1. How can I write a discussion article? A short film clip which in an easy way summarises how to write a discussion article: http://video.about.com/homeworktips/How-to-Write-an-Argument-Essay.htm

2. Before you start writing Choose a topic which is  Debatable  Of personal interest  Relevant

3. Before you start writing Make a mind map -Write down everything which comes into your mind Make an outline -Organise your essay -Organise your arguments

4. The discussion essay The introduction -Introduce the topic -Provide your readers with background information The body -Present and discuss your arguments -The arguments for are usually presented first Summary/conclusion -Summarise the arguments

5. Introduction/ Statement of Position Arguments for Arguments against Summary/ Conclusion School Lunches Many people believe that yoghurt is good in school lunches. A healthy lunch is most important for growing children. Yoghurt is nutritious as well as delicious and kids love it. The Australian culture has developed a race of sandwich- eaters at lunch time and it is time that this concept was changed. Carrot sticks, fresh fruit, salad and yoghurt should be included lunch time treats. In many families both parents are working and yoghurt is a good and easy selection for the children’s lunches. However, there can be many problems with yoghurt in school lunches. Many times the yoghurt stays in the school bag during 40 degree temperatures when the owner could have put it in the school fridge. Then there are the times that the yoghurt has had an accident and it is all over the homework, the show and tell, and the jumper. Sometimes the broken yoghurt is not noticed until it is lunch time and the students have to ask the teacher for help. So by this time the yoghurt has set to a sticky consistency and the smell is not nice. In conclusion, yoghurt is a good food for the students but there is definitely a great risk in school bags.

6. How do I write an argument? An argument is a claim which is justified, i. e. the claim is supported by at least one reason (premise). A good argument should be convincing. Thus, the premises must: -Be acceptable or reasonable (likely to be true) -Be relevant to the claim -Provide enough grounds to lead us to accept the claim

7. How do I write an argument? Topic: School Lunch Example 1: Norwegian schools should start to serve the pupils lunch every day. Firstly, most teenagers are fed up with eating slices of bread with smelly old cheese. Secondly, teenagers have better things to do than making sandwiches in the morning, for example to put on make up. A third reason for serving pupils lunch at school is that all the different toppings on the sandwiches the pupils bring with them fills the classroom an unpleasant odour. Example 2: Norwegian schools should start to serve the pupils lunch every day. There are several reasons why children and teenagers should be served school lunch. First of all, many pupils bring unhealthy food with them to school; waffles, biscuits, crisps and cake are not unusual school lunch. Pupils who eat such unhealthy food often get problems to concentrate on the schoolwork, and a healthy meal in the middle of the school day would hence probably help more pupils to concentrate and work hard at school.

8. The language in a discussion essay Use: -Generalised nouns and pronouns (people, teenagers, one etc.) -A variety of verbs (action, speech and mental) -Different degrees of modality: can, may, probably, perhaps, should, must, of course, naturally etc. -Different conjuncts which indicate reasoning (thus, hence, so, firstly, on the one hand, on the other hand, anyway, however, nevertheless) -The passive (ex. the house was painted) Avoid: -Personal nouns and pronouns (my mother, our teacher, I etc.) -Words like: always, never etc. -Emotional language (I love, I hate, makes me sad etc.)