RECOUNT TEKS W5+1H

Defition

A recount text is a kind of writing that tells about past events or experiences, usually to inform or entertain the reader. It has a simple structure that starts with an orientation to introduce who was involved, where, and when the story happened, followed by a series of events written in time order, and ends with a reorientation that gives a conclusion or personal opinion. This type of text often uses past tense verbs, time connectives such as “first,” “next,” and “finally,” and personal pronouns like “I” or “we.” 

For example: Last weekend, my family and I went to the beach. We played volleyball, swam in the sea, and built sandcastles. It was an exciting day, and I hope to go there again someday. In short, a recount text helps readers remember or imagine past experiences in a clear and enjoyable way.

Social Function

The social function of a recount text is:

To retell events or experiences that happened in the past.

To inform or entertain the reader by sharing a story based on real events.

Generic Structure 

A recount text usually has three main parts:

1. Orientation
   → Introduces the background of the story (who, where, when, what happened).
   Example: Last holiday, I went to Bali with my family.
2. Events
   → Describes the series of events in chronological order.
   Example: First, we visited Kuta Beach. Then, we went to Ubud to see the rice fields.
3. Re-orientation
   → A conclusion or closing statement, often showing the writer’s feelings or comments.
   Example: It was an unforgettable trip. I really enjoyed it.

Language Features

Common language features of recount text:

Use of past tense → went, saw, played, was, were

Use of specific participants → I, my family, my friend 

Use of action verbs → visited, played, watched, cooked 

Use of time connectives → first, then, after that, finally

Use of adverbs  → yesterday, last week, in the park

Types of Recount Text

There are several types of recount texts:

1. Personal Recount → tells about personal experiences (e.g., vacation, birthday).
2. Factual Recount → gives information about real events (e.g., news, accident, report).
3. Imaginative Recount → retells an imaginary or fictional event.
4. Biographical Recount → tells about someone’s life (e.g., a famous person).