EXPLANATION
What is it?
Explanations are texts that ‘explain’. They are often used in science and medicine.
Purpose:
An explanation tells ‘how’ and ‘why’ something happens. They are about actions, not about things.
Before you write an explanation, you need to know a lot about the topic, so good research is very important.
Before you write an explanation, you need to know a lot about the topic, so good research is very important.
Types of Explanations
1
1
One type of explanation explains how something works. This is known as a mechanical, technical or natural explanation.
Mechanical:
How does a kettle boil water?
Technical:
How does a kettle boil water?
Natural:
How does a kettle boil water?
Can you write some of your own HOW explanation questions?
How..
How..
How..
How..
How..
Types of Explanations
2
2
A second type of explanation explains why things happen. For example, why we have a water cycle or why our bathroom mirror fogs up when we have a shower.
Why?
Why will it rain today?
Why?
Why should we eat a healthy diet?
Can you write some of your own WHY explanation questions?
Why..
Why..
Why..
Why..
Why..
Explanation Structure
1
Title
Explanations have a title that prepares and leads the reader into the text. It can be a heading that names the action, or it is more often a question of HOW or WHY that is to be answered in the text.
Which of the titles below would be the best for an explanation?
Which of the titles below would be the best for an explanation?
Why did I like the movie ‘Robots’?
✖
Farm animals
✖
How is paper recycled?
✔
My holidays
✖
Explanation Structure
2
General Statement
The first paragraph of an explanation gives a general statement that identifies the action that is to be explained.
Read through the following paragraphs and circle the topic words or phrases.
Read through the following paragraphs and circle the topic words or phrases.
The human body has 206 bones and 650 muscles. Muscles and bones work together.
A can opener is a handy machine that opens steel or aluminium cans by cutting around the rim of the lid.
Bees are social insects that live in organised groups called colonies. Each colony lives in a hive with one queen, some drones and lots of worker bees.
Explanation Structure
3
Sequenced Steps
This is the most important part of the explanation. The steps must be in the correct order to explain the process. Each step should be written in a separate paragraph to show a ‘chain of events’.
The steps should focus on how or why something happens and not on the object or the person involved.
The steps should focus on how or why something happens and not on the object or the person involved.
A ‘chain of events’ for the lifecycle of a bee.
Click on each event in the chain to see how it happens.
Click on each event in the chain to see how it happens.
2. On day 4 the eggs hatch into larva.
4. During the next 12 days the larva turns into a pupa.
1. The queen bee lays her eggs.
3. On day 9 the larva is covered with wax.
5. On day 21 the adult bee comes out ready to work.
Explanation Structure
4
Conclusion
This is optional. Some explanations will have one and some will not. It is used to finish an explanation.
For example: This lifecycle for bees is known as metamorphosis.
But what is most important in an explanation is the use of labelled diagrams or flow charts.
These add extra information or help the reader understand what is in the text.
For example: This lifecycle for bees is known as metamorphosis.
But what is most important in an explanation is the use of labelled diagrams or flow charts.
These add extra information or help the reader understand what is in the text.
Example text: Explanation
Why does the bathroom mirror fog up when you have a shower?
Can you use the information in the text to label the diagram to help readers understand the explanation?
Ask professor Know How!
The air we breathe is made up of oxygen, hydrogen and water vapour (tiny droplets). The hot water coming out of the shower heats the surrounding air temperature. The warmer the surrounding air, the more water vapour it can hold. When the air is holding a large amount of water vapour, it appears as a mist or fog.
Finally, as this mist touches the cooler surface of a bathroom mirror, the water vapour changes back from a gas to a liquid (condensation). These are the tiny drops of water seen on the bathroom mirror.
The air we breathe is made up of oxygen, hydrogen and water vapour (tiny droplets). The hot water coming out of the shower heats the surrounding air temperature. The warmer the surrounding air, the more water vapour it can hold. When the air is holding a large amount of water vapour, it appears as a mist or fog.
Finally, as this mist touches the cooler surface of a bathroom mirror, the water vapour changes back from a gas to a liquid (condensation). These are the tiny drops of water seen on the bathroom mirror.
Can you use the information in the text to label the diagram to help readers understand the explanation?
Explanation – Structure features
Why does the bathroom mirror fog up when you have a shower?
Ask professor Know How!
The air we breathe is made up of oxygen, hydrogen and water vapour (tiny droplets).
The hot water coming out of the shower heats the surrounding air temperature. The warmer the surrounding air, the more water vapour it can hold. When the air is holding a large amount of water vapour, it appears as a mist or fog.
Finally, as this mist touches the cooler surface of a bathroom mirror, the water vapour changes back from a gas to a liquid (condensation).
