and the purpose of this text is to document the past event in order to evaluate the events.
43
From the several definitions above, it can be concluded that recount text is a text tells about something occurred in the past in order
to give information into chronologically of what had happened. In other words, recount text is a text type that retell past events
chronologically in order to give information or to entertainment. This text also has a purpose to document the series of event or activity in
order to evaluate it.
b. The Linguistic Features of Recount Text
A recount text is written in the past tense because it tells events that have already happened. A recount text uses the first person
pronouns I and We, if the story is happening to the personal recount and uses the third person if an observer is telling the story. In addition,
the linguistic or the grammatical features usually found in a recount text, they are:
1. Use of nouns and pronouns to identify people, animals or things involved
2. Use of action verbs to refer to events 3. Use of past tense to locate events in relation to writer’s time
4. Use of conjunction and time connectivity to sequence the events.
44
c. The Generic Structures of Recount Text
Even though there are several kinds of recount text, they have the same characteristics in the schematic structures. A recount text
consists of three part, those are orientation, events, and reorientation. Those will be described as follow:
43
Joko Priyana, Arnys R. Irjayanti, and Virga Renitasari, Scaffolding English for Junior High School Students Grade VIII, Jakarta: Pusat Perbukuan DEPDIKNAS, 2008, p.69.
44
Joko Priyana, Arnys R. Irjayanti, and Virga Renitasari, loc.cit.
1. Orientation Recount text begins by telling the reader about who was
involved, what happened, where this event took place and when it happened.
45
It orients the readers to the events that follow which introduce characters in a setting of time or place or sometimes
both. In some recounts, introduced to Indonesian students, has an Opening Salutation such as “Hi, my name is Rizki.”, in
the beginning of the story. Since orientation is the first part of a recount text, therefore it must be interesting in order to attract
readers’ attention. 2. Events
Events are the main important activities or events that occurred in that story of text. It tells about what happened and in what
sequence in the text.
46
The function is to give more explanation of the orientation. It presents the events chronologically in order,
which they happened. 3. Reorientation
Reorientation is a conclusion or an optional-closure of the story.
47
Some recounts have a concluding paragraph; however, this is not always necessary. It is an optional. It returns the reader to
the point of departure and sometimes the writer gives comments overall sequence of events described. Some recounts have an
evaluative comment or a conclusion which may constitute the writer’s comment on events described previously, but this is just
optional. The conclusion is written in the last paragraph, and because this part is optional, some recounts may not have this
conclusion paragraph
45
Utami Widiati, et.al., Bahasa Inggris Sekolah Menengah Pertama Madrasah Tsanawiyah Kelas VIII, Edisi 4, Jakarta: Pusat Perbukuan DEPDIKNAS, 2008, p.29.
46
Ibid.
47
Ibid.
The following text is the example of schematic structure of personal recount text:
My Holiday Last Week I went to Mount Bromo. I stayed
at my friend’s house in Porbolinggo, East Java. The house has a big garden with colorful flowers and
small pool.
In the morning, my friend and I saw a Mount Batok. The scenery was very beautiful. We
rode on horseback. It was scary, but it was fun. Then we went to get closer to look at the mountain.
We took pictures of the beautiful scenery there. After that, we took a rest and had lunch under a big
tree. Before we got home, we went to the zoo at Wonokromo. We went home in the afternoon.
We were very tired. However, I think it was fun to have a holiday like this. I hope my next
holiday will be more interesting.
48
d. The Purpose of Recount Text
The purpose of a recount text is to entertain and inform the audience with the description of what occurred and when it occurred.
49
A recount text informs the reader what happened, and this may involve the
author’s personal interpretation of events. Other purpose of a recount text is to entertain the reader. The author tries to entertain the reader by telling
hisher funny experiences.
e. The Kinds of Recount Text
There are five kinds of recount text, those are: 1. Personal Recount
A personal recount text usually retells an experience in which the writer was personally involved. It lists and describes past event
experiences by retelling events. It presents the events chronologically
48
Joko Priyana, Arnys R. Irjayanti, and Virga Renitasari, op.cit., p.68.
49
Utami Widiati, et al., loc. cit.
Reorientation Orientation
Events
