Recount Text: Definition, Structure, Characteristics, Types, Examples
Recount text is one type of text form in the science of English. There are other types of text, such as narrative text, descriptive text, and anecdotal text.
Table of contents
Definition
Recount Text is a text that explains a story, action and activity with the aim of entertaining and providing information to the reader.
This type of text can also be interpreted as a text that tells a story about events or experiences that existed in the past.
Characteristic features
- Using sentences past tense. Example: I spent my summer in Jakarta and I was very happy. (past or already happened).
- Wear action verbs. Example: spent, went, brought, run, eat, go, took, etc
- Wear adverbs and adverbial phrases to explain the time, place and manner. Example: last month, in Malang, lately, etc.
- Focus on a specific object. For example me (the author).
- Use conjunctions and time connectives to describe the sequence of events/time. Example: and, after that, or, on Monday, on Sunday, etc.
Structure (Generic Structure of Recount Text)
Recount Text has 3 main structures, including:
1. Orientation (Opening)
Provide background information needed to understand a text, such as who was involved, where it happened, and when it happened.
Example:
Yesterday I stayed the night at my friend's house, Delia, with my other three friends, Amanda, Tiara and Clarisse. Delia's house is so pretty.
It has a big garden with a lot of kind of flowers and a big swimming pool. Right from the balcony, we can see the scenery of the whole of Bandung city
Translate:
Yesterday I stayed at Delia's house, with three of my other friends named, Amanda, Tiara, and also Clarisse. Delia's house is very beautiful.
The house has a large garden complete with various types of flowers and a large swimming pool. Right from the balcony, we can see the whole city of Bandung
2. Events (Contents)
Is a recording of events that took place or a series of events which are then arranged in chronological order.
As an example: “In the first day…. And in the next day…. And in the last day… ”
The section also contains personal comments regarding the events or events mentioned.
Example:
When we first arrived at 8 AM, Delia has welcomed us and asked us to get around the house as she explained all the room inside her home along with its function.
After walking around the house, we gathered at Delia's room to put our things. Then, we go to the garden and have some tea while chatting with each other.
At 12 PM, Delia asked us to eat the lunch prepared by the chef. The food was delicious. It was a traditional food from Korea. After lunch, we decided to go swimming.
We had a good time. Around 5 PM, we cleaned ourselves and prepared for a BBQ session for the night. We ate a lot of meat and saw the city lights of Bandung City.
Right by 11 PM, we got back to the house and sat in a circle in Delia's room to talk and have some discussion.
Translate:
When we first arrived at 8 am, Delia greeted us and asked us to walk around the house while explaining all the rooms in her house as well as their functions.
After walking in the house area, we then gathered in Delia's room to put our things. Then, we went towards the garden to drink tea while chatting with the others.
At 12 noon, Delia then asked us for lunch which had been prepared by the chef. The food is so delicious. This food is a traditional Korean food. After lunch, we decided to swim.
Our activities are very exciting. Around 5 pm, we then cleaned up and prepared for the BBQ session that night. We ate a lot of meat while looking at the city lights of Bandung.
At exactly 11 pm, we returned home and sat in a circle in Delia's room to chat.
3. Reorientation (Closing / conclusion)
This last stage is the repetition stage of the introduction in the first stage. This repetition will summarize all the events narrated.
You can write opinions or comments on events that have already happened.
Example:
We finally went to sleep around 2 AM, it was late, but we had so much fun. I would love to go back to Delia's house.
Translate:
We ended up sleeping around 2am, it was late, but we had fun. I want to go back to Delia's house.
Type
Recount text has several types of text that you can use for writing benchmarks, but must be adjusted to the purpose of the writing itself.
Here are the types:
1. Personal Recount
Personal recount is a recount text with a function to tell about the author's personal experience.
For example the experience of vacation, marriage, and others.
2. Imaginative
Imaginative is a type of recount text with a function to present an imaginative story. Then poured into the story of events or events that have occurred.
3. Factual Recount
Factual recount is a type of recount text with a function to present a report on events that actually took place/facts.
For example scientific reports, scientific experiment reports, loss reports and others.
4. Historical Recount
This type tells about history, both historical places and historical objects. For example, the story of the Prambanan temple.
Example
The following are examples of Recount Text, including:
1. Personal Recount
website: blog.twobrightlights.com
My Great Day of Proposing Girl
Orientation
I woke up at about five o'clock yesterday. It wasn't a regular day, because I was about to propose a girl.
Events
After praying and taking a bath, I had my early breakfast. At about nine o'clock I was in my office but my soul wasn't there. I was thinking about the lines that I had to say to her.
At one o'clock, I had my lunch but I wasn't enjoying it either. So, I practiced the lines to almost all girls I met at my lunch. Yes, I was a little bit crazy. Finally, it was three o'clock. I remember all my lines. I wrapped my works and got ready to pick her up and of course proposed her.
I met her at four o'clock, took a little walk and went to a movie. At seven, we had a romantic dinner. I thought it was the perfect time to ask her to be my wife. Then I said the lines that I practiced the whole afternoon.
Reorientation
She smiled. I reached my pocket to get a ring and put it around her finger. Then she said "Yes." After driven her home I went back to my house.
Translate:
Apply Girl
Opener
I then woke up around five o'clock. That day was not an ordinary day, because I was going to propose to my lover.
Contents
After I finished praying and showering, then I had breakfast. Around nine o'clock I was in the office but I was nervous. I thought of the words that I should say to him later.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, I had lunch, but I don't think I really enjoyed it. So, I used the time to practice dialogue with all the girls there. I seem to have gone crazy. Finally, after three o'clock. I try to remember all those sentences. I prepared my work and prepared to pick him up and of course immediately proposed to him.
