Makalah Discussion Text

CHAPTER I
(INTRODUCTION)

A.      BACKGROUND

          One type of text which is introduced in Senior High School is Discussion Text. One type of the text which is well-known for undergraduate student, teachers, lecturer even generals. Basically, Discussion Text is part of argumentative which have several difficulties in conveying to students. To overcome those problems, the authors took the initiative to seek as much information about Discussion Text and try to share the information generally for students and specifically for English teachers.

          Discussion Text is identifiably by some of characteristics such as General Statement, arguments and recommendation. The goal of Discussion Text is to discuss the problem in the different overviews. As English learners, we have to know and understand about the genres. By knowing this, we will able to analyze the text well.

B.       WRITTEN PURPOSE

This paper is purpose to: 

1. Inform the readers about Discussion Text.
2. Give further information about Discussion Text.
3. Give comprehension about Discussion Text functionally.
4. Inform the readers how to identify the characteristics of Discussion Text.

CHAPTER II
(CONTENT)
DISCUSSION TEXT

A.  DEFINITION

            Discussion text is the text which served the information such as the opinion or public view about the natural or social phenomena which is happened in the surrounding and divided into the two different points of view, those are:

a.       The public view whose the arguments for

b.      The public view whose the arguments against

            Usually discussion text will be closed by the elaboration of writer’s own opinion whose recommendation. Discussion is commonly found in philosophical, historic, and social text.

B.  SOSIAL FUNCTION

            As one of the texts’ genre, Discussion Text has several purposes which are showed the characteristic of discussion text itself. They are:

1.      To explore various perspectives before coming to an informed decision. So the perspectives or opinion or views of publics will be discussed further in the text before those perspectives become an informed decision.

2.      To present information and opinions about more than one side of an issue. Means that the information or opinions be discuss in the different sides.

C.  GENERIC STRUCTURE

            Generic structure is one of item which is very important in the genre of the text. Because generic structure is the identity of the text, so that we can analyze what kind of the text we are reading of. The generic structures of discussion text are:

1.      Statement about an Issue

It is meant to orient the readers to be field or topic of hot issue to be discussed.

2.      Arguments or evidence for different points of view.

a.      Argument for

It is meant to expose some opinions that support the positive points of Information or opinion or point of views.

b.      Argument against

It is meant to expose some opinions that are against or refuse some information, opinion, or point of views for some reasons.

3.      Conclusion and recommendation

It contains very brief summary related to the issue and what is exposed in the arguments, what to do about the issue.

D.  LANGUAGE FEATURES

1.      The use of Present Tense

2.      The use of Gerund as the subject

3.      The use of general nouns.

Example: alcohol, abortion, smoking, cloning, etc.

4.      The use of relating verbs.

Example: is, are, etc.

5.      The use of thinking verb

Example: think, feel, hope, believe, etc.

6.      The use of additive connectives.

Example: in addition, furthermore, besides, etc

7.      The use of contrastive connectives.

Example: although, even if, nevertheless, etc

8.      The use of causal connectives.

Example: because, because of, etc.

9.      The use of modalities.

Example: perhaps, must, should, etc.

10.  The use of adverb of manners.

Example: hopefully, deliberately, etc.

E.     EXAMPLES AND ANALYZING OF DISCUSSION TEXT

TEXT 1:

TV for Children

          Is TV good for children? It is not very wise to judge ‘good’ or ‘bad’, instead, some TV programs have proved to be both positive and negative to children.

          All programs on TV are basically designed to entertain and give information to people. And, it is taken for granted that watching TV has been one of daily activities for adults and children. They help them relax and get to know about different news or information. They also make them laugh because they are amusing.

          Many different programs have been to serve children good lessons through cartoon films, games, music, sport, and local film series for children. For the purpose of giving information and entertainment, TV stations serve different programs such as music, talk show, report, news, films, etc., to adult people.

          Some programs, however, are sometimes about the exhibition of violence, sarcasm, crimes, murder, etc. Although they are expected to give a lesson or information to people for not doing so, they may also teach them, including children, to do so.

          Whatever the programs, two consequences will be the results: positive and negative influence. Therefore, parents have to accompany their children in watching some programs on TV, and never let then watch TV too much.

ANALYZING OF THE TEXT:

Ø  Statement about an issue is meant to orient the readers to be field or topic of hot issue to be discussed. The topic of the text above is TV for children. This issue is taken to be discussed as some TV programs have negatively influenced many children’s behaviors.

In the text: Is TV good for children?

Ø  Argument ‘for’ is meant to expose some opinions that support the programs on TV and to expose what are the positive points of programs. They are to give information and entertainment to people, which can help them relax in their leisure.

In the text: All programs on TV are basically designed to entertain and give information to people.

Ø  Argument against is meant to expose some opinions that are against or refuse some of the TV programs for some reasons. Some programs are considered to have influenced negatively to people, especially children, especially those that are full of sarcasm, violence, etc.

In the text: Although they are expected to give a lesson or information to people for not doing so, they may also teach them, including children, to do so.

