-- Introduce the issues relating to the topic.
-- Provide important background information.
-- Explain important words or terms your reader
may not understand.
(point illustration with data result)
What is Paragraph 5 about?
How is this paragraph organized?
(factor 1 factor 2 illustration)
What is Paragraph 6 about?
Some groups, namely homeowners and landlords, will benefit from the new tax. Three students were mentioned, namely John, Sarah and Sylvia.
ensure, insure, assure, secure: ENSURE, INSURE and ASSURE are interchangeable in many contexts where they indicate the making certain or inevitable of an outcome, but ENSURE may imply a virtual guarantee <the government has ensured the safety of the refugees>, while INSURE sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand <careful planning should insure the success of the party>, and ASSURE distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind <I assure you that no harm will be done>. SECURE implies action taken to guard against attack or loss <sent reinforcements to secure their position>.
namely: that is to say; specifically (used for introducing more detailed information about a subject you are discussing)
E.g., One group of people seems to be forgotten, namely pensioners... They were hardly aware of the challenge facing them, namely, to re-establish prosperity.
Unit 6
Is an Only Child a Lonely Child?
Short speech
Topic 1, p. 101 of the textbook Do the children from one-child families show more defects in their character? Are they less capable of developing relationships with others?
How is this paragraph organized? (How are
the sentences connected? What is the use of
each sentence?) (dilemma background/explanation topic)
What does Paragraph 2 do in the essay?
Exercise
Directions: In China, college matriculation exam takes place only once every year. Some experts suggest that the exam can be given twice or even more times a year for matriculation. Write an essay discussing the pros and cons of giving the exam more times a year. Hand in your essay next Tuesday morning.
spoil: The whole park is spoiled by litter. We didn't let the incident spoil our day. I don't want to spoil your fun.
Why do you always have to spoil everything ? (have a bad effect on something so that it is no longer attractive, enjoyable, useful, satisfactory, etc. )
Cut these words, and they will bleed.
--R. W. Emerson on Montaigne’s Essays
Tips on writing a discussion essay
Choice of your topic.
-- Be sure to have access to good research that
Revision: essay organization
How is the essay structured? (How are the paragraphs arranged?) How are the paragraphs connected? (What transitions are used?) How is the point in each paragraph stated? (Is there a topic sentence in each paragraph?) How are the points supported or explained? (What kind of details are used?) Are there unimportant sentences? How are sentences connected?
How is this paragraph organized? (factor 1 factor 2 result)
What does Paragraph 6 do in the essay?
How is teason suggestion)
-- Start with your weakest argument or issue and progressing to the strongest.
Conclusion
-- Summarize the overall information from the body part, leading the reader to mentally review the pros and cons of the topic.
Structural Analysis

Discuss with your partner(s) and
outline the text.
What kind of writing does this text belong to?
Close Reading
What does Paragraph 1 do in the essay?
provides pertinent information.
Outline of your essay.
-- Be sure to include both sides of the issues
surrounding the discussion essay topic.
Introduction.
Language work
dilemma: a situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive
E.g., I’m in a dilemma about this job offer. This placed Robert Kennedy in a dilemma . Many women are faced with the dilemma of choosing between work and family commitments.
-- Provide your reader, when necessary, with a
simple overview of how your discussion essay is
organized.
Body
-- Present each issue individually and impartially, discussing first one side and then the other side of each argument that relates to your topic.