GENRES OF TEXTS

     Sebuah bacaan diciptakan ketika kata - kata diletakan bersama - sama pada sebuah cara yang khusus untuk mengkomunikasikan sebuah makna. Bacaan-bacaan tersebut dibuat dengan maksud menyampaikan pesan. Bacaan-bacaan tersebut bisa ditulis, diucapkan maupun di multimedia. Sebuah bacaan yang dibuat oleh seorang pembicara maupun si penulis membuat keputusan-keputusan tentang kata-kata yang mana yang akan dipakai, bagaimana meletakan bersama kata-kata itu, dan sebagainya.  Pilihan-pilihan ini akan tergantung pada tujuan dan konteks bacaan tersebut. Pilihan-pilihan tersebut menyangkut pertanyaan-pertanyaan seperti ‘Mengapa si penulis sedang menulis bacaan?’ ‘Di mana bacaan tersebut akan diterbitkan?’

Secara keseluruhan, macam-macam bacaan tersebut dibagi ke dalam beberapa jenis. Diantaranya adalah sebagai berikut:

1.  Descriptive

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

     To describe a particular person; place animal or thing.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

Description of parts, qualities, and characters identifies things.

c.   Generic Structure

§  Identification  : It identifies phenomenon/setting to

  be described.

§  Description    : It describes physical appearance,

  parts, qualities, and characters.

d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on specific participants.

§  Use of attributive and identifying processes.

§  Frequent use of epithets in nominal groups.

§  Use of simple present tense.

e.   Examples of text:

Natural Bridge National Park

    Identification:

Natural Bridge National Park is a luscious tropical rainforest.

    Description:

It is located 110 kilometers south of Brisbane and is reached by following the pacific Highway to Nerang and then by travelling through the Numinbah Valley. This scenic roadway lies in the shadow of the Lamington National Park.

The phenomenon of the rock formed into a natural ‘arch’ and the cave through which a waterfall cascades is a short 1 kilometer walk below a dense rainforest canopy from the main picnic area. Swimming is permitted in the rock pools. Nigh-time visitors to the cave will discover the unique feature of the glow worms.

Picnic areas offer toilets, barbecues, shelter sheds, water and fireplaces; however, overnight, camping is not permitted.

Sangihe and Talaud

     Identification:

The islands on the northern coast of Manado are Sangihe and Talaud. They seem to form a kind of bridge with the most southern islands of the Philippines. An archipelago of 77 islands, Sangihe and Talaud, is not easy to reach, but a speedboat makes the journey from Manado in around six hours. Stay overnight and go back to the next day. The administrative capital is Tahuna located on the islands of Sangihe Besar. There are several hotels offering accommodations to travelers. There is also an old house of Dutch design with unknown age.

Description:

The south of Sangihe Besar, there is island of Siau which has a glorious 1800 meter volcano offers the visitor good views but there aren’t any land transports to get the peak. Visitors who are eager to reach its summit must have extra energy because the route is very challenging.

The regions other main attractions are its completely virgin beaches. Unfortunately, there are no scheduled boats to those northern islands. The only option is chartering a boat. Of course, its cost is rather expensive.

2.  Report

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

To describe the way things are, with reference to a range of natural, man-made and social phenomena in our environment.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

The phenomenon under discussion is.

c.   Generic Structure

§  General Classification    : It tells what the phenomenon under

                               discussion is.

§  Description              : It tells what the phenomenon under

                               discussion is like in terms of (1) parts, (2)

                               qualities, (3) habits or behavior, if living,

                               uses, if non-natural.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on generic participants.

§  Use of relational processes to state what is and that

     which it is.

§  Use of simple present tense (unless extinct).

§  No temporal sequence.

§  Type of text: research result, analysis, observation,

     study.

     e.   Examples of text

Tsunami

          General Classification:

Tsunami is a Japanese word from a seismic sea wave generated by an undersea earthquake or possibly an undersea landslide or volcanic eruption.

          Description:

Most tsunamis originate along the Ring of the fire. It is a zone of volcanoes and seismic activity, 32,500 (24,000 mil) long. The zone encircles the Pacific Ocean.

Historically, tsunamis have caused much property destruction and loss of life. Since 1819, about 40 tsunamis have struck the Hawaiian island and since 1883, about 20 tsunamis have struck Indonesia. The last one was on December 26, 2004 and caused over 100.000 dead tolls.

A tsunami can have the width of 100 to 200 km and may travel hundreds of kilometers across the deep ocean. The speed is at about 50 to 100 km per hour (it is as fast as a jet plane). When the wave reaches the land, it can be very high which is about 15 m high or more.