Ø  Conclusion and recommendationcontains very brief summary related to the issue and what is exposed in the arguments, what to do about the issue. As TV programs can possibly produce negative and positive influence to children, it is recommended that adults accompany their children in watching some programs.

Ø  In the text: Therefore, parents have to accompany their children in watching some programs on TV, and never let then watch TV too much.

QUESTIONS:

1.      What is the text tells about?

2.      How about the main idea of the second paragraph?

3.      They help them relax and get to know about different news or information. Theyalso make them laugh because they are amusing. (Paragraph 2)

The Bold typing is refer to?

4.      What kinds of good TV programs for children? (Paragraph 3)

5.      What is the purpose of TV stations serve different programs such as music, talk show, report, news, films, to adult people? (Paragraph 3)

TEXT 2:

The Controversy of Harnessing Solar Energy

We often hear about solar cars, solar heating, and solar batteries. But will solar energy ever be a major source of energy for society?

Solar energy is cheaper than other fossils fuels because we can get an abundant  source from the sun. In sunny desert areas, 50% of the sun’s radiation that reaches the ground could be used to produce electricity for business and industry, to provide heat, light, and hot water for homes. Experimental solar ponds can also produce hot water to drive generators.

Unfortunately, we can’t yet power out homes entirely on sunlight. Solar energy can only be used effectively in bright light. Its greatest potentials, therefore is in hot countries that have clear skies for most of the year. But, unfortunately most houses are not always in the sunniest part of the world. Moreover, in order to harness solar power solar cells are needed to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells are very cheap, but relatively expensive to buy and many people can’t afford them.

Needless to say, solar energy is useful and non- pollution source of energy. Unfortunately, solar cells, the main device to harness the sun’s energy are still very expensive.

ANALYZING OF THE TEXT 2:

Ø  Statement about an issue: We often hear about solar cars, solar heating, and solar batteries. But will solar energy ever be a major source of energy for society?

Ø  Argument ‘for’: Solar energy is cheaper than other fossils fuels because we can get an abundant source from the sun. In sunny desert areas, 50% of the sun’s radiation that reaches the ground could be used to produce electricity for business and industry, to provide heat, light, and hot water for homes. Experimental solar ponds can also produce hot water to drive generators.

Ø  Arguments ‘against’: Unfortunately, we can’t yet power out homes entirely on sunlight. Solar energy can only be used effectively in bright light. Its greatest potentials, therefore is in hot countries that have clear skies for most of the year. But, unfortunately most houses are not always in the sunniest part of the world. Moreover, in order to harness solar power solar cells are needed to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells are very cheap to run, but relatively expensive to buy and many people can’t afford them.

Ø  Conclusion: Needless to say, solar energy is useful and non- pollution source of energy. Unfortunately, solar cells, the main device to harness the sun’s energy are still very expensive.

QUESTIONS:

1.      What is the text tells about?

2.      Why solar is cheaper that other fossil fuels?

3.      Why we can’t yet power out the homes entirely on sunlight with solar energy?(Paragraph 3)

4.      Based on third paragraph what are needed to harness the solar?

5.      Solar cells are very cheap, but relatively expensive to buy and many people can’t afford them.

The word “them” is refer to?

TEXT 3:

The Advantages and the Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

          Nuclear energy is commonly offered as an alternative to overcome the crisis of energy. The debate of whether the use of nuclear energy is an appropriate choice 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 save, while nuclear energy can be sustainably when produced in a save 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 a reactor, for example, usually results in the contamination of the surrounding 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? Are there any alternative energies to overcome the crisis of energy.

ANALYZING OF TEXT 3:

Ø  Statement about an issue: Nuclear energy is commonly offered as an alternative to overcome the crisis of energy.

Ø  Argument ‘for’: 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 save, while nuclear energy can be sustainably when produced in a save way.

Ø  Arguments ‘against’: 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 a reactor, for example, usually results in the contamination of the surrounding 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.

Ø  Conclusion: 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? Are there any alternative energies to overcome the crisis of energy.

QUESTIONS:

1.      What is nuclear commonly offered for?

2.      How is the agree side argue in nuclear energy?

3.      How about people who disagree with the use of nuclear energy point out their statement about nuclear energy? (Paragraph 3)

4.       Where is the place which mentioned nuclear energy ever blown up and contaminated? (Based on paragraph 3)

5.      What is the reason to avoid the use of nuclear energy based on the last paragraph?

CHAPTER III
(CLOSING)

A.    CONCLUSION

            From the detail explanation about the “Discussion Text” above, it able to conclude that discussion text is the one of genre which included in argumentative. It purposed to explore various perspectives before coming to an informed decision and present information and opinions about more than one side of an issue. The generic structures are contains of general statement of issue, arguments and conclusion of recommendation. Discussion text is commonly found in philosophical, historic, and social text.

B.     SUGGESTION

            After we understand about Discussion Text, every student is hoped be able to understand the point of the text and analyze it. Where are we finding the point of, what the characteristics of, and etc. Obviously, this paper is far from a good paper because there were still many shortages of this paper. Just because of that, we need your suggestion to make this paper better and better again.

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