EXPLANATION TEXT II

 

Characteristic Features

• passive voice 

• simple present tense 

• conjunction of cause and effect 

• third person point of view

Tense

Present Tense

Explanation texts are usually written in the present tense because they are explaining how or why something happens. To do this they explain it as if it is happening now.

Example 

Why Summer Daylight is Longer than Winter Daylight

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.

Conclusion

The conclusion of an explanation text draws everything together and reinforces the key concepts.