RECOUNT TEXT
What is a Recount
Recount is a text that retells events or experience in the past. It is a record of events. The
purpose of a recount can be informing, entertaining or reflecting.
A recount text can be categorized into three sections (Generic Structure). They are,
Orientation –
Orientation describes the background of the event that you are retelling. It introduces the
setting, characters and time period.
Events –
The series of events that happened in the past, in a chronological order. This is the core of a
recount.
Reorientation –
The text ends in reorientation; this can be a summary, evaluative comment or a return to the
starting point. This part is optional.
Orientation > > > Series of events > > > Reorientation
A recount can be personal, factual or imaginative.
Personal Recount is a retelling of events that you were personally involved in.
Ex: diary entry, autobiography
Factual recount is reporting the factual information about an incident.
Ex: newspaper article, police report, historical recount
Imaginative recount is combining factual information and an imaginary role.
Purpose of Recount Text
The purpose of a recount is to list and describe past experiences by retelling events in the
order in which they happened. Recounts are written to retell events with the purpose of either
informing or entertaining their audience (or both)
In a simple word the purpose of recount text is To retell past experience
The Characteristics / Language Feature of Recount Text:
– Using the simple past tense, past continuous tense, past perfect tense, and past perfect
continuous tense.
– Using temporal sequence, e.g. On Saturday. On Monday, On Sunday
– Focus on specific participant, e.g. I (the writer)
– Using the conjunctions, such as: then, before, after, etc.
– Using action verbs, e.g. went, stayed
Example of Recount Text about Experience with Someone
My Experience Met with Taufik Hidayat
Orientation:
Last sunday, there was Thomas cup badminton championship between Indonesa and China. It
was held on Istora Gelora Bung Karno. I went to Istora Gelora Bung Karno with my Brother,
Andi.
Events:
Before entering Istora Gelora Bung Karno, we looked the bus that took Indonesian badminton
team players. I saw taufik Hidayat, Muhammad Ahsan, Hendra Setiawan, Hayom Rumbaka,
Angga Pratama, Rian Agung, Simon Santoso, Sony Dwi Kuncoro and the other Indonesian
badminton players in that bus. They were very handsome. Then, we followed that bus to
main-entrance. I found that Taufik Hidayat left from the bus. When we wanted to get close to
Taufik Hidayat, a security guard held me back. But, I thought that security guard was familiar
because He was my old friend when I was senior high school, he was Andre. After that, he let
me in, finally i could meet Taufik Hidayat and got his signature.
Reorientation:
Then, I went back to my seat at the Istora stadium to support Indonesian team. The supporter
was very crowded. They shouted “IN-DO-NE-SI-A” during the match.