Discussion

Why do we write discussion texts?
 Discussion texts are for presenting both sides of an argument, concluding with a recommendation.

What form can a discussion take?
 Essay Speech Letter to the editor Response Feature article

What are the main language features of discussion text?
 - Language of opinion: The reader is aware of the composer's opinion because they use language such as:
 * "Surely we appreciate..."
 * "The choice was ridiculous..."

- Language of comparison: Elements and ideas are compared to or contrasted with one another
 * "Whereas ... are similar to..."
 * "... is unlike the situation with ..."
 * " Alternately..."

- Language of cause and effect:
 * "The use of special effects creates the effect of inspiring the imagination."
 * "The realistic costumes makes the viewer believe that the events are taking place in the 1950s."

- Modality: Language that tells the reader how much or how certain something is, eg.
 * "It is unlikely that the film will be interesting to children." (low)
 * "The movie will certainly be a hit." (high)
 * "It is essential that viewers read the book first." (high)

- Language expressing sequence or time:  - Cause and effect: Language that tells the reader that something causes something else to happen, eg. 
 * "In addtion", "Firstly", "Finally" etc.
 * "The use of special effects creates the effect of inspiring the imagination."
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"The realistic costumes makes the viewer believe that the events are taking place in the 1950s."

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> - Passive voice: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> - Nominalisation: This is when the composer uses the best word to describe something, eg. instead of: "looking at", use "observation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Books are read for pleasure."
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Boys enjoy sport."

- Tense The sense of time created by the use of verbs should be past tense or simple present tense. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> - Technical language (jargon): Language that is used by a certain job or field of interest or specific to a particular topic, eg. in English language study,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Miller wrote about American lives." //(past tense)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The use of irony shows ... //(simple present tense)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">metaphor
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">simile
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">assonance
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">juxtaposition
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">hyperbole

- Generalised nouns, eg. novels, poems, composers, boys, issues etc.

- Abstract nouns, eg. poverty, inequality, justice etc.