Descriptive text

The descriptive text describes a particular person, place, or thing. It means that descriptive text is
designed especially about a person, a place, or things. They also stated descriptive text to tell about
the subject by describing its features without including personal opinions.
Generic Structure of Descriptive Text
Like other genres, descriptive text also has its structure. Generic descriptive text structures there are
two parts: Identification and Description.
 Identification: it is aimed at introducing and identifying a specific participant, such as a
person, a thing, a place, an animal, and or an event.
 Description: it describes that participant from its characteristics, appearances, personality,
and habits or qualities.
Linguistics Features of Descriptive Text
 Focus on specific participants as the main character (My English teacher, Andini’s cat, My
favorite place).
 Use present tense as dominant tenses.
 Use linking verbs or relational processes frequently (is, are, has, have, belongs to) to classify
and describe the participant’s appearance or qualities and parts or functions.
 Use of descriptive adjectives (strong legs, white hair)

Identification My house is located in Jl. Tunggala 2G, Anawai. There are several rooms in our
house. They are a living room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, and a
warehouse. Talk about my kitchen, it is not large, but it looks clean with a white
wall. My mother always cooks there.
Description In the kitchen, there are cooking utensils, such as a gas stove, green pot, and
orange kettle. The pot and the kettle are on the gas stove. Then, the cooker hood
is under the gas stove, and the oven is above the gas stove. There are also
modern electronic tools, such as a white refrigerator in the corner of the kitchen.
My mother uses it to store the food supply. There is also a silver toaster beside
the refrigerator. I usually use it for baking my bread in the morning. There are
some plates, glass, cups, forks, and spoons inside the dish cabinet. Below the
dish cabinet, there is a hanging shelf. My mother hung up gloves, a frying pan
spatula, and a ladle. Besides, there is a seasoning counter to put jars of sugar,
coffee, salt, and other seasoning bottles on it. Near the window, there is a sink
with a tap. My mother put a brown dining table in the middle of the kitchen
with four white chairs. My family and I usually have breakfast, lunch, and dinner
together there. On the dining table, there is a cup. It is my father’s cup of coffee.
Although this kitchen is small, I like it because I can reach everything without
moving too much. It also has many cabinets and big windows. Thus, the sun can
shine easily through it.
What is a narrative text?
A narrative text is a type of text that tells a story or describes a sequence of events. The purpose of a
narrative text is to entertain or inform the reader by presenting a series of events in a coherent and
engaging way (berurutan dan saling terhubung) satu sama lain).
Characteristics of Narrative text
1. Using past tenses
Narrative texts often contain past tense because they typically recount events or stories that have
already occurred. Using the past tense helps to create a sense of time and sequence, which enables the
reader to follow the plot and understand the progression of events.
Here’s an example:
“Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a kind, generous old man. One day, as he was
walking through the forest, he stumbled upon a giant squash. Amazed, he inched closer.”
2. Using adverbial of time
Narrative texts often use adverbials of time to provide a clear structure of the story. By providing a
context for the sequence of events, adverbials of time create a more vivid and engaging reading
experience. They enable the reader to follow the plot more easily in the story.
Here’s an example:
“Early one morning, Sarah decided to go for a jog in the park. As she jogged, the sun began to rise,
casting a golden glow over the trees. Later that day, she met her friends for lunch and shared her
morning adventure with them.”
In this example, adverbials of time such as “early one morning,” “as she jogged,” and “later that day”
are used to provide context and indicate the sequence of events, helping the reader understand when
each action took place.
3. Using adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, or, put it simply, adjectives are words that give
more information about a noun such as its color, shape, size, characteristics, etc. In narrative text,
adjectives help create a more detailed and vivid story.
Example: “The brave knight entered the dark, mysterious forest, ready to face any challenges that lay
ahead.”
In this example, the adjectives “brave,” “dark,” and “mysterious” add depth to the description, giving
the reader a clearer sense of the knight’s personality and the atmosphere of the forest.
What is the purpose and social function of a narrative text?
1. Orientation
Orientation sets the stage for the story. Ideally, the orientation should answer the questions
“who,” “where, and “when.” So, when reading the orientation part, we should be able to identify the
character and setting (both time and place) of the story.
2. Complication
This section contains the problems that occur within a story. It is divided into three parts, namely:
 Rising action: Problems begin to emerge
 Climax: Peak of the problem
 Falling action: The tension of the problem begins to decrease, and the solution starts to
emerge
3. Resolution
The resolution is the part of the narrative where the conflict or problem introduced earlier in the story
is resolved or addressed.
This may involve characters finding a solution to their issues, overcoming obstacles, or experiencing
personal growth.
The resolution helps tie up loose ends, providing closure for the reader and allowing them to see how
the events of the story have impacted the characters.
4. Re-orientation / Evaluation
Re-orientation, also known as evaluation, is an optional component of a narrative text that serves to
reflect on the story and its events, reinforcing the moral lesson or theme.