I then met him around four o'clock, took a little walk and went to see a movie. At seven, we have a romantic dinner. I thought it was the right time to ask her to be my wife. Then I said the sentence I had been practicing all afternoon.
Conclusion
He smiled. I then reached into my pocket to take out the ring and placed it on his ring finger. Then he said "Yes." After dropping him off, I went straight back to my house.
2. Imaginative
Website: blackxperience.com
Spiderman
Orientation
I was dreaming of being a super hero when I was a teenager. I imagined myself as Spiderman.
Events
One day, when I was fishing at the river I was bitten by a spider and luckily I was not dying.
At first I felt cold for 24 hours and I was alone in my room. Nobody knew about it. I didn't tell my family because I was afraid they would be angry with me.
After that, something had happened in my body and I still did not recognize it. I lived as I did usually, went to school, went home, eating, doing some activities and so on.
I realized at the first time that I had a superpower was when I was getting an accident.
I rode a motor cycle and suddenly there was a bus crashed me. I bounced out of the road and my motor cycle was totally broken.
But at that case, I did not feel any hurt. There was no blood out of my body.
I was angry at that time because the bus did not stop and escaped. I run after it and I didn't know why I could run so fast and jump so high.
I jumped to the back of the bus and climbed it like a spider. I went to the front, stooped the bus and took the driver out of the bus door.
I knew that I was no more normal human being. I did nothing more to the bus driver. I went back home and decided the next action to do after that.
Reorientation
I did nothing like the Spiderman at the movie that help people to catch the criminals.
I was an opportunist super hero. I was afraid of killing people so that I hide my power from anybody else. I used my power only when I or my family and friends got into dangerous.
Translate:
Spiderman
Opener
I dreamed of being a superhero when I was a teenager. I then imagined myself to be Spiderman.
Contents
One day, I was fishing in the river and was bitten by a spider and luckily I wasn't dying.
At the start of 24 hours, I just felt cold alone in the room. No one knows about it. I didn't tell my family because I was worried they would be angry.
After that incident, I felt something happen to my body but I still couldn't recognize it. I am still doing my usual activities, going to school, going home, eating, and doing various other activities.
I realized for the first time that I had super powers when I was in an accident.
I was riding a motorcycle at that time but suddenly a bus hit me. I then jumped out of the way but my motorcycle was completely damaged.
Surprisingly, on that occasion, I didn't feel sick at all. Not even blood came out of my body.
I was angry at that time because the bus didn't stop and ran away. I then ran after him and I don't know why I can run so fast and jump so high.
I jumped onto the back of the bus and climbed like a spider. I aimed for the front, then bent down and led the driver out of the bus door.
I know that I am not an ordinary human. I didn't do anything to the bus driver. I then went home and decided what to do next.
Conclusion
I don't do anything like in the Spiderman movies to help people catch criminals.
I am an opportunist superhero. I was afraid to kill people so I hid with my strength from others. I use my strength only when I or my family and friends are in danger.
3. Factual Recount
Website: washingtonpost.com
Man Charged with Pushing Old Woman Down Bus
Orientation
Singapore – The man who pushed an old woman down a bus along Upper Thomson Road has been charged in court. Twenty-five-year-old Ong Kok Hao is accused of hurting 76-year-old Hwang Li Lian Nee Lye on bus service number 167 at about 3pm on June 5 this year.
Events
Ong is said to have used his right hand to push the old woman on her back, causing her to fall on the steps of the bus. The incident was captured in a two-minute video and uploaded on YouTube. The video shows Ong suddenly flying into a rage at Madam Hwang for pressing the bell at the last-minute along Upper Thomson Road.
Reorientation
A shouting match then ensued and during the heated spat, Ong threatened to slap the woman, before pushing her down the bus. Ong's lawyer Eddie Koh will be making representations to the court. The case will next be mentioned in December.
Translate:
Man Sentenced For Pushing Old Woman From Bus
Opening
Singapore - The man who pushed an elderly woman off a bus along Upper Thomson Road has been charged in court. 25-year-old Ong Kok Hao has been charged with hurting 76-year-old Hwang Li Lian Nee Lye by bus service number 167 at around 3 p.m. on June 5 this year.
Contents
Ong is said to have used his right hand to push the old woman on her back, causing her to fall on the bus steps. The incident was caught on a two-minute video uploaded on YouTube. The video shows Ong suddenly jumping up and getting angry at Madam Hwang because she pressed the bell at the last minute along Upper Thomson Road.
Conclusion
A shouting fight then ensued and by the time the argument had heated up, Ong threatened to slap the woman before he pushed her off the bus. Ong's lawyer, Eddie Koh, will then make a representation to the court. The handling of this case will be announced in December.
4. Historical Recount
website: commons.wikimedia.org
Proclamation of Indonesian Independence
Orientation
The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 1945.
Events
The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution, fighting against the forces of the Netherlands and pro-Dutch civilians, until the latter officially acknowledged Indonesia's independence in 1949. The Netherlands declared that they had decided to accept de facto 17 August 1945 as Indonesia's independence date. The United Nations, who mediated in the conflict, formally acknowledge the date of independence as 27 December 1949.
Reorientation
The document was signed by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, who were appointed president and vice-president respectively the following day.
Translate:
Proclamation of Indonesian Independence
Opening
The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read at 10:00 am on Friday, August 17, 1945.
Contents
The declaration marked the beginning of the diplomatic and armed resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution, which Dutch forces as well as pro-Dutch civilians, until the latter officially recognized Indonesia's independence in 1949. The Dutch stated that they had decided to accept the facto rights on August 17, 1945, which was the date of Indonesian independence. The United Nations, mediating in the conflict, has also formally recognized the date of independence on 27 December 1949.
Conclusion
The document was signed by Sukarno as well as Mohammad Hatta, who was appointed president and vice president the next day.