Discussion

Purpose

To present a reasoned and balanced view of an issue

Audience

Someone who is interested in an issue

Forms

Essay or article arguing from two of more points of view

Typical structure

Logical order with introduction, points for and against in paragraphs and conclusion Statement of the question or argument, perhaps followed by preview of the main arguments on each side Arguments for, including supporting evidence Arguments against, including supporting evidence Finally, a conclusion, which may come down on one side of the argument and includes clinching evidence

Typical language features

• Formal and impersonal • Third person objective voice. Perhaps first person in conclusion • Topic sentences start with nouns- debate, developer, the logging industry. • Mostly active, present tense verbs and passive is used when identity of agent is not relevant – e.g. It can be argued that… • Discourse markers relate to providing evidence - such as, like or contrasting argument- alternatively, whereas or emphasis – Moreover, significantly • Cohesion developed with phrases to aid counter-argument – e.g. There are those who argue that… • Conclusion may be introduced by phrases such as: In conclusion…

Weighing up all these arguments…

Discussion

TEXT STRUCTURE

Clear thesis statement and outline of main idea

Arguments for the thesis, including supporting evidence

Arguments against the thesis including supporting evidence

The conclusion usually comes down on one side of the argument, including clinching evidence

How important is it that we preserve our forests?

One of the most controversial environmental issues concerns the future of our forests. Debate centres on whether we should preserve the forests in their natural state or whether we should allow them to be logged.

On the one hand, conservationists argue that we need to put a stop to the destruction of this natural resource. In Brazil, for example, the rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate, depriving native tribes of their habitat and depleting the earth’s supply of oxygen.

On the other hand, developers claim that forests are a renewable resource and that humankind has an urgent need for the products provided by the forests, such as timber and woodchips. Moreover, the logging industry is a major employer and if logging were stopped, several thousand people would be out of work.

It would seem apparent that while some form of logging is inevitable in the short term, in the longer term we need to develop alternatives to using timber from natural resources.

LANGUAGE FEATURES

Use of third person to maintain objectivity

Present tense verbs – some in the passive voice when identity of actor is not required

Discourse markers – exemplifying: for example, such as, or providing emphasis (moreover)

Discourse markers for contrasting argument: (on the one hand, alternatively, however)