DISCUSSION TEXT

PRO - CONTRA

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What is discussion text?

Discussion text is a text which presents arguments of both

agreement and disagreement, pros and cons. The text of discussion
explains the issue from different points of view.

for – against
pro – contra
goodness – badness
agree – disagree
advantage – disadvantage
SOCIAL FUNCTION

1. To present two different points of view about

an issue or a problem.
Atau
2.To present arguments from different points
of view about an issue or a problem.
Text structure
(generic structure)

1. Issue: the main topic that will be discussed in the

text.
2. Arguments (Pro): the supporting arguments to the
issue.
3. Arguments (Contra): the contrasting arguments to
the issue.
4. Conclusion: the review of all arguments and the
writer’s position (optional)
Language features

1. Using simple present tense mostly.

2. Using general participant.
3. Using contrast conjunction.
4. Using additional conjunction.
5. Using modalities (must, should, can, etc)
6. Using thinking verbs (think, believe, feel, guess,
etc)
Example of the text
Is National Examination Necessary?
National examination has become a hot topic to discuss in Indonesia. The main controversy regard-
ing to national examination is whether or not it is necessary to continue the national exams (UN). Some
other debates focus on whether the quality of Indonesian education depends on the national exam and
whether the quality of the Indonesian education system will worsen without national exam.
For those who support the national exam, they believe that the quality of the Indonesia education
system will get worse without the national exam, so they try to defend the current system. They also
believe that national exam can be used to measure how far educational program designed by the
government works.
However, for those who disagree with national exam, the result of national exam can’t give the clear
image of students’ ability in general since the issues of cheating always happen. Furthermore, the
national exam only measures a small portion of students’ competence in specific subjects, and does not
measure students’ competences throughout the semester.
Above all, the national examination can still be used as an instrument to evaluate the level of stu-
dents’ cognitive competence in certain subjects, on a national scale.
New words
Controversy= pertentangan
Debate= perdebatan
Worse= lebih buruk
Depend on= tergantung pada
Defend= mempertahankan
Measure= mengukur
ANALYSIS OF THE TEXT

1. PARAGRAPH 1 : THE ISSUE (PERMASALAHAN ATAU HAL YANG DIBAHAS)

2. PARAGRAPH 2 : ARGUMENT PRO (ARGUMEN YANG MENYETUJUI ISSUE DI PAR. 1)
3. PARAGRAPH 3 : ARGUMENT CONTRA (ARGUMEN YANG TIDAK MENYETUJUI ISSUE DI PAR. 1)
4. PARAGRAPH 4 : CONCLUSION (KESIMPULAN)
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OF THE TEXT!

1. WHAT IS THE TOPIC OF THE TEXT?

2. WHY HAS NATIONAL EXAM BECOME A HOT TOPIC?
3. BASED ON PARAGRAPH 2, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WITHOUT
NATIONAL EXAMINATION?
4. WHY CAN’T THE RESULT OF NATIONAL EXAM GIVE CLEAR IMAGE OF
STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN GENERAL ?
5. BASED ON THE ARGUMENTS FROM THE PRO AND CONTRA, DO YOU THINK NATIONAL
EXAMINATION IS NECESSARY? WHAT IS YOUR REASON?