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Definition Recount Text

Recount text is one type of text in English that contains the story of an action or activity of the author or
the characters in the story. The activity or action in question is the author's experience expressed through
recount text, usually the purpose of recount text is to entertain the reader, as well as provide information.

Social Function Recount Text

Recount text of personal experience is usually an experience that is considered interesting or
memorable. The author retells what happened to the readers. Therefore, the function of the text is to
entertain the readers.

Kinds and Examples of Recount Text

1. Personal recount
Is a recount text that has a function to tell about the author's personal experience. Personal recount is the
most common type commonly used to write recount text.

Examples of personal recount.

My Bad Day
Doni scrimped and paid for a trip around the world that lasted two months. In his diary, he detailed his
journey. I travelled to London and spent several weeks in Europe after spending a week in New York. I
took a train to Istanbul and visited several locations in Asia after seeing the sights in Europe. First, I
flew from Mexico City to New York City, where he lives. After travelling across Asia, I travelled to
South America before returning to Indonesia. Doni was weary, but he was ecstatic to be on the road
again.

2. Factual recount
Is a recount text that has a function to present reports about events that occurred based on facts (really
happened). Examples include reports on scientific experiments or reports from the police.

Example of factual recount.

A Man Charged
A man has been sued in court for pushing an older woman down a bus on Upper Thomson Road. Ong
Kok Hao, 25, is accused of injuring 76-year-old Hwang Li Lian Nee Lye on bus service number 167
around 3 p.m. on June 5th. Ong is alleged to have pushed the older woman onto her back, causing her to
collapse onto the bus stairs. The incident was recorded and posted to YouTube in a two-minute video.
Ong bursts into a fury at Madam Hwang for pressing the ring at the last minute along Upper Thomson
Road, according to the video. During the resulting scream battle, Ong attempted to slap the woman
before shoving her down the bus. Ong’s lawyer, Eddie Koh, will present his case to the court. The issue
will be revisited by the police in December.

3. Imaginative
 Is a recount text that has a function to tell imaginative events. For example, a recount text that tells the
author's experience in imagining a scene that he got from his dream.

Example of imaginative recount.

Cowboy’s Pride
Today was a particularly hectic day. Thankfully, Rose was at home to assist me in washing dishes,
making quince jelly, and caring for our newest family member, the boy. This was yet another ordinary
day. Jean came in after we completed our chores and began enjoying the dinner we had just prepared.
Rose was tending to the child. A heavy knock came at the entrance. I sat there waiting for Jean or Rose
to pass. Jean sprang from his seat, knife and fork both clutched in his hands. “Can’t a guy eat in peace?”
he exclaimed. “I’ve come to arrest you Mr. Jean Clarkson for horse stealing,” a deep voice said when
Jean opened the bell. I stood there watching Jean finish his last bite of dinner. He then told me that he
was about to be arrested. If there was no subpoena, I informed him he didn’t have to go. I screamed at
him, telling him he shouldn’t have let him in. Jean confidently said, “It’s all right, Mum,” in an attempt
to quiet me down.
The bread was taken out of the oven by me. Jean ate the rest of his food from his bowl with a large slice
of thick bread. Constable Fitzgerald was standing nearby. ‘I’ll just go grab my jacket!” Jean said. I
chased after Jean, shouting at him for letting him in when he shouldn’t have. Rose’s screams could be
heard. I dashed back to see what had happened. Fitzgerald was bullying her, she explained. I charged
into the kitchen, grabbed the shovel, and smacked him in the face. Jean dashed back into the room and
tackled him to the ground. Cathy was right there when the door swung open. Cathy entered the room and
took Fitzgerald’s rifle. Fitzgerald was shot in the wrist by the revolver. “Touch our sister again, and
there will be a bullet in your head,” both boys said as they stood there. My sons made me proud when
they stood up for their sister.

4. Historical recount
Is a recount text that contains history. An example is a recount text about the proclamation of Indonesian
independence.

Example of historical recount.

Indonesian Independence Proclamation
On Friday, August 17, 1945, at 10 a.m., the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read. The
declaration signaled the launch of the Indonesian National Revolution’s political and military struggle
against Dutch forces and pro-Dutch citizens before the latter formally recognized Indonesia’s
independence in 1949. Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, who were declared president and vice-president
the next day, signed the agreement.

Generic Structure of Recount Text

1. Orientation, the first structure that contains information about the character, the place of the incident,
when the incident took place and so on. The information provided by the author is expected to provide
the knowledge or information needed by the reader in order to understand the storyline.
2. Events, the second structure is the content of the text or in the form of stories about events or
experiences that the author wants to convey to the reader.
3. Reorientation, the third structure contains conclusions and summaries or repetitions of information in the
orientation structure.

Characteristics of Recount Text

1. Recount text uses the past tense or past tense. For example, the use of verbs 3 went, woke up, departed,
burned, ate and so on.
2. Recount text uses part of speech adverb and adverbial to explain the time, place and manner. For
example, last October, Bandung, On the third day, at the park and so on.
3. Recount text uses part of speech conjunction and time connectives to order events and events in the
story to form a coherent script. Examples such as and, after, the, that, before and so on.

Language Features of Recount Text

1. Using personal participants such as I, my, me and so on.
2. Using chronological connections such as first, then and so on.
3. Using linking verbs such as were, was, heard, saw and so on.
4. Using action verbs such as go, look, change, run and so on.
5. Using the simple past tense.

Things to note on making Recount Text

1. Focus on individual people, such as using a personal participant, namely I or we.
2. Using words that indicate when and where the event or event occurred.
3. Write using the past tense.
4. Using action words as in language features.