RECOUNT

Unit Two

RECOUNT

To retell events for the purpose of informing or entertaining.

Generic Structure:

Ø  Orientation: provides the  setting and introduces participants

Ø  Events: tell what happened, in what sequence.

Ø Re-orientation: optional-closure of events

Significant Lexicogrammatical Features

§  Focus on specific Participants

§  Use of material processes

§  Circumstances of time and place

§  Use of past tense

§  Focus on temporal sequence.

Read the following example of a recount text:

Earthquake

Orientation

I was driving along the coast road when the car suddenly lurched to one side.

Event 1

At first I thought a tyre had gone but then I saw telegraph poles collapsing like matchsticks.

Event 2

The rocks came tumbling across the road and I had to abandon the car.

Event 3

When I got back to town, well, as I said, there wasn’t much left.

Note that young writers often indicate temporal sequence with ‘and then, and then, and then’. Alternatives can be modeled and used when the teacher and students jointly construct Recounts.

Text 1

Picasso was one of the most outstanding and important artists of the 1900's. He is best known for his paintings. Almost every style in modern art is represented in Picasso's works.

Picasso was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain as the son of an art teacher. He studied painting with his father and also in Madrid.

From about 1895 to 1901 he painted realistic works in a traditional style. Then he entered what was called the Blue Period. During this time he only used shades of blue in his paintings to show poverty he saw in Barcelona.

After 1907, he entered into the style of cubism. Among his well-known cubist paintings are "the Three Musicians" and "The man with a guitar" which depicts the destruction of a Spanish town. Picasso died in France in 1973.

(Adapted from: Golden Home Encyclopedia, P pg. 475)

1.   The text above mainly discusses about…

a.      Picasso

b.      Important artists

c.      An art teacher

d.      The most outstanding artist

e.      The style of cubism

2.   Which of the following statements is true?

a.      Picasso was the only outstanding and important artist of 1900's.

b.      Picasso was a modern artist who passed away in France in 1973.

c.      The man with a guitar was Picasso's first painting.

d.      Picasso studied painting with his father in France.

e.      Since Picasso was young, he only used shades of blue in his paintings.

3.   The type of text above is a/an

a.      report

b.      anecdote

c.      recount

d.      narrative

e.      spoof

Text 2

Early one morning, Umar was walking to the bus stop to catch a bus to school. A loud, screeching noise suddenly pierced the air. Umar realized that there had been an accident. A small boy was lying unconscious on the road, and the car that had hit him had already run away.

Umar was confused and frightened. "Is the boy dead?" Umar asked himself. However, the boy was still breathing. Umar could see that the boy had bruises all over his face and arms.

Umar did not know what to do. Few cars passed along this road at this time of the day.

The nearest house which he could go to for help was his own, but it would take ten minutes to walk there. Umar finally decided to stay with the boy until somebody came by. Time passed very slowly - so it seemed to Umar. The boy was still unconscious, and Umar prayed for the boy to regain consciousness.

Umar sprang to his feet at the sound of an approaching car. He waved frantically at the driver to stop. Umar asked the driver, "You will help this boy, won't you, Sir?" The driver was kind. He carried the injured boy to the car. Umar went with them to the hospital. Later, the driver took Umar to the police station to report the accident.

Umar had a lot to tell to his friends that day at school. All his friends thought Umar was a very brave boy. "It was an unforgettable incident, wasn't it?" they asked him. "Yes, it was," Umar replied. "It was a terrifying experience, though!"'

4.   Where did the accident happen?

a.      At the bus stop.

b.      Near Umar's house.

c.      Near Umar's school.

d.      At the police station.

e.      On the way to the bus stop.

5.   The purpose of the text is to ....

a.      tell a past event

b.      entertain readers

c.      discuss something

d.      report a phenomena

e.      describe Umar's activity

6.   Umar and the helpful driver went to the police station after they ....

a.      stopped the approaching car

b.      reported the accident they saw

c.      brought the boy to the nearest house

d.      had seen the injured boy on the road

e.      had carried the injured boy to the hospital

7.   "Later the driver took Umar to the police station to report the accident." (Paragraph 5)

      This part of the text is called ....

a.      resolution

b.      orientation

c.      description

d.      reorientation

e.      an introduction to events

Text 3

Five days ago, I got a telephone call from my supervisor, Mr. Wahyudi. He congratulated me on my success in increasing the sales target in August 2004. I have been working under his supervision in the area of Pasuruan for three years. He invited me to come to his office. On the phone he said that he needed to discuss the prospect of the company in the future. He planned to expand his business to other towns in East Java.

Yesterday I was very happy because I could come to see Mr. Wahyudi. As I arrived at his office, located at 12 Jalan Peneleh Masjid Surabaya, I was warmly greeted by him. He asked me what drink I would like. I answered, “I like tea.” He asked the office boy to make it for me. He showed me the table of the sales and he said, “It’s your duty to expand our business in the area of Probolinggo. Then I read the table of my own sales which is much better than any other area’s sales except that of Surabaya. I smiled happily to see my successful work. “I begin to have a lot of self-confidence.” I thought, as a young salesman I said to myself, “Business is my world and it is really true that my grandfather once said that I had a talent of selling things.” Here is the table of the sales in August.

