Example of Explanation Text with Generic Structure: Flying Kites

This is a text which shows you how a stuff like a kite can fly. The description on such process in writing types is called explanation text. There are several English text types especially for students of high school to learn and explanation text in one of them.

How a kite flies is best at giving example of Explanation text. This kind of text is composed to make clear explanation on how something is processed and why the thing is formed. Explanation text is one of the text types which is similar to Procedure. What makes superficially different is the way how they are structured.

In one side, Explanation text is structure in the mode of description. It focuses on the thing which is explained. In the other side, Procedure text is constructed in the mode of instruction and commend. That is why Procedure is sometimes called instruction text. It focuses on the second person to explain how to form the thing.

In my previous example of explanation text on Roman Roads was given to show how the explanation text gives clear note on “Why something is formed” To get clearer understanding of explanation text, now let’s see another example of “How something is precessed/formed” which belongs to explanation text’s social function. The example bellow is re-composed from Jenny Eather’s writing with fun. It really helps to make better understanding on explanation text.

How is a Kite Flying?

Do you know how a kite flies? When you write to describe it, your writing is an example of explanation text: Image @ airandspace.si.edu

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 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. Today kites are much used for leisure and competition.

Generic Structure of Explanation Text Analysis
From the above example of Explanation text, we can see that the text has the following >generic structure:
1. General Statement; the introduction of the topic on with a brief definition on kites.

 How a kite is flying

2. Sequenced Explanation; this is the main element of explanation text. It explain the important points of the kite. The explanation of how kites fly is given in order.
A kite uses wind to make it fly
One stream of the air goes over the kite while the second stream goes under the kite.
The combination of push and pull can creates enough force to lift the kite
That’s our example of explanation text about how a kite can fly. Do you have any idea of others samples? Of course there are a lot of things to write with the style of explanation text. The keys is that when the essay trying answer how the object forms or why the object happens. If you find and read such typical essay, is is surely an example of explanation text type.

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