what is recount?

In a recount, an author writes a retelling or interpretation of an event or a series of event that are memorable in his or her life, or in the life of another person. Recounts are written to retell events with the purpose of either informing or entertaining-or even with both purposes.

Examples of recounts include biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, personal journal or diary entries, and personal letter (Lewis & Buss &Karnowski; 2002:6) in line with Lewis & Wray, Emilia (2008) says that recount text adalah jenis teks yang menceritakan kembali kejadian atau pengalamanyang sudah lampau. Recount pada umumnya berdasarkan pengalaman langsung daripenulis, tetapi bisa juga bersifat imajinatif atau di luar pengalaman penulis.

 

Generic Structure of Recount Texts

Recount text has its generic structures. The generic structures of recount text are (Emilia: 2008) are orientation, list of events, and reorientation.

In the orientation step, the writer mentions people and things that are involved, time of the event, the place, and the situation. In the list of events, the writer tells the events happen chronologically. In the reorientation, the writer concludes the story by giving comments.

  
The examples of recount

The Traditional Foods (87)

Hi, everybody. Let me tell you something. Last night I went to my neighbor’s wedding party with my family. You know, it was the wedding party of my dad’s boss’ son.

Well, in the party I had rawon and sate madura. It’s really nice to have them in a traditional wedding like this one. Then I had, you know what, some dawet ayu. After that, I sang for the happy couple.

At about 09.15 we went home. We arrived home rather late. I felt really very happy.

Source: BSE; Contextual Teaching and Learning; VIII

MY BAD DAY (110)

I had a terrible day yesterday.

First, I woke up an hour late because my alarm clock didn't go off. Then, I was in such a hurry that I burned my hand when I was making breakfast. After breakfast, I got dressed so quickly that I forgot to wear socks. Next, I ran out of the house trying to get the 9:30 bus, but of course I missed it. I wanted to take a taxi, but I didn't have enough money.

Finally, I walked the three miles to my school only to discover that it was Sunday!

I hope I never have a day as the one I had yesterday.

Source: BSE; Developing English Competencies 1: kelas X

Swimming (168)

When I was a boy, I liked swimming very much.

Each year my two brothers and I spent the holiday with our uncle and aunt in their house by the sea. It was only twenty yards from the water. The water was warm, the sun shone brightly, and most days there were no waves. In the middle of the day a wind always began to blow, but it was not strong and did not make the sea rough.

One day, we put on our swimming-shorts before breakfast. Then, we ran down to the sea across the sand and jumped in. We were in the sea or on the beach until late at night. When our aunt rang a bell, we went back to the house for food, but we ate it in our swimming-shorts and soon went back in the sea again. We were all very good swimmers. We dived through the waves or rode towards the beach on top of them until we were tired and hungry.

Source: BSE; INTERLANGUAGE; kelas X