3.  News Item

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

          To inform (the public) of events.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          World events, local events and current issues.

c.   Generic Structure

          News worthy event : Kejadian-kejadian penting.

          Background event  : Menggabungkan apa yang terjadi,

                                        siapa yang diberitakan, dan dalam

                                        keadaan apa.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

          Verb form                    : Headline is often in the present tense.

          Report                       : Past tense.

          Cause & effect                : ex. Consequently, due to, because of.

     e.   Examples of text

Town ‘Contaminated’

          Newsworthy Event:

Moscow – A Russian journalist has uncovered evidence of another Soviet nuclear catastrophe, which killed 10 sailors and contaminated an entire town.

          Background Events:

Yelena Vazrshavskya is the first journalist to speak to people who witnessed the explosion of a nuclear submarine at the naval base of shkotovo – 22 near Vladivostock.

The accident, which occurred 13 months before the Chemobyl disaster, spread radioactive fall out over the best and nearby town, but was covered up by officials of the than Soviet Union. Residents were told the explosion in the reactor of the Victor – class submarine during a refit had been a ‘thermal’ and not a nuclear explosion. And those involved in the clean up operation to remove more than 600 tones of contaminated material were sworn to secrecy.

          Sources:

A board of investigators was later to describe it as the worst accident in the history of the Soviet Navy.

4.  Procedure

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

§  To describe how something is accomplished through a sequence of actions or steps.

§  To inform and direct someone on how to do something or how to achieve a goal.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

     The goal to be achieved.

c.   Generic Structure

§  Goal (Tujuan).

§  Materials/Ingredients (not required for all procedural texts).

§  Steps 1 – n (i.e, goal followed by a series of steps oriented to achieving the goal).

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on generalized human agents.

§  Use of Simple Present Tense; often imperative, ex: ‘turn’, ‘avoid’, etc.

§  Use mainly of temporal conjunctions, ex: first, next, then, finally.

§  The series of steps are often precede by numbering (1, 2, 3, etc), letters (a, b, c, etc), and bullet marks (-, -, -,).

§  Use mainly of material processes.

     e.   Examples of text

Home Made Fried Chicken

          Ingredients:

                1.   Fresh and cleaned chicken, cut into some pieces.

                2.   Spices: turmeric, pepper, and garlic.

                3.   Salt.

                4.   Vegetable oil.

          Steps:

v  First, grind the spices until they mixed and soft.

v  Next, put the chicken in the bowl and pour fresh water into it and then put the grinded spices into it. Stir well.

v  Then, after they stir well, boil the chicken until the flesh cooked and the color changes into white.

v  After that, fry the chicken using vegetable oil until the color becomes brownish.

v  Finally, serve your chicken with warm rice and chili.

     You can also garnish it with vegetables.

The Hold Game

Materials needed:

Two players.

One marble per person.

A hole in the ground.

A line (distance) to start form.

Method (Step 1 – n):

1.     First you must dub (click marbles together).

2.     Then you must check that the marbles are in good condition and nearly worth the same value.

3.     Next you must dig a hole in a ground and draw a line a fair distance away from the hole.

4.     The first player carefully throws his or her marble towards the hole.

5.     Then the second player tries to throw his or her marble closer to the hole then his or her opponent.

6.     The player whose marble is closest to the hole tries to flick his or her marble into the hole. If successful, this player tries to flick his or her opponent’s marble into the hole.

The person flicking the last marble into the hole wins and gets to keep both marbles.

5.  Explanation

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

To explain why things are as they are and how they are formed/made. It explains the stages of the process.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          The formation of natural phenomena and the process

          involved.

c.   Generic Structure

§  General Statement       : Pernyataan umum/masalah.

§  Explanation   : Penjelasan.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Verb type action verbs  : Some passives are used

§  Verb form                        : Simple present tense.

§  Sequencing (temporal), ex: Initially, then, next, finally.

§  Cause and effect, ex               : Is the result of, because,

                                        consequently, caused by.

     e.   Examples of text

A Brief Summary of Speech Production

General Statement to position the reader:

Speech Production is made possibly by the specialized movements of our vocal organs that generate speech sounds waves.

Explanation:

Like all sound production, speech production requires a source of energy. The source of energy for speech production is the steady stream of air that comes from the lungs as we exhale. When we breathe normally, the air stream is inaudible. To become audible, the air stream must vibrate rapidly. The vocal cords cause the air stream to vibrate.

