pasture plants are affected by acid soils. there may be a range of symptoms. Crops
and pastures may be poorly established resulting in patchy and uneven growth. Plant leaves may
go yellow and die at the tips. The root system of the plant may be stunted. Crops may yield less.

Plants vary in their sensitivity to low pH. Canola and lucerne are very sensitive to acid soils so
do not grow well. Lupins and triticale are tolerant to soils of low pH so they still perform well.
Land can become unproductive if acid soil is left untreated. Incorporating lime into the soil raises
the pH. Therefore, liming soil can reverse the effects of acid soil on plants and return a paddock
to productivity.
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What is cancer? It is actually a group of more than one hundred separate diseases. Most of us are
fear from cancer It is reasonable because next to heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause
of death.
Cancer cells come from normal cells because of mutations of DNA. Those mutations can occur
spontaneously. The mutations may be also induced by other factors such as: nuclear and
electromagnetic radiation, viruses, bacteria and fungi, parasites, heat, chemicals in the air, water
and food, mechanical cell-level injury, free radicals, evolution and ageing of DNA, etc. All such
factors can produce mutations that may start cancer.
Cancer cells are formed continuously in the organism. It is estimated that there are about 10,000
cancer cells at any given time in a healthy person. Why do some result in macroscopic-level
cancers and some do not? First, not all damaged cells can multiply and many of them die
quickly. Second, those which potentially divide and form cancer are effectively destroyed by the
mechanisms available to the immune system. Therefore cancer develops if the immune system is
not working properly or the amount of cells produced is too great for the immune system to
eliminate.
(Simplified from:www.digital-recordings.com/publ/cancer.html)

The effects of acid soil

Soils with a pH of less than 7.0 are acid. The lower the pH, the more acid the soil. When soil pH
falls below 5.5, plant growth is affected. Crop yields decrease, reducing productivity
Soils provide water and nutrients for plant growth and development. Essential plant nutrients
include phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and sulfur. Plants require other elements such as

molybdenum, in smaller quantities. Some elements eg aluminium and manganese, are toxic to
plants.
Nutrients become available to plants when they are dissolved in water. Plants are able to take up
phosphate, nitrate, potassium and sulfate ions in solution.
The solubility of nitients changes with pH. In acid soils (low pH), molybdenum becomes less
soluble and aluminium becomes more soluble. Therefore, plant growth may be affected by either
a deficiency of molybdenum or too much aluminium.
Both crop and pasture plants are affected by acid soils. there may be a range of symptoms. Crops
and pastures may be poorly established resulting in patchy and uneven growth. Plant leaves may
go yellow and die at the tips. The root system of the plant may be stunted. Crops may yield less.
Plants vary in their sensitivity to low pH. Canola and lucerne are very sensitive to acid soils so
do not grow well. Lupins and triticale are tolerant to soils of low pH so they still perform well.
Land can become unproductive if acid soil is left untreated. Incorporating lime into the soil raises
the pH. Therefore, liming soil can reverse the effects of acid soil on plants and return a paddock
to productivity.
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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.

What is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is a food-making process that occurs in green plants. It

is the chief function of leaves. The word photosynthesis means putting together with light. Green
plants use energy from light to combine carbon dioxide and water to make sugar and other
chemical compounds.
How is the light used in photosynthesis?
The light used in photosynthesis is absorbed by a green pigment called chlorophyll. Each foodmaking cell in a plant leaf contains chlorophyll in small bodies called chloroplasts. In
chloroplast, light energy causes water drawn form the soil to split into hydrogen and oxygen.
What are the steps of photosynthesis process? Let me tell you the process of photosynthesis, in a
series of complicated steps, the hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide from the air, forming a
simple sugar. Oxygen from the water molecules is given off in the process. From sugar together
with nitrogen, sulphur, and phosporus from the soil-green plants can make starch, fat, protein,
vitamins, and other complex compounds essential for life. Photosynthesis provides the chemical
energy that is needed to produced these compounds.
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How is a Kite Flying?

A kite is an object which is made from a light material stretched over a frame. Due to its light
material a kite will lift off the ground and fly when it is tilted into the wind.
A kite is uses wind to make it fly because it is heavier than air. When wind travels over the
surface of the kite, it is split into two streams of air. One stream of the air goes over the kite
while the second stream goes under the kite.
The upper stream creates an area of low pressure above the kite. The lower stream hits the kite at
a shallow angle and creates an area of high pressure.
The high pressure area has a pushing effect while the low pressure area has a pulling effect. The
combination of push and pull can creates enough force to lift the kite into the air.

Kites have been known for thousand of years. They are used for military or scientific purposes.
Todays kites are much used for leisure and competition.