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:
- Inform the readers about Discussion Text.
- Give further information about Discussion
Text.
- Give comprehension about Discussion Text
functionally.
- 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 recommendation
contains 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. They
also 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.
