Narrative Text What is it? A narrative is a story that is created in a constructive format (as a work of speech, writing, song, film, television, video games, in photography or theatre) that describes a sequence of fictional or non-fictional events. The word derives from the Hindi verb narrare, “to recount”, and is related to the adjective gnarus, “knowing” or “skilled”. Ultimately its origin is found in the Proto-Indo-European root gn?-, “to know” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative). The Social Function The social function of narrative is to amuse, entertain and to deal with an actual or vicarious experience in different ways. It also deals with problematic events which lead to a crisis or turning point of some kind, which in turn finds a resolution. Story, as an important part of culture, is very identical to the narrative. Story or narrative can be used to convey moral value which is very helpful to build one’s personality. Even a character of a nation c...

Recount Text What is it? If you want to tell about your personal experience; presenting a diary or find a text which contains about history, biography or autobiography then the form of the text must be recount. The Social Function The purpose of a recount is to retell a past event. The Generic Structure The generic structure of a recount text is fairly simple. It consists of orientation-event-reorientation. Orientation It introduces the participants and informs the time and the place. Event It tells the event in a chronological order. Reorientation It is optional. It states the writer’s personal comment to the story Language features Recount is written in past tense. It can be written from the first or the third person’s point of view. First person, it happened to the person who writes the recount; e.g. I came to the museum. Third person, the writer performs as an observer who is telling the story; e.g. Tom visited the place. The connectives which a...

Spoof What is It? Spoof is a text that tells a factual story which happened in the past with unpredictable and funny ending. Social Function The social function of spoof is to tell the humorous story which meant to entertain the readers. Generic Structure Orientation It tells the participants of the story and informs the time and place of the happening. Events It tells the happening in a chronological order. Twist It provides the funniest part of the story with an unpredictable ending. Language features 1. Focusing on people, animals or certain things 2. Using connectives: first, then, finally 3. Using action verb: ate, ran, walked, laughed etc 4. Using adverb of time and place: in the park, last week, etc 5. Using simple past tense The Spoof Text Examples: 1.       A Wife’s Wishes 2.       The Nut Case 3.       Cinderella Would Be Shocked 4.       D...

News Item What is it? A text which contains about news is categorized as news item text. This text supplies you the up to date information or the hottest issue of the day since media like news papers are published daily. Social Function News Item text purposes to inform readers or listeners about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important. Generic Structure Newsworthy event It tells the main event which is considered newsworthy in a summary form. Background event It elaborates what happened or tell the detail information or what causes the incident. It can include the background, participant, time, and place relating to the news. Source It contains comments which can be from the participants, witness, the official authorities or experts in the events. Language Feature 1. Using of action verbs (hit, attack) 2. Using of saying verbs (said, added, claimed) 3. Using of passive sentences (Aceh was hit by Tsunami in 2004) 4. Using of adverb...

Descriptive Text What is it? A descriptive text is a kind of text which describes the characteristics of something in order to make clear impression of a person, place, object or event. You may employ descriptive text to describe a certain place of your favorite with its details, the appearance your best friend, your pet, etc. You can use descriptive text to take on your readers’ attention, create characters, and form a particular mood or atmosphere about the subjects being described. Social Function As mentioned above, you surely can draw in your mind that the social function of a descriptive text is to describe a particular place, thing or person. It says what a person, thing or place is like. Generic Structure Identification It mentions the special participant or subject which will be described. Description It states the part, quality, and characteristics of the subject. The Descriptive Text Examples: University Of Oxford Cleopatra Columbia Unive...

Report Text What is it? If you want to share the result of systematic observation or analysis then report text is the suitable choice for you. The topic may range from natural, man-made to social phenomena. Social Function The social function of report text is to presents information about something, as it is. Generic Structure General classification It states classification of general aspect of thing; animal, public place, plant, etc which will be discussed in general. Description It describes the thing being discussed in detail; part per part, customs or deed for living creature and usage for materials. Language Features Introducing group or general aspect Using conditional logical connection e.g. when, so, etc Using simple present tense Using technical term e.g. water contains oxygen and hydrogen. The Report Text Examples: Star Cat Dolphin at a Glance Elephant Earthquake Potato Thunderstorm Glasses Computer Internet

Explanation What is it? Explanation is a kind of text that informs the process relating to forming of natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena. It explains ‘why’ or ‘how’ the phenomena happen or why things are similar or different. This text is frequently found in science, geography and history text books. You may often get confused between explanation text and procedure text. Explanation text says about how or why something occurs; while procedure text comes with the instruction on how something is accomplished. Social Function Shortly it can be said that an explanation text is used to tell how or why something happens or explains the process involved in the formation or working of natural or socio-cultural phenomena. Generic Structure General statement It states the phenomenon issue which will be explained. Sequenced explanation It is the main part of the text which explains a series of steps or events which interrelate to form the thing or a se...

