TYPES OF TEXT

TYPES OF TEXT

BY : MARSUDIONO

Genre or types of text can be categorized into two, they are story genre and factual genre. These types of text will be discussed in more detail in the following section.

A. Story Genre

          Story genre consists of four texts, they are recount, narrative, spoof, and anecdote. These texts will be discussed one by one in the following part.

1. Recount

a.        The Definition and Social Function of Recount Text

          Recount text is a type of spoken or written text that deals with past experiences . It is a text that tells us about what had happened in series of events in sequence. Recount means calling past memory. It tells what happened in the past. It is a true story. Therefore, this text is written based on someone’s true experience. That is why the subject of the story is I or we. There is no complication among the participants and that differentiates from narrative.

The purpose of recount text is to inform and/or to entertain the listeners or readers or to tell an event in the past time chronologically. In other words this text is aimed

to tell the readers what happened in the past through a sequence of events.

b. The Generic Structure of Recount Text

-          Orientation   :an introduction that providers the setting and introduces participations .

In orientation the writer at least introduces the main character(s), the location and the time. To make it easier we can answer the questions:
- Who involved in the story?

- Where it happened?

- When it happened?

-                                           - Events              : Describing series of event that happened in the past. It tells what happened, in a sequence. In series of events the writer writes the events chronologically. It begins from the first event, followed by the second event to the the last event. The sum of events depend on the creativity of the writer.

-                                                        

-                                           - Reorientation   :      Closure of events . In reorientation the writer draw a conclusion or gives comment about the story. Not all recount text closed by reorientation. It is optional Stating personal comment of the writer to the story.

c. Significant Lexicon Grammatical Features

-           Focus on specific participants

-           Use of material processes

-           Circumstances of time and place

-           Use of past tense

-           Focus on temporal sequence

d.  Characteristics of Recount Text:

Here are some characteristics of recount text:

-          Using Past Tense      : walked, did not want

-          Action verbs              : bought, went, enjoyed

-          Indicates When         : when I was at home

-          Indicates Where        : I went to the town square of Ponorogo.

-          Focuses on Individuals       : I , We

-          Use of pronouns and nouns ( David, he, she)

-          Use of action verbs in past (went, studied)

-          Use of adverbial phrases

-          Use of adjectives

-          Using chronological connection; then, first, etc

-          Using linking verb; was, were, saw, heard, etc

e. Model of Recount Text

MY WORST DAY

1). Orientation

          On this day I was so unhappy. Because there were some incidents that blamed myself gradually. Not just one or two but three incidents that made me so fed. It had happened when I was at home alone about two or three months  before today to point at August 21, this year.

2). Sequence of Events

          First, at the morning I had headache where this sick was too disturbed me. And you know I never got it yet before. I could not stand on quietly so that I felt this earth  walked around me. Probably, it happened because I ate too much traditional Javanese snack whose called ‘Gadung’. Yap, I like this snack so much. So, when my friend brought it for me I was happy and without compromise I ate those ‘Gadung’ until nothing to leave one or more ‘Gadung’ in the plate. And the result was this sick. I got intoxication. It made me torture. Then, I called my friend to come to my house . I had him escort me to go to the nearest hospital. Because no one in my house. All my family went to my first cousin wedding party in  Pacitan town. They were there since two days ago.

          In the hospital the doctor would give me injection. I was so afraid. Exactly, I did not want to receive that injection  but the doctor compelled me. So, I was to be forced to accept that injection. Then, the doctor gave me prescription of my headache and had me take a rest  more.

          When I felt very well, I was hungry. And I went to the traditional mini restaurant to buy some foods. I bought Javanese baked glutinous rice, fried rice with more chilly and sauce. Then,  I bought an orange juice, some Javanese roast, and fried chicken too. After that I ate all of them until I felt so satisfied.

          An hour was to go by. Suddenly, my stomach was pined by an any sharpened thing. Yah, it was very sick. I just could hold my stomach. And I took an ‘Entrostop’ to lighten this sick more. Formerly, in an hour  I had eleven times went to the closed. Wow, I was so frowned. When I felt better, I just could take all of the day.

          At the night, I felt fresh again. So I had plan to walk around with my friend by motor cycle to the town center. I went to the town square of Ponorogo. We just saw people with all of their activities. I did it in a traditional coffee shop. Yah, we enjoyed so much because we met the other friends who join with us. So, we shared with the young laugh until a long time.

          When I saw my watch, it showed at 11.00 p.m. Then, we dispersed and went home. When I and my friend almost arrived at my house, it was about 500 meters before my house, suddenly ‘Dooor’ I got my cycle out of air. I was so surprised. ”Oh shit! It is a night! No one of motorcycle workshop is  still open.” I thought. So, I just could say, “My bad day.” And I was to start my motorcycle by the hand until to the house. This night my friend slept in my home.

3). Reorientation

Yah, it was “My Worst Day.” I always remember this story and may it will be a lesson for the readers.

2. Spoof

a. Definition and Social Function of Spoof

Spoof is a text which tells factual story, happened in the past time with unpredictable and funny ending. Its social function is to entertain and share the story.

b. Generic Structure of Spoof

1. Orientation (who were involved, when and where was happened)
2. Events ( tell what happened in a chronological order)
3. Twist (provide the funniest part of the story)

c. Language Feature of Spoof

1. Focusing on people, animals or certain things
2. Using action verb; ate, ran, etc
3. Using adverb of time and place
4. Told in chronological order

5. Use of connectives (first, then, finally)

6. Use of simple past tense (he walked away from the village)

d. Model of Spoof Text

1). Orientation

Two men were walking through the woods and come across a very big deep hole. "Wow...that looks deep." One replied, "Sure does... toss a few pebbles in there and we will see how deep this hole is." Then they pick up a few pebbles and throw them in and wait... no noise "Geeez. That is really deep... here.. throw one of these great big rocks down there. Those should make a noise." After that, they pick up a couple football-sized rocks and toss them into the hole and wait... and wait. but no noise they heard.