Explanation:

As we talk, the vocal cords open and close rapidly, chopping up the steady air stream into a series. These puffs are heard as a buzz. But this buzz is still not speech.

Explanation:

To produce speech sounds, the vocal tract must change shape. During speech we continually alter the shape of the vocal track by moving the tongue and lips, etc. These movements change the acoustic properties of the vocal tract, which in turn produce the different sounds of speech.

6.  Narrative

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

§  To amuse, entertain and to deal with actual or vicarious experience in different ways: narrative deal with problematic events which lead to a crisis or turning point of some kind which in turn finds a resolution.

§  Narrative is usually explained in the form of short story, fable, folktale, and myth that is to explain and account for the relationship between people and their world. It gives not only some moral lesson but entertainment as well.

§  Narrative is a text that has pattern of events that develops a problem (conflict) that should be confronted, and attempts made to solve it. It is also explained in the form of fables, fairy tales, legends, folk tales, and so on.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

Usually people, places and event set in ‘creation’. The events cause the beginning of natural phenomenon an animal.

c.   Generic Structure

§  Orientation              :

o   Sets the scene and introduces the participants.

o   The introduction of the main characters, the setting of time and place.

o   Menyebutkan lattar setting (latar tempat/waktu) dan memperkenalkan tokoh.

§  Evaluation                         :

o   A stepping back to evaluate the plight.

o   The background of conflict.

§  Complication            :

o   A crisis series.

o   We usually call it ‘climax’. It is the conflict of the story itself.

o   Adanya puncak masalah (crisis).

§  Resolution                         :

o   The crisis is resolved, for better or worse.

o   The problem or complication is solved.

o   Penyelesaian masalah baik menjadi baik atau buruk.

§  Re-Orientation / Coda   :

o   Optional.

o   The changes of the main characters and what we can gain from the story: social values or moral teachings.

o   Penutup.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on specific and usually individualized participants.

§  Use of material processes (and in this text, behavioral and verbal processes).

§  Use the relational processes and material processes.

§  Use of temporal conjunction and temporal and circumstances.

§  Use of Past Tense.

§  Describing characteristic, appearance.

§  Expressing cause and affect.

     e.   Examples of text

The Day a Tiger Attack My Friend

          Orientation:

Last year I went to visit my friend, Rozi in north Sumatra. We decided to go into the jungle for a little adventure.

Evaluation:

We left Rozi’s house at six in the morning with two friends of him, Ahmad and Saiful. It was hot, but Rozi told me to wear shoes and trousers to protect me from snakes. In the jungle, there was a lot of wildlife, but we were trying to find big cats, especially, tigers. However, it is unusual to find tigers in the afternoon because they sleep in the heat of the day.

Complication:

Then, in the distance we saw a tiger, and Rozi told me to be a very quiet. We crept nearer and found a dead deer, still bleeding. This was the tiger’s lunch. Suddenly, I started to fell frightened.

Resolution:

We heard the tiger a second before we saw it. It jumped out like a flash of lightning, one hundred kilos plus in weigh and two meters long. I looked into its eyes and face, and saw right down the animal’s throat. It grabbed Rozi’s leg between its teeth, but I managed to pull Rozi away. Ahmad shouted at the tiger and made it go back into the grass by throwing the branch he was holding. So we quickly escaped to let the tiger eat its lunch.

Re-Orientation:

That night, it was impossible to sleep.

7.  Recounts

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

§  To retell events for the purpose of informing or

     entertaining.

§  To inform or entertain by retelling past events / experience. We can find it in journal, diaries, personal letter, autobiographical accounts, and recounts of excursions.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          Focus on individual or specific person/s, event/s, or place/s.

c.   Generic Structure

§  Orientation    :

o   Provides the setting and introduces participants.

o   Menyebutkan setting (latar tempat/waktu) dan memperkenalkan tokoh/orang yang terlibat dalam cerita itu.

§  Events                  :

o   It tells what happened; in what sequence.

o   Memberitahukan apa yang terjadi berdasarkan

     urutan.

§  Re-Orientation :

o   Optional-closure of events.

o   Penutup dari berbagai peristiwa tersebut.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on specific participants.

§  Use of material processes.

§  Circumstances of time (now, later, again, then, on the weekend) and place.

§  Use of Past Tense.

§  Focus on temporal sequence: first, next, finally.

§  Cause effect: due to, because of, as a result.

     e.   Examples of text

Table Tennis Team

Orientation:

Our school sent its table tennis team to the city to take part in the city championship recently. The players consist of men’s and women’s singles and doubles.

Event:

We went to the city by car. When we arrived there, other teams were waiting for the competition began.

