TOPICS FOR DISCURSIVE WRITING
1. Should size 0 be banned from the catwalks?
2. Should pro-anorexia websites be banned?
3. Big Brother has been withdrawn from Channel 4. Jade Goody achieved fame through racist comments, lived and died in the spotlight. Katie Price / Jordan won fame as a topless model and lived her life in the media which has involved the break up of her marriage. Has the cult of celebrity finally lost popularity?
4. In the light of childhood atrocities, can children be called evil?
5. Obesity in Scotland will present problems for the future health of the nation.
6. Alcoholism and rowdy antisocial behaviour must be curbed to make a healthier, safer Scotland.
7. The communications revolution will mean the end of books.
8. The movement to a regional government in Scotland will lead to Scottish independence.
9. The increase in numbers of graduates has led to a devaluation of the degree itself.
10. Programmes like Ten Years Younger and other programmes focusing on image damage the self esteem of women rather than promote it.
11. Better to be blond and a bimbo than bright and brilliant? What do you think, boys? girls? Choose yourown topicwhich is current and interestsYOU!Then it will be of interest to others.
Evidencefrom newspapers e.g. Sunday Herald , Observer etc, google, wikipedia and other sources should be examined critically and not always taken as gospel…
Nevertheless, much useful evidence can be gleaned from these sources and Issues, Essential Articles etc
Remember the importance of the five point structure ABCDE of Introduction, Exposition, Refutation, Evaluation and Conclusion.
Remember paragraphing requires aTopic sentenceanddevelopmentwithevidenceto back up arguments.
Remember theHookin the Introduction and return to it in the Conclusion.
Remember the use ofstylistic featurese.g.Rhetorical Questions;linking wordslikehowever, nevertheless, on the other hand, not only but also, moreover;extended metaphors; emotive language.
Overall thepurposeof the writing is to persuade and argue a case convincingly. Remember to convince your readership!
For other suggestions and help look at the link:http://hengstc.wikispaces.com/