Explanatory texts

Explanatory texts

1. Purpose

   • To describe how something works, to give reasons for a phenomenon

2. Structural Features

   • Phenomenon Identification
     • describes the phenomenon
   • Series of Events
     • offers more detailed information about temporal or causal sequences

3. Linguistic Features

   • Relational (or linking) Verb
   • Technical Terms and Taxonomies
   • Nominal Groups with Adjectives/Adjective Phrases
   • Absence of Personal Pronouns
   • Nominalization (verb to noun)

4. Types of expositive text

   • Sequence or Time Order
     • This type of expository text is often used to present events
   • Listing
     • Listing (or description) is used to explain the features of an object or event.
   • Compare and Contrast
     • Compare and contrast involves discussing similarities and differences.
   • Cause-Effect
     • A cause-effect pattern outlines reasons for events.
   • Problem-Solution
     • Problem-Solution pattern discuss a problem and then suggest possible solutions.