Discussion Text

A discussion is a piece of writing that explores both sides of an issue. In discussion text the
writer tries to present the pros and cons or the advantage and disadvantages of an issue to
allow the readers to reach a logical conclusion. The writer should always try to give an
impersonal and balanced view.

 Communicative purpose: to present arguments / opinion from different points of

view.
 Examples of discussion texts : Newspaper editorials, debates, thesis, journals.
 The organization of a discussion text, a discussion text consists of four main parts:
issue, arguments for, arguments against and conclusion / recommendation.
1. Issue; this part introduces the topic and previews the arguments that the rest of
paragraphs expand upon.
2. Arguments for; arguments for is positive arguments or in agreement with the issue.
Each stage of the argument consists of a point, then gives a detailed information or
evidence to support it
3. DISCUSSION TEXT
4.
5. A discussion is a place of writing that explores both sides of an issue. In discussion text the
writer tries to present the pros and cons or advantages of an issue to allow the readers to
reach a logical conclusion. The writer should always try to give an impersonal and balanced
view.
6.
7. Text organization
8. Issue : this part introduces the topic and previews the arguments that the rest of paragraphs
expand upon.
9. Arguments for : arguments for is positive argument or agreement with the issue.
10. Arguments againts : arguments againts is negative or in disagreement with the issue.
11. Conclusion or recommendation : the closing is a brief summming up of the issue explored or
the writer’s own opinion
12.
13. Communicative purpose
14. To present argument from different points of view
15. To present opinions from different points of view
16. To present information from different points of view
17.
18. Language features
19. Relating verbs
20. Thinking verbs
21. General nouns
22. Abstract nouns
23. Conjunction
24. Modality
25. Adverb of manner
26.
27. Types of discussion text
28. Newspaper editorial
29. Debates
30. Journals
31. Thesis
32.
33. Example
34.
35. Nowadays, the police have been applying the new regulation concerning the use of seat belts.
In European countries, this regulation has been applied for a long time. However, this new
regulation has become controversial and is an interesting topic to discuss. Here are some of
the arguments.
36. The use of seat belts has been proven to reduce the risk of injury or death in an accident. Seat
belts have become a standard component in cars.
37. The research shows that most car accidents will cause an injury to the head. Frequently,
drivers or the passangers driving without seat belts die because of this. By wearing seat
belts, the injury will not happen since the seat belts restrain our body on the car seat when an
accident happens.
38. Unfortunately, many cars, especially the old ones, don’t have seat belts. This is because the
traffic conditions in the past were unlike the recent traffic conditions. The designer of old
cars didn’t consider a seat belt as an important part. Besides, the drivers wearing the seat
belts will think that they are completely safe, so they may drive carelessly. They are safe,
indeed, but how about the safety of others?
39. The seat belt is only one of the ways to reduce the risks of car accidents. It doesn’t mean that
we are completely safe. In short, our safety depends on ourselves.
40. Text course: Kiat sukses UN 2007
41. Discussion Text: Definition, Generic
Structures, Language Features, and the
Example
42.
Definition:
43. Discussion text is a text which presents a problematic discourse. This problem will be
discussed from different points of view. It presents pro and contra opinion on certain issue.
44. Purpose:
45. To present different opinions on a particular issue or topic arguments for and against/positive
and negative/good and bad.
46. Generic Structures:
47. 1. Issue: Contains of statement and preview about something
48. 2. Supporting point: After stating the issue, it is necessary to present the argument to
support that one point is agreeing.
49. 3. Contrastive point: Beside the supporting argument, discussion text needs the
arguments which disagree to stated issue.
50. 4. Recommendation/conclusion: It is used to tell how to solve issue by connecting the
arguments for and against.
51. Language Features:
52. 1. Introducing category or generic participant
53. 2. Relating verb/to be
54. 3. Using thinking verb
55. 4. Using additive, contrastive, and casual connection
56. 5. Using modalities
57. 6. Using adverbial of manner
58. 7. Using conjunction/transition
59. 8. Using simple present tense
60. Example:
61. Homework
62. I have been wondering if homework is necessary. I think we should have homework because
it helps us to learn and revise our work. Homework helps people who aren’t very smart to
remember what they have learned. Homework is really good because it helps with our
education. But, many times, doing home is not a great idea. I think we shouldn’t have
homework because I like to go out after school to a restaurant or the movies. Sometimes
homework is boring and not important. I think homework is bad because I like to play and
discuss things with my family. According to me, homework is not as an entirely bad thing or
a completely good thing for students’ education because this is about how they learn more
their material from school.
63.