Sebelum kita lihat contohnya, pahami dulu apa itu explanation text.
Apa itu Explanation Text?
Explanation text adalah teks yang menjelaskan proses terjadinya suatu fenomena alam, sosial, atau ilmiah. Tujuannya adalah menjawab pertanyaan “bagaimana” dan “mengapa” sesuatu terjadi.
Struktur Explanation Text:
| Bagian | Fungsi |
|---|---|
| General Statement | Pernyataan umum tentang fenomena yang akan dijelaskan |
| Sequenced Explanation | Penjelasan proses atau tahapan terjadinya fenomena secara urut (kronologis) |
| Conclusion | Kesimpulan atau penutup (opsional) |
Ciri Kebahasaan:
- Menggunakan Simple Present Tense
- Menggunakan passive voice (untuk menjelaskan proses)
- Menggunakan kata penghubung waktu/kronologis (first, then, next, finally, after that, as a result)
- Menggunakan istilah ilmiah/teknis
Contoh Explanation Text: Earthquake
General Statement
An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the earth’s surface. It is caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the earth’s crust. Earthquakes can happen anywhere in the world, but they are most common in areas near tectonic plate boundaries, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Earthquakes vary in strength. Some are so weak that humans cannot feel them, while others are powerful enough to destroy buildings, cause tsunamis, and kill thousands of people.
Sequenced Explanation
How Does an Earthquake Happen?
The earth’s crust is made up of several large pieces called tectonic plates. These plates are constantly moving, but very slowly—only a few centimeters per year.
Step 1: Pressure Builds Up
As the plates move, they sometimes get stuck at their edges due to friction. When this happens, the rest of the plate continues to move, creating a buildup of energy and pressure. This pressure grows over many years.
Step 2: The Plates Suddenly Break
When the pressure becomes too great, the stuck plates suddenly break or slip past each other. This sudden movement releases a massive amount of energy in the form of seismic waves.
Step 3: Seismic Waves Travel to the Surface
The energy released travels outward from the point where the plates broke. This point is called the hypocenter (or focus), which is deep underground. The point directly above the hypocenter on the earth’s surface is called the epicenter.
Step 4: The Ground Shakes
When the seismic waves reach the earth’s surface, they cause the ground to shake and vibrate. The strength of the shaking depends on the size of the earthquake and how far you are from the epicenter. The shaking can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
Step 5: After-Effects
After the main earthquake, smaller tremors called aftershocks may occur. These can happen hours, days, or even months later. In some cases, earthquakes that occur under the ocean can trigger massive waves called tsunamis, which can travel across entire oceans and cause destruction far from the epicenter.
Conclusion
Earthquakes are natural disasters caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Although we cannot predict exactly when and where an earthquake will happen, scientists use seismographs to measure and record seismic activity. This helps them understand the patterns and risks, and it helps communities prepare for future earthquakes. Understanding how earthquakes happen is the first step toward staying safe.
Contoh Explanation Text Pendek: Mengapa Gempa Bumi Terjadi
Title: Why Do Earthquakes Happen?
General Statement
An earthquake is a natural event that occurs when energy is suddenly released from the earth’s crust. This energy creates waves that make the ground shake.
Sequenced Explanation
The earth’s surface is made up of large pieces called tectonic plates. These plates float on molten rock underneath. Because the plates are always moving, they sometimes push against each other. When two plates press against each other, they create pressure. Over time, the pressure builds up until the plates suddenly slip or break. The sudden movement releases energy in the form of seismic waves. These waves spread out and reach the earth’s surface, causing the ground to shake. The shaking is what we feel as an earthquake.
Conclusion
Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but understanding why they happen helps us build safer buildings and prepare for emergencies.
Glosarium Istilah
| Istilah | Arti |
|---|---|
| Tectonic plates | Lempeng tektonik (bagian dari kerak bumi) |
| Crust | Kerak bumi |
| Seismic waves | Gelombang seismik / gelombang gempa |
| Hypocenter / Focus | Titik asal gempa di dalam tanah |
| Epicenter | Titik di permukaan bumi di atas hiposenter |
| Aftershocks | Gempa susulan setelah gempa utama |
| Tsunami | Gelombang laut besar yang dipicu oleh gempa bawah laut |
| Seismograph | Alat untuk mengukur gempa |
| Friction | Gesekan |
Perbedaan Explanation Text dan Report Text
| Aspek | Explanation Text | Report Text |
|---|---|---|
| Tujuan | Menjelaskan proses/kenapa terjadi | Menjelaskan fakta umum tentang sesuatu |
| Fokus | Proses dan hubungan sebab-akibat | Deskripsi dan klasifikasi |
| Contoh | How earthquake happens | What is an earthquake? |
| Bahasa | Kata penghubung sebab-akibat (because, as a result) | Kata kerja penghubung (is, are, has, have) |
Proyek Akhir: Tulis Explanation Text
Tulis explanation text tentang salah satu fenomena di bawah ini (minimal 100 kata):
- How a volcano erupts
- How rain forms (the water cycle)
- How a tsunami happens
- How a solar eclipse occurs
Explanation text menjelaskan proses terjadinya suatu fenomena. Untuk topik gempa bumi, jelaskan: apa itu gempa (general statement), bagaimana prosesnya dari tekanan lempeng sampai getaran (sequenced explanation), dan kesimpulan (conclusion). Gunakan Simple Present Tense, passive voice, dan kata penghubung waktu. Struktur yang jelas membuat pembaca mudah mengikuti alur logika Anda.