Discursive essey on cars free essay sample

Now that you have sorted your points into two groups , you will be able to divide the main body of your essay into two sections: advantages and disadvantages. However, each of these two sections still needs to be divided further – into topics. Each topic will then become a paragraph in the essay. Take the â€Å"advantages† above and arrange under the topic headings of â€Å"Convenient† and â€Å"Efficient† Take the â€Å"disadvantages† and arrange them under the topic headings of â€Å"Bad for the environment†, â€Å"Dangerous† and â€Å"Stressful† Task 3 A well structured paragraph usually starts with a topic sentence. This contains the main idea or argument of the paragraph. It is followed by a few illustrations or examples that support it. In the case of your essay on car use, the topic sentences in the body of the essay will cover the points in task 2. * Write topic sentences based on each of the headings in Task 2. (ie. Efficient, Convenient etc) Here is an example : â€Å"Cars are extremely popular because they are so convenient. † Do not be satisfied with the first thing you write. Rewrite it; share it with a classmate or your teacher; aim for a more effective sentence. Task 4 INTRODUCTIONS You need to plan your introduction carefully. Basically, for this particular essay, you will need to state that there are both advantages and disadvantages to car use. However, it would sound rather weak if you simply wrote: â€Å"There are both advantages and disadvantages to car use. † It will make a stronger impact if you start with a bold or surprising statement, or perhaps a striking statistic. For example : â€Å"We have become extremely dependent on cars: there were 580 million worldwide in 1991 and it is estimated that this figure will grow to 816 million by the end of 2011. † You can follow this with a summary of the main arguments contained in the body of the essay. You should present these in the order they will appear later. Continue this opening paragraph by adding sentences from the jumbled list below. Present them in the same order as your plan above. Thirdly, some people argue that they contribute to the frantic, unhealthy pace of modern life. On the other hand, there are powerful arguments against car use. Firstly, they damage the environment. Clearly cars are so popular because they are both convenient and efficient. Secondly, they kill and maim large numbers of people. Task 5 If you were to continue writing this essay you would now be looking at how to structure the main body of the essay. Each paragraph already has a topic sentence. (see your notes from task 3) The challenge now is to support each one with illustrations or examples. For example, paragraph 2 might look like : â€Å"Cars are extremely popular because they are so convenient. They allow us far more freedom than public transport which is often unreliable, slow or even unavailable. Given a choice between walking in the rain to join a bus queue or stepping straight into a car and driving directly to one’s destination, who would prefer the latter? Furthermore, cars are more comfortable than buses or trains since they are less cramped and have luxuries such as air–conditioning and a sound system. † In pairs use the points below and a topic sentence from Task 3 to complete another paragraph for the main body of the essay. Fast, less time-consuming than public transport. Fairly cheap to run, especially if you use a small model. Modern fuels are lead free and do not cause a lot of pollution. They cause air pollution (exhaust emissions contribute to global warming and health problems such as asthma. Roads spoil the natural landscape and disturb wildlife habitats. Another disadvantage of car use is that†¦ Similarly, †¦ Many more different linking words and phrases can be used in your essay. Conclusion Finally, you will need a conclusion. Avoid a weak â€Å"sitting on the fence† conclusion such as â€Å"There are some strong points both for and against car use and it all depends on what your opinion is. † Instead you should sum up the arguments you have already covered and state whether, on balance, you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice-versa. It may be effective to present the arguments in reverse order this time. For example: â€Å"In conclusion, car ownership has several negative effects, including stress, road accidents and destruction of the natural environment. Nevertheless, we have become very dependent on cars because of the comfort and freedom they offer. A total ban seems out of the question, but for the sake of our own health and the health of the planet, we must aim to reduce car use – for example, by improving public transport systems and introducing car pooling schemes. † Task 6 Selecting a Suitable Topic. You can write a discursive essay on any topic where you can argue for and against it. When choosing your topic, try to be original. Issues such as animal testing, fox-hunting and abortion are written about time and time again. You want your discursive essay to stand out from all the rest so be unique! Look at the world around about you today. Get ideas from reading newspapers, talking to friends and family or watching current affairs programmes. The list of suitable topics is endless so take your time and choose carefully. To give you some ideas: â€Å"Walkabout Talkabout† Divide into groups of 4-5. Elect a speaker and a writer. Each group should write one topic in the middle of the sheet of paper on your desk. The topic will be given to you by the teacher. Each group will be given a set amount of time to write â€Å"for† and â€Å"against† ideas on the sheet of paper. Try to think of as many as you can. At the end of each timed block, group members will move on to the next table and a new topic. The speaker will remain at the same table throughout this activity. They will not move seats. Their role will be to explain to new groups why certain ideas were written by others. Each group should then add their own ideas to the sheet. Suggested topics could be : One language spoken worldwide would lead to better international relations. Discuss. Celebrities should be allowed to keep their private lives private without the invasion of the media. Discuss. Too much money is spent on sport when it could be used to help the poor. What are your views on this issue? What are the advantages and disadvantages of our ever-increasing use of computer technology? Censorship is necessary in modern society. Discuss. Footballers receive a ridiculous amount of money for kicking a ball around a field.