DISCUSSION TEXT

Discussion 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.

The purpose of a discussion text is to present arguments and information from differing viewpoints. Discussion texts are usually written in the present tense.

Points to check

• Have you been fair to both sides?
• Have you supported your views with reasons ande vidence?
• In your conclusion, have you given a reason for what you have decided?

Generic Structure

• Issue : contains of statement and preview about something.
• Arguments for/Supporting arguments : after stating the issue, it is necessary to present the argument to support that one point is agreeing.
• Arguments against : beside the supporting argument, discussion text need the arguments which disagree to the stated issue.
• Recommendation/conclusion : It is used to tell how to solve issue by concerning the arguements for and against.

4. Language Features

•  Introducing category or generic participant.
• Relating verb/to be: is, am, are, etc.
• Using thinking verb: feel, hope, believe, etc.
•  Using additive, contrastive, and causal connection: similarly, on the hand, however, etc.
•  Using modalities: must, should, could, may, etc.
• Using adverbial of manner: deliberately, hopefully, etc.
• Conjunction/transition: although, even, if, etc.  
  
  These are the example of discussion text : 
  Bringing Mobile Phone To School
  
  
  
  [Issue] Students are not allowed to bring mobile phone to school. The reasons why they shouldn't bring mobile phone are: avoiding losing mobile phone and disturbing the lesson time.
  [Argument against] This policy causes parents to react. Some of them disagrees. They think students need to bring mobile phone in order to be easy checked and controlled. Some parents say that they may call their children every break time to check whether they are in the school or not. Other parents state that they don't want their children to come home late. By bringing mobile phone they are able to call their children after school off.
  [Argument against] Students also have some objections. They need mobile phone to tell their family to pick them up after school. Beside that, they need mobile phone to access the internet to search some information they need during the lesson.
  [Argument for] But, some other parents think differently. The parents agrees if the school prohibits students to bring mobile phone. They say that bringing mobile phone to school is useless. They are afraid their students are busy with their mobile phone. They are only calling, sending text, chatting and receiving inappropriate file during the school time. They are also worried if the mobile phone is missing.
  [Recommendation] By hearing to those arguments, the school decide some policies. The policies state that students may bring mobile phone but they should leave their mobile phone in the teachers' room. They may take their mobile phone after school time.
  The Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Office (Title)
  
  
  Everybody like home sweet home however making office at home is possible and recommend. Of course home office will has both advantage and disadvantage. Therefore it is wise to consider the strengths and weaknesses to have a home office. (Issue)
  
  Some people will agree that having office at home will make benefit. It saves time. We need no commuting which occasionally takes a long time. Besides we are free to set the work schedule. Having home office will save money as we need not to purchase or lease of office space from rent companies. What make it more flexible is that we can set part or all parts of our home just as a real office. What we need is only a wireless router to cover all parts of our house with Internet. We can run our business wherever part of house we want, from living room, bed room, veranda, etc even we can make sell or purchase by online shopping for things we need. Furthermore Working at home might reduce stress, effort and time and divert it to other more productive things because while working, we are close to our families. 
  
  However making home as office also has some disadvantages. For some people, keeping the schedule is hard in flexible time. Such people type will harder if they are working just from home. There will no clear border between working and breaking. Working just from home also reduces the possibility to meet new people. It is true that computer and Internet connection possibly relate people every time and everywhere but we will interact with them in a dimension which is not real face. (Arguments)
  
  So considering carefully what we actually need in running our business is very recommended before choosing to have office at home or not. (Conclusion)
  
  
  The Ban on Smoking in Public Places
  
  Smoking ban in public places has been a hot issue these last months not only in Malta but also in various countries who are discussing the effects a ban would have. There have been several debates on smoking ban. Even though the harmful effects of smoking, both active and passive, are well known and undeniable smoking is far from being in decline; it is spreading among young people in particular quickly.
  
  Most controversial debate is going on public smoking ban. The reason is simple, smoking ban affects directly all people rapidly and we can see its effects in a short-term period. There have been a lot of arguments brought up both in favour and against a public smoking ban. Some of the arguments in favour are the following. Smoking ban is one of the controversial ways for reducing smoking and recognizing non-smokers’ right to health protection. The health risks of smoking are clear. Passive smoking does carry risks. Many leading medical and scientific organizations recognize second hand smoke as a cause of a range of life-threatening conditions. The health situation could be drastically improved if one of the risk factors - tobacco - was eliminated. People have a right to protect themselves from smoke inhalation. People shouldn’t have to inhale the ill-effects of other people’s smoking. The creation of smoke-free public places also improves air quality.
  
  Those opposing a smoking ban say that freedom of choice would be affected by such legislation. Some people against a ban say that smoking bans damage business. A smoking ban could lead to a significant fall in earnings from bars, restaurants and casinos. Another argument is that the smoker has a basic human right to smoke in public places, and the ban is a limitation for smokers’ rights. Businesses, smokers, publicans, tobacco industries, stars, and some of the non-smokers oppose public smoking ban. Smokers light a cigarette because they need to smoke, not because they want it, because nicotine is physically addictive. Therefore, some smokers think that the public smoking ban is oppressiveness. They see the ban as a treatment to smokers as second-class citizens. Smokers agree that the smoking ban benefits the world, but cannot support the ban, because effects of nicotine obstruct them.
  
  Public smoking ban needs to be measured and understood better. Smokers should not be made to look like outcasts, but smokers should respect non-smokers when sharing places. I agree that completely smoke-free places are the ideal, and some businesses have taken the decision to go completely smoke-free. However, everyone agrees that, it is a matter of rights - the right of smokers to smoke versus non-smokers to protect from passive smoking and to breathe clean air.