Event:

The first I played a single match. I knew I was an underdog so I played more relaxed, I could play all my ability. That was the key to the victory.

Event:

Then, my friends, the double players Mova and Dina, defeated their rivals 20-6, 20-10. It completed our victory.

Re-Orientation:

After the ceremony, our car arrived to take us home. We went home so happy that we didn’t feel tired.

         

8.  Spoof

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

It is a text which tells a factual story, happened in the past time with unpredictable and funny ending.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          It ends with a funny ending.

     c.   Generic Structure

§  Orientation    : Who, where, when, and why.

§  Events                  :

o   It tells what happened; in what sequence.

o   Memberitahukan apa yang terjadi berdasarkan

     urutan.

§  Twist                   : Usually ends with a funny ending.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focusing on people, animals or certain things.

§  Using action past tense verb, ex: ate, ran, etc.

§  Using adverb of time and place, ex: then, once, in the park, at home, etc.

§  Told in chronological order, ex: by days, the next day, etc.

     e.   Examples of text

Penguin in the Park

          Orientation:                 

Once a man was walking in a park when he across a penguin. He took it to a policeman and said; ‘What should I do?’ The policeman replied; Take it to the zoo!’

Event:

The next day, the policeman saw the man in the same park. The man was still carrying the penguin. The policeman was rather surprised and walked up to the man and asked; ‘Why are you still carrying the penguin? Didn’t you take it to the zoo?’

Twist:

The man replied; ‘I certainly did. And it was a great idea because the penguin really enjoyed it. So, today I am taking it to the movie’.

9.  Anecdote

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

§  An anecdote is a short tale narrating an interesting or amusing biographical incident.

§  To share with others an account of an usual or amusing incident.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          Provides details of the unusual incident.

     c.   Generic Structure

§  Abstract       : Signals the retelling of an unusual incident.

§  Orientation: Set the scene.

§  Crisis          : Provides details of the unusual incident.

§  Reaction      : Reaction to crisis.

§  Coda : Optional-reflection on or evaluation of the incident.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on unusual incident.

§  Verb form     : Past Tense.

     e.   Examples of text

Tomy

Abstract:

Tomy was a young sailor. He lived in England but he was often away with his ship.

Orientation:

One summer, he came back from long voyage and found new neighbors near his mother’s house. They had a pretty daughter and Tomy soon loved her very much.

Crisis:

He said to her, ‘my next voyage will begin in a few days’ time, Gloria. I’ll marry you when I come back. I’ll think about you all the time and I’ll write to you and send you a present from every port.

Reaction:

Tomy’s first port was free town in Africa and he sent Gloria a parrot from there. It spoke five languages.

Coda:

When Tomy’s ship reached Australia, there was a letter from Gloria. It is said, ‘Thanks for the parrot, Tomy. It tasted better than a chicken’.

10. Review

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

          To criticize event or art is given for public.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          Provides some opinions.

     c.   Generic Structure

§  Orientation          :

o   Setting

o   Character

o   Time

§  Evaluation                    : Provide evaluation to events.

§  Evaluation summation: Provide some opinions based

                                     on the audience opinion.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Verb type     : Simple Present Tense

§  Summary/brief story.

     e.   Examples of text

Private Lives Sparkle

          Orientation:

Since the first production of ‘Private Lives’ in 1930, with the theater’s two leading sophisticates Noel Coward and Gertude Lawrence in the leads, the play has tended to be seen as a vehicle for stars.

          Evaluation:

QUT Academy of the Art’s production boasted no ‘stars’, but certainly fielded potential stars in a sparkling performance that brought out just how fine a piece of craftsmanship Coward’s play is.

          Evaluation:

More than 60 years later, what new could be deduced fro so familiar a theme? Director Rod Wissler’s highly perceptive approach went beyond the glittery surface of witty banter to the darker implications beneath.

Interpretative Recount:

With the shifting of attitudes to social values, it became clear that Victor and Sibly were potentially the more admirable of the couples, with standards better adjusted than the volatile and self-indulgent Elyot and Amanda.

          Evaluation:

The wit was there, dexterously ping-ponged to and fro by a vibrant Amanda (Cahterine Jones) and suave Elyot (Daniel Kealy).

          Evaluation:

Julie Eckersley’s Sibly was a delightful creation, and Phillip Cameroon-Smith’s more serious playing was just night for Victor. Jodie Levesconte was superb French maid. James Maclean’s set captured the Thirties atmosphere with many subtle touches.

