Discursive essay
Discursive essay (1): a balanced argument
Key success factors being able to construct an argument
• being able to link points together in a logical sequence
• using appropriate discourse markers to connect, contrast, and balance points
ANALYSING A MODEL TEXT
Text-messaging is an important ifI- advance in communication - or is it?
a You have been asked to write the following essay:
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'Just think of it as if you 're reading a long text-message:
Text-messaging is an important advance in communication - or is it?
With a partner, discuss three reasons you think text messaging represents an important advance in communication and three reasons why it does not. Order them 1-3 according to their importance. b Read the model essay and see if the writer has mentioned some or all of your arguments. Does the writer put her main argument first in both paragraphs? c Look at the three introductory paragraphs below and choose which one you think is best for the essay. Compare with a partner, and discuss why you think it is the best, and why the other two are less suitable. Then do the same with the conduding paragraphs.
Introductory paragraphs
1 Since the first SMS was sent in 1992, text messaging has become one of the most popular forms of communication, especially among the younger generation, with billions of messages being sent every year. But has this technology really improved interpersonal communication?
2 Text messaging clearly has important advantages and disadvantages. In this essay, I am first going to analyse the advantages of SMS technology and then I will outline some important disadvantages before finally drawing my conclusions.
3 Can you imagine life without sending and receiving
SMSs? Almost certainly not, as this cheap and convenient technology has become such a vital tool for organizing our social lives and communicating instantly with our
Key success factors being able to construct an argument
• being able to link points together in a logical sequence
• using appropriate discourse markers to connect, contrast, and balance points
ANALYSING A MODEL TEXT
Text-messaging is an important ifI- advance in communication - or is it?
a You have been asked to write the following essay:
" '1
. ' "
]
. . :-".. /7.- .: ...; .:-:
";"~,:,.,...
'Just think of it as if you 're reading a long text-message:
Text-messaging is an important advance in communication - or is it?
With a partner, discuss three reasons you think text messaging represents an important advance in communication and three reasons why it does not. Order them 1-3 according to their importance. b Read the model essay and see if the writer has mentioned some or all of your arguments. Does the writer put her main argument first in both paragraphs? c Look at the three introductory paragraphs below and choose which one you think is best for the essay. Compare with a partner, and discuss why you think it is the best, and why the other two are less suitable. Then do the same with the conduding paragraphs.
Introductory paragraphs
1 Since the first SMS was sent in 1992, text messaging has become one of the most popular forms of communication, especially among the younger generation, with billions of messages being sent every year. But has this technology really improved interpersonal communication?
2 Text messaging clearly has important advantages and disadvantages. In this essay, I am first going to analyse the advantages of SMS technology and then I will outline some important disadvantages before finally drawing my conclusions.
3 Can you imagine life without sending and receiving
SMSs? Almost certainly not, as this cheap and convenient technology has become such a vital tool for organizing our social lives and communicating instantly with our