Social function: To present information and opinions about more than one side of an issue (“for” points “against” points)
Generic structure:
- Opening statement presenting the issue
- Arguments or evidence for different points of view ( pros and cons)
- Concluding recommendation.
Language features:
- Use of general nouns: alcohol, abortion, smoking, etc.
- Use of relating verbs: is, are, etc.
- Use of thinking verbs: think, feel, hope believe, etc.
- Use of additive connectives: addition, furthermore, besides, etc.
- Use of contrastive connectives: although, even, if, nevertheless, etc.
- Use of causal connectives: because, because of, etc.
- Use of modal auxiliary: must, should, etc.
- Use of adverbial manner: hopefully.