The sales of Magazines and Tabloids of “Bina Pustaka Distributor” in August 2004

Goods	Sidoarjo	Mojokerto	Pasuruan	Surabaya	Total
1. Readers Digest	50	175	525	750	1.500
2. Nyata	100	175	500	500	1.275
3. Posmo	50	125	700	675	1.550
4. Dapur Kita	100	150	2.400	1.350	4.100
5. Mentari	50	125	225	400	850

8.   The text mainly discusses about ....

a.      a successful salesman

b.      a grateful supervisor

c.      the sales of magazines and tabloids

d.      the new business

e.      the prospect of the company

9.   Paragraph 2 mainly discusses about ....

a.      Mr. Wahyudi’s office

b.      how to expand the new business

c.      how Mr. Wahyudi accepted his employee’s arrival

d.      a talent of selling things

e.      the writer’s talent

10. Based on the information from the table, the reader knows that ....

a.      the writer reaches the sale target

b.      the writer can sell the tabloid “Dapur Kita” the best

c.      the sale rate in Surabaya is the best of all

d.      the sale rate of Pasuruan is the same as that in Surabaya

e.      the sale rate of tabloid “Dapur Kita” reaches the lowest

11. “He planned to expand his business to __” (Paragraph 1).

      The underlined word means to ... larger.

a.      change

b.      develop

c.      become

d.      shape

e.      improve

Text 4

It all started innocently enough. I was a pretty typical fifteen year-old high-school Sophomore, living in Fairfield County, Connecticut. That translates to mean I had it pretty good. I lived in a nice house in a historic New England town with my parents, my younger brother, and a Labrador retriever. My older sister, an attorney, lived in Chicago with her husband and baby daughter. I had doting grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Not everyone was completely sane, but no one had been put away, and most of us could act pretty normal most of the time. I went to a good public high school, where I got good grades, had a great group of friends, played sports, joined clubs, volunteered, enjoyed art and music, and partied enthusiastically wherever and whenever possible.

Was I happy? Certainly not. I was fifteen, after all. I had a constitutional right as an American to want more, even if I didn't know what I wanted more. My days were boring and predictable. Most of my classes seemed irrelevant. The only subjects I was really interested in were English, French, and art. I loved to write and to draw, and I wanted to actually speak French. Naturally I knew that in order to achieve any of these goals I would have to do the boring and predictable and repetitive stuff. Right then, however, I wanted to do something exciting and unique. I should admit up front to being a risk-taker, even a thrillseeker. I love the jolt of adrenaline that comes from doing something terrifying.

According to my family, I was born that way. At one year of age, I piled up the stuffed animals in my crib, climbed up on their backs, and launched myself head first over the bars and onto the floor. By fifteen months I was walking on the kitchen counters and swinging from the freezer door. I had a genius for getting up on high places and being unable to get down safely. At two I had graduated from climbing on kitchen counters and chain-link fences to removing window screens and strolling on rooftops during nap time.

And then my baby brother was born. He cried all night for a year. My dad left thrown a lot, and my mom was pretty much over the edge. It got easier and easier to slip away from the house, down the block, across streets and out into the big world. I particularly liked the monkey bars at the school playground and looking in at the big kids in kindergarten and first grade. But somebody always called the police, and after a while they didn’t have to ask me where I lived anymore. They just picked me up and drove me home. When I was finally old enough to get inside the school and swing legally from the monkey bars, we moved to Connecticut.

12. The second paragraph mainly discusses about ....

a.      her right as an American

b.      her subjects and school

c.      her hobbies and activities

d.      her boredom and intention to get rid of it

e.      her childhood that was terrifying

13. Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

a.      The writer was an attorney.

b.      The writer was a selfish girl.

c.      The writer was satisfied with her life

d.      The writer was scared to do challenging activities.

e.      The writer liked doing risky activities.

14. Which of the following things was not done by the writer?

a.      Living in Connecticut.

b.      Volunteering.

c.      Teaching English and French.

d.      Getting up on high places.

e.      Watching kindergarten students playing.

15. How did the writer feel when her baby brother was born?

a.      Happy.

b.      Amused.

c.      Disturbed.

d.      Terrified.

e.      Insulted.

16. “My days were boring and predictable” (paragraph 2)

      The closest meaning of the underlined word is ....

a.      monotonous

b.      interesting

c.      practical

d.      long

e.      splendid

Text 5

Amyr Klink said that he was going to cross the Atlantic Ocean by himself in a rowboat. Nobody believed him and some people thought he was crazy.

“I didn’t plan this by myself,”Klink said. “I had some help from scientists and engineers.”

On June 10, 1984, Klink left Namibia in his rowboat, The Paraty, and headed for Brazil.

