when. The following part is a sequence of events and the last is a conclusion if it is necessary.
22
2. Grammatical Features of a Recount
The following grammatical features of a recount are: a.
Proper noun to recognize those involved; b.
Descriptive word to provide details about who, what, when, where, and how;
c. The use of the past tense describes past events;
d. Transitional signal such as first, next, then, etc.
23
e. Report Text
Report text is a text that has purpose to present information about
“the way things are with reference to arrange of natural, man-made, and social phenomenon in our environment.
”
24
It can be found in some forms such as lectures, weather report,
research assignment, etc. and the features of a report are: 1.
Generic structure It consists of General classification tells about the
phenomenon under discussion and description that tells about the phenomenon under discussion in terms of parts,
qualities, habits or behaviors, if living; uses, if non- natural.
25
2. Linguistic features
a. Focus on generic participants;
b. Use of relational processes to state what is and that it is;
c. Use of simple present tense unless extinct;
d. No temporal sequence.
26
22
Ibid., p. 50.
23
Ibid.
24
Standar Kompetensi Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris SMP MTS, op. cit., p. 72.
25
Ibid.
26
Ibid.
B. The Understanding of Reading Text
A text can be seen as a piece of written communication products. It is produced to inform something to the reader. The word text itself is formed by
a set of words or sounds if they have a meaning; the text is called as a unit of meaning. Therefore, the text is
“sebuah rekaman dari konteks sehingga disebut wacana”
27
means the contextual record is called a discourse. In the contrary the Vacca suggests that a text is a length of printed material that
formed by a sentence, a paragraph, a passage, a chapter or a book and it is visible by its structure.
28
The text is used to convey any message that is delivered by speaker or writer. According to the Anderson, a text is constructed by a speaker or a
writer and it is interpreted by listeners or readers.
29
It means the speaker or the writer decide the purpose or the content of the created text so that the listener
or the reader could understand it. They also state the features of text as follows:
1. Text is arranged with appropriate paragraphs;
2. Text has conjunctions and words that connect the elements;
3. Text supports reference by using proper pronouns;
4. Text uses suitable literary devices.
30
Meanwhile, as Cunningsworth regards reading is “the one activity that
can be done easily and without any equipment by students outside the classroom.”
31
Another definition of reading, it emerges from Pang et al they defined that reading is a complicated activity to comprehend written texts that
includes perception and thought.
32
It means that when people read something, they construct their own meaning in their mind. It is not only grasping it
27
Ibid., p. 57.
28
Richard T. Vacca and Jo Anne Vacca, Content Area Reading, Second Edition, Toronto: Little, Brown and Company, 1986, p. 29.
29
Mark Anderson and Kathy Anderson, op. cit., p. 2.
30
Ibid., p. 149.
31
Alan Cunningsworth, Choosing Your Coursebook, Oxford: Heinemann, 1995, p. 73.
32
Elizabeth S. Pang, et al., Education Practice Series 12: Teaching Reading, Brussels: International Academy of Education, 2003, p. 6
