TASK 1 (M5 LA2)

Discussion Texts
STRUCTURE AND FEATURES OF DISCUSSION TEXTS

Purpose
A discussion presents differing opinions, viewpoints or perspectives on an issue, enabling the reader
to explore different ideas before making an informed decision.The writer normally explores different
opinions and ends with a personal opinion or comment.

STRUCTURE OF DISCUSSION TEXTS

There are different stages in a discussion:

 an introductory statement of position supplying necessary background information
 arguments for and against and supporting evidence
 a recommendation or conclusion.

Statement of position
A discussion begins with a brief introduction describing the situation. This introduction has a
statement or question and serves the purpose of introducing the reader or listener to the author’s
point of view or thesis. Often it is recognized that there are two points of view.

Arguments for and against and supporting evidence

The next few paragraphs elaborate the arguments for and against the issue. This should be based on
researching books, the Internet, surveying or interviewing people. The evidence and opinions should
support the statements. The number of arguments varies according to the writer’s desire and the
content. The arguments can be structured in different way
Example 1
 A first argument for the point of view with supporting evidence or additional details
elaborating each point.
 A second argument for the issue with supporting details.
 A first argument against with supporting elaboration.
 A second argument against with supporting details.

Example 2
 A topic sentence introduces a point, then arguments are written for and against the
issue.This should be based on researching, surveying or interviewing people.
  A second topic sentence introduces a second point and is followed by arguments for and
against.
 A third topic sentence introduces a second point and this is followed by arguments for
and against.
Each paragraph should be clearly structured with a topic sentence supported by details. The
supporting material could be reported speech reflecting comments from specialists who have
responded to the issue or supporting evidence. Thinking and action verbs are used to persuasively
establish and evaluate each argument, and some technical language will be necessary.

Recommendation or conclusion
The discussion ends by presenting a personal point of view before concluding. The recommendation
or conclusion sometimes sums up both sides of the argument if they are fairly balanced, or can
recommend one argument over the other if the evidence is overwhelming.

LANGUAGE FEATURES OF DISCUSSION TEXTS

 Use of present tense.

 Use of general nouns to make statements, e.g. men, papers.
 Use of detailed noun groups to reinforce an argument, e.g.The national treasure that is our
Daintree forest can be…
 Use of saying verbs to quote.
 Use of relating verbs, e.g. is.
 Use of thinking verbs expressing a personal point of view, e.g. wonder.
 Use of factual adjectives, e.g. my last holiday.
 Use of adjectives expressing an opinion, e.g. my horrifying adventure.
 Use of comparative or contrasting adjectives, e.g. boring, most significant.
 Use of adverbs of manner, e.g. honestly, rapidly, carefully, thoroughly.
 Use of connectives to link arguments, e.g. however, in the same way.
 Use of conjunctions to link clauses.
 Use of varying degrees of modality for effect, e.g. Perhaps we might see…followed by but we
must see…
 Use of abstract and technical terminology.
 Use of quoted and reported speech, e.g. Ms. Kim declared…
 Use of evaluative language, e.g.The threatened landscape will continue to be tragically eroded, if
steps are not taken.
 Phrases to introduce the other point of view, e.g. on the other hand, generally.
 Words showing the writer’s opinion, e.g. For the above reasons I fervently believe that…
 Use of clearly structured beginning of sentences that focus attention, e.g. Game parks…,The
cleaner environment focus…
 Use of passive voice to change focus of the sentence, e.g.The environment is threatened…
 Using complex combination of clauses, e.g. While it is vitally important to have a clean
environment, we must think about…
 Use of word chains, synonyms,antonyms and repetition for effect
 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISCUSSION TEXT WITH OTHER TEXT

