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Discussion
Text

PENGERTIAN:

Discussion Text is “a text which presents a problematic discourse. This problem will be
discussed from different viewpoints.

Discussion Text merupakan sebuah teks yang mempunyai dua kategori pemikiran yaitu pro atau
sependapat dan kontra atau tidak sependapat. Kedua sudut pandang tersebut dibahas dan kemudian
dicari bagaimana kesimpulan yang terbaik.

FUNGSI / TUJUAN:
Discussion Text bertujuan untuk menyajikan sebuah isu dengan memaparkan beberapa pendapat
para ahli dalam bidangnya berdasarkan fakta yang ada dan biasanya pendapat yang dipaparkan
tersebut bertentangan (pro dan kontra). Sehingga bisa disimpulkan bahwa penulis membuat teks
tersebut berdasarkan wacana yang berada dalam masyarakat.

STRUKTUR TEXT:

 Issue
Pada bagian ini biasanya terletak di awal paragraf yang berisi penempatan masalah atau isu yang
akan didiskusikan/diperdebatkan.

 Supporting Points (Argument for)

Dalam bagian ini, penulis menghadirkan pendapat yang mendukung isu (Pro). Di setiap paragraf
Supporting Point terdiri dari dua komponen diantaranya adalah ide pokok paragraf dan elaborasi
atau uraian dari ide pokok paragraf tersebut.

 Contrasting Points (Argument against)

Dalam bagian ini, penulis menghadirkan pendapat yang menentang isu atau permasalahan
(Kontra). Seperti dalam paragraf Supporting Point, Contrasting Points juga menghadirkan dua
komponen pembentuk yaitu ide pokok paragraf dan elaborasi atau uraian ari ide pokok paragraf
tersebut.
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 Recommendation
Dalam bagian ini penulis menghadirkan rekomendasikan dari isu/wacana atau
permasalahan yang telah didiskusikan.

CIRI KEBAHASAAN:
Ketika membuat discussion text, penulis harus memperhatikan penggunaan bahasa yang
biasa diterapkan, seperti:
 Using simple present tense
 Using modal, such as (must, should, would, may, etc.)
 Using additive, contrastive, dan casual connection (however, furthermore, on the
other hand, moreover, in addition, but, nevertheless, etc.)

CONTOH TEXT

Contoh 1
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Contoh 2

What Should Do after High School?

Issue
Going to college or getting a job right after graduating high school is the common choices of
teens will likely face. Some likely choose to continue studying at college or university but the
others try to find job. Here are the reasons.

Argument for
Why is it so important for student to continue on to post-secondary education; university or
college? The reason is that post-secondary education will allow them to get the skills and
tools that they will need to help them prepare for a good career. It has been said that the
more education they have the more careers will be open for them to choose from. Employers
today will tend to be more open to a person with the more education.

Argument against
However some of them choose to get job right after high school. They believe that education
is critical but college is not. In fact, there are numerous careers, such as in healthcare,
technology, operations, transportation, and the building trades, that do not require a four-
year degree from college or university. Furthermore, as they advance in these careers, there
is also nothing stopping them from pursing a college degree at a later age.

Recommendation
So, what are you doing after graduating high school? Think carefully! Take what make the
most advantageous for you!
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Contoh 2

LATIHAN SOAL

Read the following text carefully! Analyze the generic structure of the text below!
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Facebook Tittle

Most people have an account in facebook. It’s a communication

tool to socialize with other people. However, Facebook has …………………………………….
advantages and disadvantages.

facebook allows the user to search for new and old friends.
It makes easier to join groups having similar likes and dislikes. We …………………………………….
can also share our feeling, inviting someone, or give information
to our friends.

On the other hand, facebook has some disadvantages.

Some users use Facebook to do criminal by any ways. Some cases …………………………………….
such as trafficking, deception, and prostitution happens because
acquaintances in Facebook.

Despite the above mentioned advantages and disadvantages of

Facebook, there are many people who still joint facebook every …………………………………….
day. I think it’s okay but I hope they use facebook in a proper way.

Answer the following questions according to the text above!

