Discursive Writing

1. Discursive Writing Choose a topic which people have strong feelings about Examine both sides of the issue Give your personal opinion in the conclusion

2. Suggestions for discursive writing • Stem cell research- which uses aborted foetus cells • Euthanasia- the Dignitas debate • Abortion- what should the limits be? • Legalisation of soft drugs- are they less harmful than alcohol • Binge Drinking • Should you have a qualification to bring up your children? • Capital punishment • Should certain countries be excluded from the World Cup? • Why do Americans insist on the right to bear arms? • Scottish independence • Should the legal age for driving be raised, in the light of recent accident rates? • The age of consent- is 16 too low? • Should Britain join the Euro? • Fashion and the Counterfeit goods debate • Homelessness • Nuclear Weapons

3. Research • Look for points for and against the issue • Newspaper reports • Internet • TV programmes • Consider your own views- which you deal with in your conclusion

4. Pro life groups state that life is sacred and should be preserved at all costs Concerns that if it was legal that the right to assisted suicide might be abused Thin end of the wedge- how long before people begin to feel pressured into ending life prematurely Emotional impact on those who assist- can be devastating watching a loved one die in this way Better to preserve life until there is a cure for a medical condition Concern that the medical profession might automatically limit resources spent on particular illnesses at the expense of others eg divert money for treatment of say MS towards illnesses where there is greater chance of a full or partial recovery Pro euthanasia groups will argue that quality of life is what counts Not argued for all conditions- emphasis placed on illnesses where life becomes untenable- eg Motor Neurone/ MS/ Parkinsons Disease Legal in Switzerland and the Netherlands- but strict conditions apply- person must be terminally ill and must meet criteria Present situation is that if someone assists in the ending of a life they go on trial- and can face conviction 2 recent court cases- and a campaigner requesting the right to assisted suicide at some future date- attempt to create a legal precendent For some illnesses and conditions relatives have to make decisions such as switcing off life support machines Living Wills eg ‘do not resuscitate’ Euthanasia

5. Opening your argument Don’t! Do! Recently in the news a young man who had been badly injured playing rugby ended his life. He did so because he had no movement from the neck down and he believed his life was over. If you were the parent watching your child suffer, what would you do? Euthanasia is a complex moral argument and there are many conflicting views. • The topic I have chosen to write about is Euthanasia. I have chosen this because many people have strong feelings about this topic.

6. Structure • Introduction • Aspect 1- for and against= 2 paragraphs with a link in the middle • Aspect 2- for and against= 2 paragraphs with a link in the middle • Aspect 3- for and against= 2 paragraphs with a link in the middle • Aspect 4- for and against= 2 paragraphs with a link in the middle • Conclusion- what can be learned from these opposing arguments- and where you personally stand and why • Aim for around 800 words

7. Linkage – word bank 1 • TO COMPARE OR CONTRAST‘in contrast’  Conversely however ‘despite this’ ‘on the other hand’ nonetheless similarly equally likewise also

8. To put ideas in order • firstly     initially    • secondly  next   then  •     meanwhile afterwards • ‘most  importantly’  • later lastly finally 

9. To add to your ideas • additionally   similarly also     moreover   likewise     • furthermore  • TO EXPLAIN IDEAS • namely ‘such as’ ‘as already stated’  ‘for instance’ ‘for example’  • TO SHOW CAUSE AND EFFECT • because  consequently    thus  • ‘ as a result’  ‘ in order that’     

10. Linkage • Pro Life groups, who are equally concerned with issues raised over abortion, argue the case that all human life is sacred, should be respected and that no man has the right to take that life under any circumstances. They view assisted suicide as murder, and campaign against any change to the law. • On the other hand, those in favour of legalising assisted suicide argue that they are simply trying to protect their loved ones from prosecution. They consider that if the person whose life has deteriorated wishes to end that life, has to go abroad to Switzerland to do this, then this has to be done while they still have some quality of life left- and the law itself is driving them into this extreme course of action.

11. Bring it to a satisfactory conclusion • In conclusion, I find that • So, having explored the options, where do I stand on this issue? • While there is general agreement that………I believe that…….