Recounts (part. 1)

Recount is a text which retells events or experiences in the past. Its social function is either to inform the purpose, to entertain or to retell the events to audience. There is no complication among the participants and that differentiates from narrative. Types of recount:

• Personal recount, these usually retell an event that the writer was personally involved in.
• Factual recount, recording an incident, e.g. a science experiment.
• Imaginative recount, writing an imaginary role and giving details of events. 

General structure of recount:

• Orientation, provide the setting and introduces participants.
• Events, tell what happened, in what sequence.
• Re-orientation, closure of events (it is optional).

Features of recount:

• Focus on personal participant, e.g. I, my friend, etc.
• Using chronological connection, e.g. then, first, etc.
• Using linking verb, e.g. was, saw, heard, etc.
• Using action verb, e.g. look, go, change, etc.
• The recount has a title, which usually summarizes the text.
• Specific participants.
• Details are selected to help the reader reconstruct the activity or incident (factual recount).
• The ending may describe the outcome of the activity (factual recount).
• Details of time, place and incident need to be clearly stated (factual recount).
• Descriptive details may also be required to provide information (factual recount).
• Includes personal thoughts/reactions (imaginative recount).
• Using material processes.
• Focusing on temporal sequences.
• Describes events.
• Using adverb and passive voice may be used.
• Using simple past tense.

Example of recount:

When I was in the first grade of Primary School, I had a friend, Michelle. She was the friendliest and the most intelligent student in the class. We soon became very close to each other because we had a lot of things in common.

Now, we are in the second year. We are not in the same class anymore, but we spend a lot of time together. We study together, do some assignments and hang out for fun.

Friends are as valuable as diamonds. We do realize it and promise that we will remain good friends as long as we live.