Narrative text Explanation text Discussion text

The Definition Narrative text is a story with Explanation is a text which tells Discussion is a text
complication or problematic processes relating to forming of which presents a
events and it tries to find the natural, social, scientific and problematic discourse.
resolutions to solve the problems. cultural phenomena. This problem will
An important part of narrative textExplanation text is to say ‘why’ be discussed from
is the narrative mode, the set of and ‘how’ of the forming of the different points of
methods used to communicate thephenomena. It is often found in view. It presents pro
narrative through a process science, geography and history and contra opinion on
narration. text books. certain issue.
· Narrative is a account of Explanation Text is a text that
interesting connected events describes the processes
experienced by specific associated with natural
participants. Its social function is phenomena, soisal, science,
to tell a story and entertain or culture and others. An
amuse as well as well as give a Explanation text is usually
certain moral lesson to the derived from the corresponding
readers. author questions 'why' and
· Narrative text is one of the 13 'how' of an existing
types of English text (genre) phenomenon.
who was born of the Narration
(see Types Of Text) Likewise
Recount Text, Text anecdote,
Spoof News Items Text and Text
which serves to tell the story of
the past and for entertainment.
· Narrative text is a text which
contains about story
(fiction/non
fiction/tales/folktales/fables/my
ths/epic) and its plot consists of
climax of the story
(complication) then followed by
the resolution
Generic Structure of Narrative Text There are three sections in the STRUCTURE OF
structure consists of three parts: linguistic structure of DISCUSSION TEXTS
a. Orientation Explanation Text, namely:
In the Orientation section 1. A general statement There are different
contains an introduction or the In a general statement stages in a discussion:
 introduction of a character in
the story and when and where it
happened.
b. Complication
In the overview section contains
the emergence Complication 2.
crisis or problems experienced
by the characters in the story
that had to be solved.
c. Resolution
In the Resolution section
describes how the characters of
the story to solve the existing
problems in the Complication.
Usually there is more than one
Resolution for the Complication.
d. Coda
Coda is the last part of the 3.
Narrative Text structure that
contains the changes in the
figures and the lessons to be
learned from the story.
Language On the Narrative Text, there are some
features characteristics are as follows:
a. Using the Action Verb in the
Past Tense form. For example: a. Using specific participant e.g. sun,
climbed, Turned, Brought, etc..
b.
c. Using specific nouns as
pronouns, certain animals and
objects in the story. For
example: the king, the queen,
and so on.
d.
c. Using Adjectives which form e.
the noun phrase. For example:
long black hair, two red apples,
etc..
contains a general description  an introductory
of the phenomenon to be statement of position
discussed, the phenomenon supplying necessary
could be the introduction or background
explanation. information
A squenced of explanation  arguments for and
A squenced contains an against and
explanation of the explanation supporting evidence
why the phenomenon may  a recommendation or
occur or be created. A conclusion.
squenced of explanation in the
form of answers to the
question 'why' and 'how' the
author when making an
Explanation text. In squenced
of explanation may consist of
more than one paragraph.
Closing
Actually closing it is not
listed in the generic structure
of the Explanation text, but
most people assume that the
last paragraph of an
Explanation text is closing, but
it is part of squenced of
explantaion which contains the
final step described in section
squenced of explanation.
Language Features Explanation LANGUAGE FEATURES
OF DISCUSSION TEXTS
Text
 Use of present tense.
water, rain, etc  Use of general nouns
b. to make statements,
e.g. men, papers.
b. Using chronological
 Use of detailed noun
connection; to begin with, next,
groups to reinforce
etc
an argument, e.g.The
c. Using Simple Present Tense national treasure that
d. Using action verbs is our Daintree forest
Using passive voice can be…
f. Using noun phras  Use of saying verbs to
g. Using adverbial phrase quote.
h. Using general and abstract  Use of relating verbs,
e. Using connectives and
Conjunctions Time to sort
events. For example: then,
before, after, soon, etc..
f.
e. Using Adverbs and adverbial
Phrase to indicate the location
of the incident or event. For
example: here, in the mountain,
happily ever after, and so on.
noun e.g. is.
i. Using conjunction of time  Use of thinking verbs
and cause-effect. expressing a personal
point of view, e.g.
wonder.
 Use of factual
adjectives, e.g. my
last holiday.
 Use of adjectives
expressing an
opinion, e.g. my
horrifying adventure.
Use of comparative
or contrasting
adjectives, e.g.
boring, most
significant.