Discursive Writing

1. Discursive Writing Putting your point of view across

2. Discursive/Argumentative • Discursive Writing: Writing that requires providing points for “and” against. ex. Experiments on animals are neither good nor bad • Argumentative Writing: Writing that requires providing points either for “or” against

3. Elements of Discursive Writing • Evidence • Appeals • Nods to and refutation of the opposition • A clear sense of purpose • A clear thesis or claim • A clear sense of audience

4. Introductory Par Argumentative Structure Establish: Tone/Purpose/audience Background Thesis: (3) claims #1 Support Par Details/examples Claims/appeals #2 Support Par Claims/appeals Details/examples #3 Support Par Claims/appeals Details/examples #4 Par. Nod to other side Refute: opposing #5 conclusion: recap

5. 3rd Person Perspective Discursive structure Intro Par Background/ Thesis #1 For #1 Against Details/Ex Claims/appeals Details/Ex #2 For #2 Against Details/Ex Details/Ex Claims/details #3 For #3 Against Opinion: Evaluation 1st person

6. Should children keep animals as pets? What do you think? Can you think of arguments for and against? As we read the text look out for these for and against arguments.

7. Many children keep dogs, cats and other animals as pets in the family home. The animals become one of the family and looking after them helps the children develop responsibility. However, many people say that keeping an animal as a pet only causes problems for the family and that it is not good for the animal’s health.

8. Looking after a pet is a good way to help children learn about life. They become responsible for looking after another living thing and it helps them develop into a more rounded person. Secondly, pets teach children how to be more understanding towards other people. They have to make sure that they are always there for an animal that depends on them for food, warmth and love. In addition to helping children learn about life, some children get a great deal of pleasure from playing with an animal. They help to cheer one up when one is feeling down and give one somebody to play with if one is feeling lonely. For example, when Johnny has had a bad day and returns home from school, his dog is there to greet him, and by playing with him, Johnny feels better.

9. However, many people feel that children are not ready to look after animals properly. It is often left up to the adults in the family to look after the pets. A busy family life can mean that pets get neglected. They need food, water, and attention. Yet, because children become distracted, they forget to attend to their pet’s needs. For example, Billy wanted a pet for years, and once he received one, Billy forgot to take the dog out for a walk, which lead to the dog using going potty in the house. Moreover, children today are so busy with other activities that they do not have the time needed to care for a pet. Some animals are left all day in a house without seeing anyone. In addition, some animals are not suited to be a pet. They do not like to be cooped up in a house all day. If a family does not have time to look after the pet, then the animal will suffer neglect and may act out because of it. For example, when Spot was left by himself all dog, he chewed on the pillows so much that he destroyed them. Evaluation of both sides, have led me to believe that children should be allowed to have pets since pets provide another outlet in which children can receive the social attention and love that they crave. Therefore, stand up for the rights of children.

10. Keeping pets does teach children valuable lessons about life. But children need to have the time and patience to look after the animals properly.

11. "Money is not the most important thing in life." (Analyze)A) Money is certainly something which is often discussed in today's world. Hardly a day goes by without the subject of money being raised in most people's lives. However, it is highly debatable whether it is more important than other considerations, such as health and happiness, which some people consider to be of greater significance.To begin with, it is often argued that having money enables people to exert influence over others. Wealthy businessmen, for example, are often the most highly respected members of society, and business tycoons are often consulted by world leaders, who then make policies which affect the whole population. As a consequence, money can be seen as the single most important factor in daily life.Secondly, from the point of view of the individual, money is vital for survival. Western society is structured in such a way that, without money; people are deprived of the means to obtain proper nutrition and health care. Furthermore, in some cases where state benefits are inadequate, the inability to pay heating bills can indeed become a matter of life and death. This is clearly illustrated by the fact that, according to Social Services, the majority of deaths due to hypothermia each winter occur among low-income groups.

12. On the other hand, many people claim that one of the factors in which is undoubtedly of greater importance than money is health. Izaak Walton said, health is "a blessing that money cannot buy.” What is more, money is of little consolation to those who are suffering from health problems. Despite the fact that money can pay for the best medical care available, this is no guarantee of a longer life.In addition, most people would agree that personal happiness easily outweighs money in importance. Even if an individual extremely rich, this does not necessarily lead to happiness. In some cases, the contrary is true and vast wealth brings with it a whole range of problems and insecurities. Genuine happiness cannot be bought and is usually independent of financial status.On the whole, although there are those who would rank money the single most important thing in life, the vast majority would disagree. Money, they argue, has an important part to play but perhaps the world would be a more harmonious place to live in if this were kept in proportion and society put more emphasis on moral issues.

13. Discursive/Argumentative Ex. Exercise #1: Identify which statement is discursive or argumentative within each prompt. The advantages and disadvantages of school uniform. Smoking: a menace to society. What do you think the ingredients of a good education are? Being an only child: a good thing or a bad thing? Should the Internet be controlled and censored? Why boxing is a barbaric sport and should be banned. Exercise #2: Please make up six essay titles of your own, three which are discursive and three which are argumentative.