Discussion Text ; Definition, Generic Structures, Purposes,

Language Features
Definition of Discussion Text
Discussion is a process of finding common ground between two different thoughts, views or opinions.
And discussion text can be defined :

Discussion text is a text which presents a problematic discourse. This problem will be
discussed from different viewpoints. Discussion is commonly found in philosophical,
historic, and social text. In other word, Discussion is a kind of genre used to present (at
least) two points of view about an issue.

General structure of Discussion Text

– Issue : stating the issue which is to discussed
– Argument pro : presenting the point in in supporting the presented issue
– Argument cons : presenting other points which disagree to the supporting point
– Conclusion / recommendation : stating the writer’ recommendation of the discourse

Purpose of Discussion text

– To present two points of view about issue or problem.
– To present arguments from differing points of view about issue or problem..

Language feature of Discussion text

– Introducing category or generic participant
– Using thinking verb; feel, hope, believe, etc
– Using contrastive conjunction; however, on the other hand, but, in other side, although, etc
– Using modalities; must, should, could, may, etc
– Using adverbial of manner; deliberately, hopefully, etc
– Simple present

Examples of Discussion text

Examples of Discussion Text about Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy : Advantage Or Disadvantage

Nuclear energy is commonly offered as an alternative to overcome the crisis of energy. The debate
whether the use of nuclear energy is an appropriate choice or not, has not come to an end. Some
people agree with the utilization of it because of its benefits. Some others, however, disagree because
of its risks to the environment.

Those who agree with the operation of nuclear reactors usually argue that nuclear energy is the only
feasible choice to answer the ever – increasing energy needs. In their opinion, the other sources of
energy: oil, coal, and liquid natural gas are not renewable and safe, while nuclear energy can be
sustainable when produced in a safe way.

However, people who disagree with the use of nuclear energy point out that the waste of nuclear
products can completely destroy the environment and human lives. A meltdown in reactor, for
example, usually results in the contamination of the surroundings soil and water. Take for example,
the blow up of the nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Russia twenty years ago.
The serious contamination imperiled people and the environment severely.

It is obvious that nuclear energy should be avoided because it really endangers the environment but
what about a less polluted energy instead of nuclear energy. Is there any alternative energy to
overcome the crisis of energy? In my opinion, nuclear energy is the best choice to overcome the crisis
of energy. However, government should make sure that nuclear reactor’s construction and maintains
are safe.

Examples of Discussion Text about Education World

National Exam: Pro and Contra?

National exam becomes the hot topic in most of discussions among students, teachers, and parents.
Some people believe that national exam is not necessary for students as a requirement to be able
graduate from a school. In other hand, other people see national exam as an important indicator to
know whether students have mastered all school materials or not. The debate among society about
national examination goes on until now.

For people who agree, national exam is necessary for students as a requirement to graduate from a
school. People who support the national exam explain that the quality of the Indonesia education will
drop without the national exam, so they try to defend the current system. They also think that national
examination can motivate students to study harder.

However there are people who disagree with the opinion. Those who against this national exam kept
in school education say that it doesn’t need the national exams because the quality of education does
not just depend on the national exam. Further, the national exam only measures a small portion of
students’ competence in specific subjects, and does not measure students’ competences throughout
the semester.
In conclusion, national examination can still be useful as an instrument to evaluate or detect the level
of students’ cognitive competence in several subjects, on a national scale. However, it is not fair if only
national exam score that judge whether students pass or not. Government should make a regulation
that national exam is not the only requirement for students to graduate. There should be other
requirements added such as students’ daily score, behavior, and achievement.

Examples of Discussion Text about Technology for Students

Pro and con of Computers for Students

Do you know that most schools and colleges strongly recommend students to have computers to help
them achieve better results of learning. With computer connected to Internet, students can learn
English online. They can make reports easily by using word processing software. They can play game
to get of boredom. However, a computer can also give negative impacts for a student.
One thing that makes a computer useful is that students can use it to finish some assignments from
schools. By connecting to Internet, they can easily surf and find any materials related to their lessons
and assignments. They have unlimited resources from all over the worlds. Online libraries are open.
A lot of book are free to download and read online. Finding friends from related field of study is not
difficult anymore. They can work together to boost their best achievement. What more benefit is they
can do all of that just by sitting on the a chair of their rooms. What amazing world it is, isn’t?

