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What is an EXPLANATION?
An explanation tells how or why something occurs. Explanations can be spoken or written and their purpose is to tell each step of the process (the how) and to give reasons (the why) for it.
Examples of explanations texts include:
• how something occurs
• why something happened
• why things are alike or different
• how to solve a problem
Features of AN EXPLANATION
Constructing an explanation
A written explanation usually involves three steps. First, there is the general statement about the event or thing. Next follows a series of paragraphs that tell the hows and whys. The final step is a concluding paragraph.
Grammatical features of an explanation
Explanations usually include the following grammatical features:
• technical language
• words that show cause and effect
• use of timeless present tense
The EXPLANATION Scaffold!
1 Description in the introductory paragraph (INTRODUCTION DECRIBING
SUBJECT)
2 A sequence of sentences that tell how or why (EXPLANATION
SEQUENCE)
3 A conclusion
Food poisoning is a disorder of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria or chemical in foods.
The classic form of food poisoning is caused by staphylococci (bacteria commonly known as staph). The staph germs enter the food during preparation. As a result of the food not properly refrigerated the bacteria multiply hourly, contaminating the food with toxin (poison). As staph germs and their toxins are odourless and tasteless the contaminated food smells and tastes normal.
Eating contaminated food causes vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea within one to six hours.
Thus, food poisoning is frequently caused by staphylococci, which contaminate food during preparation and enter the stomach and intestines during eating.
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