It was not an easy experience for Klink. He rowed his small boat across the Atlantic for 92 days. His only companions were dolphins, whales, and a few sharks who amused themselves by chasing after the boat.

One day, he almost hurt himself while he was cleaning the boat. He slipped and fell into the water. Fortunately, there were no sharks around that day.

His daily routine was very hard. He woke up around 5:30, had breakfast, and then rowed for about five hours. He stopped for lunch and rowed for another four to five hours. He only slept for a few hours every night.

Finally, on September 9, 1984, The Paraty arrived in Salvador, Brazil. It was the end of the journey.

17. The text is about ....

a.      Amyr Klink’s rowboat, the Paraty

b.      Amyr Klink’s incredible journey

c.      Amyr Klink’s hobby

d.      The biography of Amyr Klink

e.      The daily routine of Amyr Klink

18. Which statement is NOT TRUE according the text?

a.      Amyr almost hurt himself while he was eating.

b.      Amyr slipped and fell into the water.

c.      In the morning he rowed for five hours.

d.      Amyr took a rest only for a few hours every night.

e.      Some people thought Amyr was very crazy

Text 6

One upon a time there was an office worker whose name was Charles. He worked in the same insurance office for many years. But during that time, he became more and more unhappy. While he worked, he dreamed constantly, and in his dreams he was always a hermit, he stayed his room. He didn’t like people. He especially didn’t like people when they talked. He wanted peace and quiet. Life went on for Charles in this way until he became desperate.

His big opportunity came when he learned about a sea voyage that two of his friends were planning. They expected to make the trip during their summer vocation. Charles asked to join them. While they were sailing, our hero talked to his friends about the joys of a hermits’ life. He talked until he finally convinced them and they decided to stop at the First that the the island found.

A few days after this decision, they saw the island in the distance where they decided to live. Before they went ashore, Charles asked the other to make a promise not to say a word after they reached the island. They were to remain perfectly quiet during their stay.

During the first few days after they landed, they built a little house where they planted a garden. The island was paradise for Charles because this was the peace and quiet that he wanted.

19. What kind of text is the text above?

      a.   An anecdote text                                    d.   An Analytical exposition

      b.   A description text                                    e.   A recount text

      c.   A narrative text

20. The purpose of the text is….

      a.   to persuade the readers to be hermit  d.   to describe Charles’ experience

      b.   to tel the past experience of Charles   e.   to evaluate the past experience

      c.   to entertain the readers

21. “They expected to make the trip….” (Paragraph 3)

      What does the word “expected” means?

      a.   Commanded.                                          d.   Known.

      b.   Wanted.                                                   e.   Hoped.

      c.   Agreed.

22. Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

      a.   Charles disliked the noisy condition.   

      b.   Charles wanted to be a sea voyage.        

      c.   Charles liked people when they talked.

      d.   Charles disliked peace and quiet.

      e.   Charles dreamed to live in the city.

23. What did Charles and his friends do after landing in the island in the first few days?

      a.   Built a little house.                                   d.   Worked in peace.

      b.   Bought a little house.                             e.   Got paradise.

      c.   He wanted something

Text 7

Last month, I travelled to several cities in Sumatra. From Jakarta, I went by a bus to Merak harbour. I had to take a ferry to pass the Sunda strait, from Merak to Tanjung Karang. Then,  I travelled from Tanjungkarang to Palembang.    I stayed two days in Palembang. Then, I got the train from from Palembang to Lubuklinggau. I stayed one night there and the next day I took a bus to Bukitinggi. The journey lasted twenty four hours. I spent two weeks  around Bukitinggi. I visited  the Sianok,Canyon, Lake Maninjau and Istano Pagaruyung. After my week  in Bukitinggi, I travelled by bus to Lake Toba, the largest lake in the Southeast Asia. This area has beautiful scenery and contains many examples of Batak houses and`graveyards. After a few days on Samosir Island, I travelled to Medan and from there to the Gunung Leuser National Park. This is the largest national park in south east Asia. I saw orang-utans, monkeys rhinos, and many beautiful birds. I visited the rain forest. It was beautiful. My last few days were spent in Banda Aceh. I really enjoyed this city.   

24. What is the main idea of the paragraph above?

a.      The beauty of Sumatra Island

b.      The kinds of transportations in Sumatra

c.      The largest Lake in Southeast Asia.

d.      The biggest National Park in Asia.

e.      The writer’s nice trip to Sumatra

25. The following statement is NOT TRUE based on  the passage.

a.      The writer didn’t get an exciting trip

b.      The writer probably lives in Jakarta.

c.      The writer stayed in Palembang  a couple of days. 

d.      The view of Sumatra is nice

e.      Banda Aceh is neat and clean.

26. This area has beautiful scenery and contains many examples of Batak houses and`graveyards.

      The underlined word means ....

a.      Places for staying  the night

b.      Buildings for having lunch or dinner.

c.      Places for exhibition

d.      Places for burrying the deads

e.      Places for shopping