Although a computer has many benefits, it should be considered deeply. A computer certainly does
not promote students to do and move more. A computes make students have less physical activities.
Even not few of them forget to have lunch while they are playing certain game. They just sit in front of
monitors. They are caught up in the mystique of the smart machines. In short, students who usually
work with computers tend to have a few physical activities and exercises.

So what should students do? Should they avoid using computers? Of course “No”. Computer will make
even greater benefits if physical activities are also promoted to done by the students.

Example of Discussion Text about Internet Technology

The Impact of the Internet for Students

Internet has helped many people in all elements of life that the internet has contributed fully in social
life. With internet, we can do anything, both the positive and negative things. As a medium of
communication, internet can be used to communicate with other users worldwide.

Internet presence provides positive benefits for the world of information, but it also has many negative
influences. Many students gain knowledge with the help of internet. In fact, school assignments are
now noticeably easier to find on the internet. It is undeniable that internet gives effect to students.
There is a positive effect, but there is also a negative influence of internet. It is just like a coin with two
sides, depending on how we deal with it.

Many positive benefits that can be obtained by students from the internet if it is used wisely. However,
there are also negative effects caused by internet. Here are some of the negative influences of the
internet. Some news, both television and newspapers spread their child abduction or runaway cases
of minors who are started from friendship or social networking sites on the internet. The nature of a
child who easily trusts anyone allows that to happen.

Pornography is the negative influence of other internet. Not only adults who visit forbidden sites, but
many students are considered frequent visitors to sites that contain pornographic images or stories.
This of course is a very unfortunate situation. Addiction to online games that hit the students is also a
negative influence of the internet. Addiction and dependency can make the students run out of time
and energy to play. As a result, students’ achievement will decrease.

To counteract the negative effects of internet on the students, there are some things that must be
done. One of them is parents have to always accompany their children when they’re accessing the
internet. This is to ensure that children have access to the right site. Do not let children engrossed in
playing internet, while the parents do not know the whereabouts of the children. If the internet facility
is available at home, place the facility in a shared room. This is to facilitate parents supervising the
children. If you have to use the facilities at the internet cafe, help the children to choose the “healthy”
cafe. It would be wise, if you know the owner and the clerk there. This is to make it easier to supervise
the children. The last, give the children a good understanding about the positive and negative effects
of the Internet for them. Thus, you are already complete with castle defense.
It is hoped all parties, including parents, teachers, government and students jointly prevent negative
impacts arising from the internet. The government is expected to block sites that are not good. Parents
are also expected to pay more attention to their children so that children can continue to be monitored
and not fall into things that are not good.

Example of Discussion Text – Social Network for Youth

Social Network Influence on Youth

Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites are now technological applications that are
popular among teenagers as well as children. With this website, we can expand either of kinship or
friendship with the wider community, not only in the scope of the neighborhood itself, but from different
walks of life, environmental and social status. It becomes a necessity for young people to have it.

Therefore, social networking sites have resulted in both positive and negative impacts. The positive
impacts of social networks are we are able to have many friends, able to bring together the kinship
that has not seen or has dropped out, able to share the information, able to find out a place to vent,
able to be a place to deliver our hobby such as writing, to make promotion, and able to avoid stress.

The negative impact of social networks for teens and children are the social networking sites they
have. They will feel addicted and do not care about time, do not care about the surroundings, lack of
socialization with the environment, waste of money and credit, prone to dispute or misunderstanding,
often social media can be a place that the fraud can be occured, and social media can damage the
health of the eye of children or people who use them.

The conclusion that can be drawn is that social networking does have many benefits, but it can not be
denied that social networks also have a wide range of hazards and other consequences like many
boys and girls open social networking sites during school hours.

Therefore, the teens and the children should use social networks wisely and be able to sort the time
between learning and opening the social networking sites so they will not regret the impacts later. At
school, the students should have a training or socialization from adolescents, such as the teachers,
so that later they are able to understand how the devastating impact of social networks on an ongoing
basis so that it might be expected that the teens can be aware of and understand their obligations or
duties as the students.