11. Discussion

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

To present both sides of an issue and come to a recommendation which is a logical conclusion based on data in the text.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

          Both sides of an issue that is in the public interest.

     c.   Generic Structure

§  Issue (Topic)

§  Argument

§  Conclusion

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Verb form               : Present for giving views/theories/opinions.

§  Listing                  : e.g. a number of (theories).

§  Giving examples         : e.g. for example, as evidence.

e.      Examples of text

The Controversy of Harnessing Solar Energy

(Title)

Issue:

We often hear about solar cars, solar heating, and solar batteries. But will solar energy ever be a major source of energy for society?

Argument ‘for’ point:

Solar energy is cheaper than other fossil fuels because we can get an abundant source from the sun.

Elaboration:

In sunny desert areas, 50% of the sun radiation that reach the ground could be used to produce electricity for business and industry, to provide heat, light, and hot water for homes. Experimental solar ponds can also produce hot water to drive generators.

Argument ‘against’ point:

Unfortunately, we can’t yet power our homes entirely on sunlight.

Elaboration:

Solar energy can only be used effectively in bright light. Its greatest potential, therefore is in hot countries that have clear skies for most of the year. But, unfortunately, most homes are not always in the sunniest part of the world. Moreover, in order to harness solar power solar cells are needed to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells are very cheap to run, but relatively expensive to buy and many people can’t afford them.

Conclusion:

Needless to say, solar energy is useful and non-pollution source of energy. Unfortunately, solar cells, the main device to harness the sun’s energy are still very expensive.

12. Analytical Exposition

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

To analyze a topic and to persuade the reader that this opinion is correct.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

Topics demanded by the set question. We can find it in text book, examination, answer, academic journals and publication.

     c.   Generic Structure

§  Thesis         : (opinion/point of view)

§  Argument(s)   : (with supporting evidence)

§  Conclusion    : Restatement or summary of the thesis and a

                     recommendation to other readers.

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

          Verb form: Present Tense.

     e.   Examples of text

A Seat Belt

          Thesis:

A seat belt, sometimes called a society belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop. As a part of an overall occupant restraint system, seat belts are intended to reduce injures by stopping the wearer from hitting hard interior elements of the vehicle or other passengers (the so-called second impact) and by preventing the wearer from being throw from the vehicle.

          Argument & Elaboration:

During 2004, total accident in DKI Jakarta are 4.544 cases, with 1.146 death victims, 63% of that accident victims didn’t use seat belt (Source: tempo interactive). If we use seat belt, we will be safe if an accident happening to us. Of course it will decrease the number of death by total accident. This fact makes us realize that if we don’t use seat belt, we will endanger our life. So it’s very important to use seat belt.

          Conclusion:

For some people, using belt makes journey uncomfortable, makes us can’t move freely, etc. but if we used to wear it, it will be our habit. We will feel more and more comfortable if we often use it. Regardless of whether it is comfortable or not, it is very important for us to use seat belt, to save our life.

Government, especially police department, began enforcing us to use a seat belt to decrease the number of death victim. It’s appropriated with polices’ slogan ‘Melindungi dan Mengayomi Masyarakat Indonesia’, because the number of that victim in Indonesia is so high. And most of the death victims didn’t use seat belt.

13. Hortatory Exposition

a.   Social Function / Main Purpose

To persuade/influence the readers view based on the writer point of view.

b.   Subject Matter (Field)

Often about personalities and even that are current affairs, issues or happenings in the community.

     c.   Generic Structure

§  Thesis                   : Opinion or point of view.

§  Arguments               : To support this opinion and persuade the

                               reader to the writer’s point of view.

§  Recommendation        : Restatement of thesis plus a

                               recommendation or suggestion (optional).

     d.   Grammatical Features / Language Focus

§  Focus on opinion about current issues.

§  Verb form     : Present Tense.

     e.   Examples of text

Country Concern

          Thesis:

In all the discussion over the removal of lead from petrol (at the atmosphere) there doesn’t seem to have been any mention of the difference between driving in the city and the country.

          Argument:

While I realize my leaded petrol car is polluting the air wherever I drive, I fell that when you travel through the country, where you only see another car every five to ten minutes, the problem is not as severe as when traffic is concentrated on city roads.

          Argument:

Those who want to penalize older, leaded petrol vehicles and their owners don’t seem to appreciate that, at the country, there is no public transport to fall back upon and one’s own vehicles is the only way to get about.

          Recommendation:

Feel that country people, who often have to travel huge distance to the nearest town and who already bend a great deal of money on petrol, should be treated differently to the people who live in the city.