Procedure What is it? Procedure text is a text which guides you on how to make something entirely. The main structure of this text imperative sentence because it is actually a kind of instruction text. Procedure text typically mentions the ingredients or materials which are required, although sometimes they are omitted. Social Function The social function of this text is to describe how something is accomplished through a sequence of actions or steps. Generic Structure Goal/Aim Materials/Equipments Steps/Methods Language Features Using imperative sentences e.g. plug the cable into the socket and turn on your computer. Using action verb e.g. cut, put, dry, etc. Using temporal conjunction; firstly, secondly, next, finally, etc. Using simple present tense e.g. Having a kite flying is interesting and make it by self is easy Using adverb e.g. neatly, carefully, slowly, etc The Procedure Text Examples: 1.       How to Cook Tuna Steak...

Analytical Exposition Text What is it? An analytical exposition is a sort text which is meant to persuade the readers or listeners that something is the case or important. In persuading the readers or listeners, some supporting ideas or arguments on why the writer’s opinion is important, are presented. Since analytical exposition is popular among scientists, academic community and educated people then you can find this type of text in scientific books, journals, magazines, newspaper articles, academic speech or lectures, research report etc. You certainly know that both analytical exposition and hortatory exposition are grouped as argumentative essay. Both present argument to support the thesis. But actually you can see the difference by seeing the generic structure. Analytical exposition ends with paragraph to strengthen the thesis or reiteration while hortatory makes a recommendation for the readers. Social Function The social function of analytical exposition t...

Hortatory Exposition What is it? A Hortatory exposition is a text which is intended to persuade readers or the listeners that something should or should not happen or be done. The writer needs some arguments to support his thesis. Hortatory text seems very similar to analytical exposition since both of them state thesis as the introduction and present arguments to support the thesis. Yet hortatory exposition builds the arguments in a higher level. It is ended by recommendation; while analytical exposition is ended with a reiteration. Hortatory exposition can be found in numerous functional texts such as sales letter, advertising slogan, speech, a letter to editor, etc. Social Function The social function of hortatory exposition is to persuade the readers or listener that something should or should not be the case. Generic Structure Thesis It states the issue concerned. Arguments It tells the reasons for the concerned issue that will lead to recommendation. ...

Discussion What is it? Discussion is a kind of text which presents a problematic discourse. Discussion text will see and elaborate the problem or issue from at least two different points of view. It presents pro and contra opinion on the issue, one side agrees with the issue while the other disagrees. The different point of views on the generic structure is actually the core of the discussion text which differentiates from the other text types. The two different points of view not only must be treated fairly but also be supported with reasons and evidence. If the writer chooses to support one particular view in the conclusion, plausible reasons must be given then. We can discover various perspectives to get the meet point between two different ideas before coming to the conclusion. Therefore discussion is the effective method to calm down any friction and different thought and perception in many social activities. Social Function The function of discussion text...

Review Text What is it?   Review text is actually opinion about events or art works. It presents critical analysis on the art work, film, book, song, exhibition, etc. for readers or public audiences. The social function certainly goes along with its definition that is to criticize or evaluate an art work or event for a public audience. Social Function The social function certainly goes along with its definition that is to criticize or evaluate an art work or event for a public audience. Generic Structure 1. Orientation It contains the background information on the text. 2. Interpretative Recount In presents the summary of the art work (including the characters and the plot). 3. Evaluation It is the concluding statement about the art work: judgment, opinion or recommendation. 4. Evaluative Summation It is the last opinion which contains the appraisal or punch line of the art work being reviewed. Language Features 1. Focusing on specific participants 2. Us...

The following is the example of Narrative Text. For the definition of Narrative Text and its explanation, just click here ! If you want to get the outline of the Text Types completely, simply click here ! The Bird with Two Heads   Once upon a time, there lived a strange bird named Bharunda. He lived on a banyan tree near the banks of a river. The strangeness of the bird lies in the fact, that he had two necks, but shared a common stomach. One day, the bird was wandering on the banks of the lake and found a red-golden fruit, which appeared delicious at the first sight. One of the two heads mumbled, “Oh what a fruit. I am sure the heavens have sent it for me. I am so lucky.” He started eating the fruit with immense pleasure and claimed that it was the most delicious fruit he had ever eaten. Hearing this, the other head said,” O dear, let me also taste the fruit you are praising so much”. The first head laughed and replied “You know that we’ve only one stomach, w...