acceptance about other side’s view and to make a general agreement about the issue which is shared to all the parties.
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2. Purpose of Discussion Text
The main purpose of discussion text is, indeed, to discuss about the two different arguments on an issue. As stated by Anderson and Anderson that showing readers
an issue with two contrastive points of view is the main purpose of discussion text.
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Besides, another purpose of this text stated by Sudarwati and Grace is that, in making reasonable decision, readers are firstly provided many information related
to some points of view about the issue debated.
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Thus, for all those purposes, it can be concluded that the main purpose of discussion text is to providing different viewpoints to enable readers to be informed
about the issue discussed.
3. Generic Structure of Discussion Text
According to Warner, discussion text has three main parts, they are:
a. Statement: in this part, outlining the subject should be done by the writers in
order to give readers boundaries about what is going to discuss. b.
Arguments: while providing or listing the arguments, writers should put the arguments of both sides. Thus, to make it balance, writers are not allowed to
take his position on the arguments. c.
Conclusion: in this part, the writers are required to sum up all the arguments and are allowed to choose hisher preference.
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Though Anderson and Anderson’s generic structure is the same as Warner’s, they differ only in conclusion that it allows writer to decide hisher position in the
4
Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channel, The Aims of Argument: A Text and Reader, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006, p. 17.
5
Anderson and Anderson, loc. cit.
6
Th. M. Sudarwati and Eudia Grace, Look Ahead: An English Course for Senior High School Students Year XII, Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga, 2007, p. 122
7
Margaret Warner, More Easy Text Types: Text Types for Students who Have Little or No Experience of English, Perth: Ready-Ed Publications, 2009, p. 6
subject.
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Moreover, Mulya’s is also different as she states that the last paragraph can be
used to give readers suggestion from the writers’ view.
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4. Language Features of Discussion Text
Accrording to Sudarwati and Grace, below are the features in a discussion text:
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a. We may use general nouns to discuss, such as, smoking, abortion, etc.;
b. Thinking verbs may also help us show our emotion, such as, think, believe,
hope, etc. For example: ‘I believe that….’;
c. To make a good transition, me may use some connectives, such as in addition,
furthermore, although, however, on contrary, because, because of, etc. For example:
‘However, there are also disadvantages such as the cost.’; d.
Using modalities, such as, must, should, etc., can also strengthen our points For example: ‘For all those reasons, we must do some action.’
5. Points to Note in Writing Discussion Text
