Recount Text

Definition of Recount Text

A recount tells about something that happened in the past. The details in a recount can include what happened, who was involved, where it took place, when it happened and why it occurred.

A writer or speaker uses a recount to tell us about a story or an event. Recounts are usually given in the order that the event occurred. Recounts can be:

• factual, such as a news story
• procedural, such as telling someone how you built something
• personal, such as a family holiday or your opinion on a subject.

Kinds / Examples of a recount Text

Recounts can be either written or spoken. Examples of recounts include:

• biographies and autobiographies
• newspapers or the television news
• letters and postcards
• textbooks
• conversations with friends

Generic Structures of Recount Text


Orientation – who, what, when, where ...
...................................

Event 1 ...........................
...................................

Event 2 ...........................
...................................

Event 3 ...........................
...................................


Reorientation –concludes retelling......
...................................

• The introductory paragraph, or orientation, of a written recount introduces the topic or event. This paragraph introduces who, what, where, when, why and possibly how.
• The following body paragraphs will recount the sequence of events.  This is where the recount is told in chronological order (the order that the events happened).
• The conclusion, or re-orientation, is where the writer or speaker can give personal opinions about the topic or event. The writer or speaker may also comment on how this event or topic may affect other things in the future.

Language features of a recount

Names of those involved :
Tom, my sister, the next-door neighbour

Descriptive words:
who, what, where, when, why – the puppets, in the sleeping city, after a few minutes, to find their way

Past tense:
occurred, overturned, struggled

Time and sequence words to show order f events:
then, next, finally