2). Events

Wow.. They were really impressed with how deep hole it was. They look at each other in amazement. One gets a determined look on his face and says, "Hey...over here in the weeds, there's a railroad tie. Help me carry it over here. When we toss that sucker in this hole, it's must make some noise."

The two men drag the heavy tie over to the hole and heave it in. But, not a sound comes from the hole. Suddenly, out of the nearby woods, a goat appears, running like the wind. It rushes toward the two men, then right past them, running as fast as its legs will carry it. Suddenly it leaps in the air and into the hole. The goat disappeared into the deep hole.

The two men are astonished with what they've just seen. How could a goat jump into the hole? Then, not long after that, out of the woods comes a farmer. He seemed to seek something and asked to the two men, "Hey two guys... have you seen my goat out here?"

Feeling amazing with what they saw of a goat jumping to the hole, they answer straightly, "You bet we did! Craziest thing I've ever seen! A goat came running like crazy and just jumped into this hole!"

3). Twist

The farmer thought a moment and said, "That could not have been my goat. Because my goat was chained to a railroad tie." Then he left the two men.

This example of spoof text is rewritten from: www.funnies.com

3. .Narrative

a. Definition and Social Function of Narrative Text

Narrative Text is a text containing story. It can be in the form of folktale/ folklore, fable, Legend, short story, fairy tale, myth, etc. The main function of this text is to entertain the readers with actual or imaginary experience in different ways. Narrative always deals with some problems which lead to the climax and then turn into a solution to the problem.

b. Generic Structure of Narrative Text

1). Orientation

It is the background of the story which tells about who, when, where, and what is the story about.

2). Complication:

A problem arises and followed by other problems which lead to the climax of conflict in the story. A story can have complication more than one.

3). Evaluation:

It is optional. The aims is to make the story more interesting.

3). Resolution:

It is the problem solving of the problem which can end with happy ending or sad ending or tragedy.
c. Language Features of Narrative Text

1.   Use of noun phrases ( a beautiful princess, a huge temple)

2.   Use of adverbial phrases of time and place ( in the garden, two days ago)

3.   Use of simple past tense ( He walked away from the village)

4.   Use of action verbs ( walked, slept)

5.   Use of adjectives phrases ( long black hair)

d. Model of Narrative Text

Romeo and Juliet

Orientation:     Montague and Juliet Capulet lived in Verona. They met at party and it was love at first sight. Their families were enemies so the young couple could not meet in the open. They got married in secret with the help of a priest, friar Laurence, and Juliet’s maid.

Complication: Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, hated Romeo and the Montagues. One day, he met Romeo and his friend Mercutio in the street. They had a sword fight and Mercutio was killed. Romeo was so upset that he attacked and killed Tybalt m revenge.

Evaluation:     As a result of this, Romeo had to leave Verona to save his life. He visited Juliet secretly that night and then left for Mantua. Juliet’s parents wanted Juliet to marry Paris, a friend of the family. They arranged the marriage and Juliet was horrified. She asked friar Laurence to help her. He suggested a plain: he gave her a drug to make her sleep for a long time and appear dead to everyone else. When Juliet woke up, she could join Romeo in Mantua. Friar Laurence promised to write to Romeo and explain the plan.

Resolution:     The night before the wedding, Juliet took the drug and her family found her “dead” in the morning. The wedding celebration turned into a funeral. Unfortunately, Romeo never received the letter from friar Laurence. He returned to Verona, when he found Juliet’s body. He thought she was dead and he was so devastated that the killed himself. When Juliet woke up and saw Romeo lying dead beside her, she killed herself too, with his dagger.

As a result of this tragic of events, the Capulets and the Montagues agreed to stop fighting and live in peace together.

4. Anecdote

a. Definition and Social Function of Anecdote

Anecdote is a text which retells funny and unusual incidents in fact or imagination. Its purpose is to entertain the readers.

b. Generic Structure of Anecdote

1. Abstract
2. Orientation
3. Crisis
4. Incident/reaction

5. Coda

c. Language Feature of Anecdote
1. Using exclamation words; it’s awful!, it’s wonderful!, etc
2. Using imperative; listen to this
3. Using rhetoric question; do you know what?
4. Using action verb; go, write, etc
5. Using conjunction of time; then, afterward
6. Using simple past tense
d. Model of Anecdote
1). Abstract

Everybody has a dream. You have and so do I. When the dream will come true, there is something wrong last minute before it. What will we feel? What will we do?

2). Orientation

The Clark family lived in Scotland. They had dream to travel to America. They prepared well for their plan

3). Crisis

Few days before they went to America, his youngest son was bitten by a dog. It made they were being quarantined. They had to forget their plan.

4). Incident

The family was full of disappointment and anger. The father was angry with his son and God. The family failed to travel to America and the father could not accept it.

5).  Coda

The father thank to his son when he hear the ship sank. He thank to God because of saving the family from sinking. He thought leaving behind the ship was not a tragedy but a blessing.

B. Factual Genre

1. Procedure Text

a. Definition and Social Function of Procedure

Procedure tells us about how to do a task or make something. They can be a set of instructions or directions. Its social function is to help us do a task or make something. They can be a set of instruction or directions.

b. Generic Structure of procedure

1.    Goal (The final purpose of doing the instructions)

2.   Materials (Ingredients, utensils, equipments to do the instructions)

3.   Steps (A set of instruction to achieve the final purpose)

c. Language Features

1.   Use of imperative ( Cut…….., Don’t mix……..)