Explanation Text: Contoh, Jenis dan Strukturnya

Mungkin kamu sudah sering mendengar istilah explanation text atau teks eksplanasi dalam bahasa Inggris. Teks ini tidak hanya penting untuk menunjang kemampuan berbahasa Inggris, tapi juga dapat membantu kamu memahami berbagai fenomena alam atau sosial yang sering dijumpai di kehidupan sehari-hari.

Baik itu tentang bagaimana sebuah proses terjadi, atau mengapa suatu fenomena muncul, explanation text memberikan jawaban yang logis dan terperinci. Artikel ini akan membahas pengertian, struktur, serta ciri-ciri explanation text, dan bagaimana teks ini berguna dalam pembelajaranmu saat kuliah di luar negeri.

Apa Itu Explanation Text?

Explanation text, atau teks eksplanasi, adalah jenis teks yang digunakan untuk menjelaskan bagaimana atau mengapa sesuatu terjadi. Biasanya, teks ini menyajikan informasi yang sistematis dan terstruktur mengenai sebuah proses atau fenomena yang umum atau ilmiah. Jika di Indonesia, teks ini mirip dengan teks eksplanasi yang menjelaskan suatu fenomena alam, sosial, atau budaya. Misalnya, jika kamu ingin tahu bagaimana proses terjadinya hujan, maka explanation text akan memandu kamu dengan langkah-langkah atau proses yang terjadi, menjelaskan secara rinci dari awal hingga akhir.

BACA JUGA: News Item Text: Pengertian, Struktur dan Contoh Singkat

Struktur Explanation Text

Struktur penulisan explanation text sangat penting untuk membuat pembaca memahami informasi yang disampaikan. Teks ini biasanya memiliki struktur yang jelas, seperti berikut

Title (Judul)

Bagian pertama dalam sebuah explanation text adalah judul. Judul ini harus memberikan gambaran singkat tentang topik atau fenomena yang akan dijelaskan. Contohnya, jika topik tentang hujan, judulnya bisa menjadi “How Rain is Formed” atau “How Seawater Becomes Salty”. Judul ini mengarah pada pembahasan yang lebih dalam.

General Statement (Pernyataan Umum)

Pada bagian ini, penulis memberikan gambaran umum tentang fenomena atau topik yang akan dijelaskan lebih lanjut. Misalnya, pada topik how rain is formed, penulis akan menjelaskan bahwa hujan adalah fenomena alam yang penting untuk kehidupan di bumi, yang berfungsi sebagai penyedia air.

Explanation (Penjelasan)

Ini adalah inti dari explanation text. Bagian ini menjelaskan secara rinci bagaimana fenomena itu terjadi, langkah demi langkah. Proses atau kejadian dijabarkan dengan urutan yang jelas. Dalam penjelasan mengenai hujan, misalnya, dijelaskan bagaimana air menguap, membentuk awan, dan akhirnya jatuh sebagai hujan. Bagian ini bisa lebih dari satu paragraf, tergantung kompleksitas topik yang dijelaskan.

Conclusion (Kesimpulan)

Setelah proses atau kejadian dijelaskan secara rinci, penulis memberikan kesimpulan yang merangkum seluruh penjelasan. Bagian ini memberikan pemahaman akhir tentang fenomena yang telah dibahas dan mengapa penting untuk memahami proses tersebut. Dalam penjelasan hujan, misalnya, kesimpulannya bisa menjelaskan bahwa hujan sangat penting untuk kelangsungan hidup tanaman, hewan, dan manusia.

BACA JUGA: Recount text: Contoh, Struktur, Jenis, Tujuan

Ciri-Ciri Kebahasaan dalam Explanation Text

Selain struktur yang jelas, explanation text juga memiliki ciri kebahasaan tertentu. Ini membantu pembaca untuk lebih mudah memahami informasi yang disampaikan. Berikut adalah beberapa ciri kebahasaan yang umum ditemukan dalam explanation text:

Menggunakan Simple Present Tense

Explanation text sering kali menggunakan simple present tense karena fenomena yang dibahas adalah fakta yang berlaku secara umum dan terus menerus. Misalnya, dalam penjelasan mengenai proses terjadinya hujan, penulis akan menggunakan kalimat seperti "The water evaporates from the sea," yang menggambarkan suatu fakta ilmiah yang selalu terjadi.

Menggunakan Passive Voice

Pada beberapa penjelasan, passive voice lebih sering digunakan untuk menekankan kejadian atau proses, bukan siapa yang melakukan aksi tersebut. Contoh kalimat dengan passive voice adalah "The rain is absorbed by the soil," yang menekankan aksi atau kejadian daripada siapa yang melakukannya.