These are the tiny drops of water seen on the bathroom mirror.
The air we breathe is made up of oxygen, hydrogen and water vapour (tiny droplets).
The hot water coming out of the shower heats the surrounding air temperature. The warmer the surrounding air, the more water vapour it can hold. When the air is holding a large amount of water vapour, it appears as a mist or fog.
Finally, as this mist touches the cooler surface of a bathroom mirror, the water vapour changes back from a gas to a liquid (condensation).
These are the tiny drops of water seen on the bathroom mirror.
Title in the form of a question
General statement
Series of paragraphs to explain the steps in the process
Concluding statement
Labelled diagram
General statement
Series of paragraphs to explain the steps in the process
Concluding statement
Labelled diagram
Explanation – Language features
Why does the bathroom mirror fog up when you have a shower?
Ask professor Know How!
The air we breathe is made up of oxygen, hydrogen and water vapour (tiny droplets).
The hot water coming out of the shower heats the surrounding air temperature. The warmer the surrounding air, the more water vapour it can hold. When the air is holding a large amount of water vapour, it appears as a mist or fog.
Finally, as this mist touches the cooler surface of a bathroom mirror, the water vapour changes back from a gas to a liquid (condensation).
These are the tiny drops of water seen on the bathroom mirror.
The air we breathe is made up of oxygen, hydrogen and water vapour (tiny droplets).
The hot water coming out of the shower heats the surrounding air temperature. The warmer the surrounding air, the more water vapour it can hold. When the air is holding a large amount of water vapour, it appears as a mist or fog.
Finally, as this mist touches the cooler surface of a bathroom mirror, the water vapour changes back from a gas to a liquid (condensation).
These are the tiny drops of water seen on the bathroom mirror.
Present tense
Action verbs
Connectives
Technical terms
Adverbial phrases
General nouns
Noun groups
Passive voice
Conjunctions
Non personal pronouns
Graphic organiser: Explanation
Flow charts are very useful when planning an explanation. They help you gather and organise your information.
Below is an example of a flow chart on the topic of how aluminium is recycled.
Graphic organiser: Explanation
Use the flow chart below to help you organise your information for your own explanation.
Scaffold: Travel Guide
Title: (How or Why question)
Introduction: (general statement)
Sequence of steps: (what happens and why)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Concluding statement about the topic:
Visual elements to be used: (e.g. Flow Chart)
→
→
→
→
→
Revision checklist: Explanation
| Criteria | Always | Some | Rarely | Ideas for revision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Title – does it use a how or why question? | ||||
| 2. Introduction – is it clear and on the topic? | ||||
| 3. Have I organised my steps with subheadings and/or paragraphs? | ||||
| 4. Are the steps written in order? | ||||
| 5. Does it have a concluding statement to finish the process? | ||||
| 6. Do I use technical words well? | ||||
| 7. Does my writing explain the process? | ||||
| 8. Have I used diagrams, illustrations or charts? | ||||
| 9. Have I done enough research? | ||||
| 10. Have I used conjunctions to sequence the events so they flow? | ||||
| 11. Have I used action verbs? | ||||
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12. Have I used noun groups to provide good descriptions? |
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| 13. Have I used adverbial phrases to give details as to how, where and why things happen? | ||||
| 14. Have I edited my work to correct spelling and punctuation mistakes? |
Explanation texts have one very important role. They explain how or why things happen. To do this, they use cause and effect sentences.
CAUSE – is the reason why something happens
EFFECT – is the outcome or the result of what actually happens.
Well done, you matched all of the cause and effects!
There were 10 to find. You made 10 attempts and got 5 correct.
Match the Pairs
Click on pairs to match the cause with its effect.
Cause
Warm air touches a cool surface
Warm air rises over cooler air
The diaphragm under your ribs moves down
The diaphragm under your ribs relaxes up
A submarine fills its ballast tanks with water
A submarine fills its ballast tanks with air
Hot air underground expands and creates pressure
Large parts of the Earth’s surface move
The bee larva are covered with wax
A cow chews its cud
Effect
Creates shock waves that we call an earthquake
Creates a whirl wind
Air is pushed out of your lungs
It softens the grass and make it easy to digest
Submarine starts to rise up to the surface of the water
Submarine starts to sink
A volcano erupts to let out the steam
Water vapour in the air condenses into tiny droplets
Air is pulled into your lungs
They begin to change into a pupa
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Writing Practice
Your friend wants to plant a seed. You know how to plant a seed. Explain the steps involved in planting in your own words.
Accept all relevant responses.
Writing Practice
You want to teach your younger brother how to use a toothbrush. Write down the whole process for your brother.
Accept all relevant responses.