1. What is the text about?

2. What is the purpose of the text?
3. Which paragraph does show the opening statement or issue?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages and disadvantages of facebook?
5. Is there any recommendation from the writer to the readers?

Read the text carefully!

Television for Children :Pro and Contra Television has certainly changed our lives. Today, most
people watching TV to going to the cinema. Without it, nobody would have paid much
attention to national or international-historical, political, sports, sport, etc.-events. Even,
television proved that pictures of suffering can move a nation to pity. Besides, many things
can be learnt from TV. Are there any disadvantages of TV? Many parents admitted that they
found difficulties to stop their children’s bad habit, for example, they spend their leisure time
for watching TV more than reading.

Children become very lazy and irresponsible for their main tasks. This is of course denied by
TV producers of people whose work is related to TV. They are very sure that there are a lot of
benefits of TV for viewers, especially children or students. On the other hand, they honestly
admit that some TV programs can endanger children’s mental. They regret because parents
sometimes don’t have much time to watch TV together with their children. They suggest
parents to have more discussion with their children on any programs they have seen

Answer the questions according to the text above!

1. What does the text tell about?

2. What are the disadvantages of TV?
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3. What is the purpose of the text above?

4. What is the suggestion from writer to parents?

Read the following text.

Birth Control

Most people agree that some form of family limitation or spacing is desirable for the good of
the family and society. But individuals and groups– especially religious groups–differ sharply
on the methods of birth control that they consider moral and acceptable.

Couples that practise birth control do so for various reasons. They may want to limit or space
their children or to have no children at all. Young couples often postpone having children so
that both partners can work full-time. Other couples space their children so they can give
each child as much attention as possible. Some women are advised by their doctors to avoid
pregnancy for health reasons. In many countries with rapidly growing populations, the
government encourages couples to limit the size of their families.

Even though birth control has gained in acceptance, opposition to the practice is continuous.
Some people fear that birth control encourages sexual relations outside marriage or that the
government might impose birth control. Some religious groups oppose birth control on moral
grounds.

Some religious groups teach that artificial methods of birth control are immoral because they
separate the two purposes of intercourse in marriage–conjugal love and the procreation of
children. Although they oppose all artificial birth control, they consider natural family
planning acceptable.

Choose the right answer!

1. What does the text discuss about?

A. Family planning.
B. The disagreement with birth control.
C. Reason to support family limitation.
D. The two different opinion on birth control.
E. The religious group which disagrees with birth control.

2. The issue of the text is ….

A. government’s population program.
B. family planning programs.
C. family limitation.
D. birth control.
E. sex control.

3. Which of the following reason do not support birth control?

A. To limit family size.
B. To space the children birth.
C. To avoid high family budget.
D. To avoid a risk-health pregnancy.
E. To share much attention with the children.
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4. Some women should prevent pregnancy because of … reason.

A. unacceptable.
B. immoral.
C. artificial.
D. limited.
E. health.

5. The religious group feels objected to the birth control because of they….
A. think it doesn’t the government programs.
B. believe it is an immoral practice.
C. believe it is not a natural practice.
D. dread to the health problem.
E. are very conservatives.

6. Other couples space their children so they can give each child as much attention as
possible. (par.2) The bold word refers to ….
A. couples.
B. women.
C. families.
D. people.
E. children.

7. Young couples often postpone having children ….(par.2) The bold word means ….
A. suspect.
B. suspend.
C. respect.
D. direct.
E. recall.

8. According to the religious group ….

A. artificial methods of birth control are acceptable.
B. traditional methods of birth control can be accepted.
C. sex intercourse outside the marriage is permitted.
D. intercourse in marriage doesn’t create children.
E. conjugal love in the marriage is immoral to practice.

9. From the text, we can conclude that ….

A. everyone doesn’t agree with a family limitation.
B. the government doesn’t support birth control.
C. the religious group agree of using artificial contraception.
D. some women must not pregnant because of health reason.
E. young couples don’t want to have many children because they are very busy.

10. What is the communicative purpose of the text?

A. Report the birth control in Indonesia.
B. Persuade the reader to do birth control.
C. Present two different views on birth control.
D. Amuse the readers with birth control opinions.
E. Ensure the birth control runs well in Indonesia.

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