Menggunakan Konjungsi Waktu dan Sebab-Akibat

Untuk membuat penjelasan lebih jelas, banyak digunakan kata penghubung yang menunjukkan urutan waktu atau sebab akibat, seperti first, then, after that, because, so, dan therefore. Misalnya, “First, the sun heats up the water, then the water evaporates into the air,” diikuti dengan penjelasan tentang kondensasi dan akhirnya presipitasi.

Menggunakan Technical Terms

Karena explanation text sering menjelaskan fenomena alam atau ilmiah, maka teks ini banyak menggunakan istilah teknis atau ilmiah. Contohnya, dalam penjelasan tentang hujan, penulis mungkin akan menggunakan istilah seperti evaporation, condensation, dan precipitation untuk menggambarkan tahapan proses yang terjadi.

BACA JUGA: Descriptive Text: Pengertian, Struktur, Contoh, Jenis

Jenis-Jenis Explanation Text

Secara umum, ada beberapa jenis explanation text yang sering digunakan. Berikut beberapa diantaranya

Sequential Explanation Text

Jenis ini menjelaskan proses yang terjadi secara berurutan atau berdasarkan urutan waktu. Contoh explanation text jenis ini adalah teks yang menjelaskan bagaimana hujan terbentuk, atau bagaimana siklus air bekerja.

Contoh Sequential Explanation Text

A rainbow is a beautiful natural phenomenon that occurs when light interacts with water droplets in the atmosphere. It forms in a specific sequence of events, creating a multi-colored arc in the sky.

The process begins when sunlight enters a water droplet in the atmosphere. The sunlight is made up of many colors, and when it passes through the water droplet, the light bends or refracts at the surface. This bending causes the light to spread out into its individual colors.

Next, the light reflects off the inner surface of the water droplet. As the light exits the droplet, it bends again, which creates a separation of the colors even further, resulting in a spectrum of colors in the sky.

Finally, the observer sees the rainbow when the light exits the droplet at a specific angle. The colors of the rainbow like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, they are arranged in a specific order due to the varying wavelengths of the colors.

In conclusion, the formation of a rainbow is a result of sunlight refracting, reflecting, and exiting through water droplets in a sequence that separates light into its visible colors. Understanding this sequence allows us to appreciate how light interacts with the atmosphere to create this stunning natural display.

Cause and Effect Explanation Text

Teks ini menjelaskan mengapa sesuatu terjadi dan apa dampaknya. Misalnya penjelasan tentang mengapa terjadi pemanasan global dan apa akibatnya bagi bumi. Atau mengapa seseorang merasa mengantuk setelah makan siang. Jenis teks ini sangat berguna untuk memahami fenomena kompleks yang melibatkan berbagai faktor.

Contoh Cause and Effect Explanation Text

Many people experience drowsiness after meals, which can be a common but puzzling phenomenon. This feeling of sleepiness after eating has several causes and effects on our body.

The first cause is the release of certain hormones after we eat. When we consume food, especially a large meal, our body increases blood flow to the digestive system to help with digestion. As a result, there is less blood flow available for other parts of the body, including the brain. This decrease in blood flow can make us feel tired.

Another factor is the type of food we eat. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates and fats can increase the production of serotonin and melatonin, two hormones that regulate sleep and relaxation. This hormonal change can make us feel more relaxed and sleepy.

Furthermore, eating large meals can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. After the blood sugar rises, the body releases insulin to process the sugar. This process can also contribute to feelings of fatigue as the body diverts its energy to digestion.

As a result of these physiological changes, such as increased blood flow to the digestive system, the release of certain hormones, and changes in blood sugar levels, it is common to feel sleepy after eating. Understanding these causes helps us realize how our body responds to food intake and how it affects our energy levels.

Theoretical explanation text

Untuk jenis yang ini lebih menjelaskan teori atau konsep di balik suatu fenomena yang mungkin belum sepenuhnya dipahami. Contohnya adalah penjelasan tentang teori terbentuknya alam semesta atau teori evolusi. Jenis teks ini sering melibatkan hipotesis dan berbagai perspektif ilmiah.

Contoh Theoretical explanation text

The Big Bang Theory is the most widely accepted explanation of how the universe began. It proposes that the universe began as a singularity and has been expanding ever since.

According to the Big Bang Theory, around 13.8 billion years ago, the universe started from an extremely hot and dense state. All the matter and energy in the universe were contained in a singularity, a point of infinite density. Then, in a fraction of a second, a massive expansion occurred, known as the Big Bang, which caused the universe to begin expanding rapidly.

As the universe expanded, it began to cool down. Over time, particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons formed, and these eventually combined to form atoms. This led to the creation of stars and galaxies, which continue to form and evolve.

The expansion of the universe is still ongoing today. Evidence of this ongoing expansion can be observed through the redshift of galaxies, where distant galaxies appear to be moving away from us, supporting the idea that the universe is still expanding from its initial state.

The Big Bang Theory provides a theoretical framework for understanding the origins of the universe. While scientists have gathered substantial evidence supporting this theory, some aspects of the early moments of the Big Bang remain unclear, and research continues to explore the exact mechanisms behind this cosmic event.

Factorial and consequential explanation text

Terakhir ada factorial and consequential explanation text yang menjelaskan berbagai faktor yang menyebabkan sesuatu dan konsekuensi atau dampaknya. Misalnya penjelasan tentang faktor-faktor penyebab perubahan iklim dan dampaknya terhadap kehidupan di bumi. Atau faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan Perang Dunia II dan konsekuensinya bagi dunia.

Contoh Factorial and consequential explanation text

Climate change is a global issue that affects every corner of the Earth. It is caused by a variety of factors, and its consequences can have profound impacts on the environment and human societies.

One of the primary causes of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fuels are burned for energy, they release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise – a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect.

Deforestation is another major factor contributing to climate change. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, but as forests are cleared for agriculture or urban development, the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere increases.

The effects of climate change are far-reaching. Rising global temperatures lead to the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, causing sea levels to rise. This, in turn, increases the risk of flooding in coastal areas and threatens low-lying islands. Additionally, climate change contributes to extreme weather events, such as stronger hurricanes, prolonged droughts, and severe heatwaves, which have devastating effects on communities and ecosystems.

In conclusion, climate change is driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, and its consequences are evident in rising sea levels, extreme weather, and the degradation of ecosystems. Understanding the causes and effects of climate change is essential for mitigating its impact and creating a more sustainable future for the planet.

Contoh Explanation Text

Title: How Rain is Formed

General Statement:

Rain is a natural process that provides water to the earth. It is an essential part of the water cycle, which keeps the environment hydrated.

Explanation:

The process begins when the sun heats bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing water to evaporate and rise into the air as water vapor. The vapor then cools and condenses into tiny droplets of water, forming clouds. As more and more water vapor condenses, the droplets grow larger and heavier. Eventually, these droplets become too heavy to stay in the air, and they fall to the earth as rain.

Conclusion:

Rain is crucial for life on earth, as it replenishes fresh water supplies and maintains the balance of ecosystems.

Title: 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.

Title: Why Ice Melts Faster in Sweet Drinks

General statement

Ice melts faster in sweet drinks because the liquid is not just water, it contains sugar and other dissolved substances.

Explanation

First, when sugar dissolves in water, it changes how water molecules behave around the ice. Then, the sweet drink usually has a different freezing point compared to plain water, so the ice and the drink reach balance faster.

For example, if you put ice into plain water, it can stay solid longer, but if you put the same ice into iced tea with a lot of sugar, the ice shrinks faster. As a result, the drink becomes watery more quickly, especially if you stir it often because stirring brings warmer liquid to the ice surface.

Conclusion

That is why sweet drinks often get diluted faster when you add ice, so using bigger ice cubes can help.

Title: How Noodles Become Soggy

General statement

Noodles become soggy when they stay too long in hot water or soup because they keep absorbing liquid.

Explanation

First, noodles are made from flour, and flour contains starch. Then, when starch meets hot water, it absorbs water and expands, so the noodle texture becomes softer and softer over time.

For example, if you eat instant noodles right after they are cooked, they feel springy, but if you wait 15 minutes, they feel mushy and break easily. In addition, if the soup is very hot, the softening process happens faster because heat speeds up water absorption.

Conclusion

That is why it is better to cook noodles close to eating time, so the texture stays chewy.

Title: 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.

Untuk informasi mengenai studi di luar negeri dan juga berbagai jurusan, kamu bisa temukan informasi aktualnya di sini. SUN Education bekerja sama dengan berbagai institusi top dunia di luar negeri seperti Amerika, Kanada, Australia, Selandia Baru, Inggris, Eropa, Jerman, dan juga Asia. Jika membutuhkan informasi terkini, follow media sosial SUN Education di Instagram, TikTok dan YouTube. Kamu juga bisa melakukan konsultasi GRATIS melalui Hotline di 0821 33 34 35 36 atau datang langsung ke kantor SUN Education yang terdekat di kotamu.   Download SUN Education Mobile App atau baca SUN E-Guidebook untuk akses informasi lebih mudah dan GRATIS!