CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background

English is one of the international languages that is used by many people in

the world and in many areas of everyday life. Therefore, using English is the

easiest way to communicate with people from other countries about many aspects

in human life such as technology, economy, social, and politics.

For Indonesia, English is a foreign language. Learning a foreign language is

an integrated process that the learner should study the four basic skills: listening,

speaking, reading, and writing. We use it to understand our world through

listening and reading and to communicate our feeling, need, and desires through

speaking and writing. By having more knowledge about language skill we have

much better chance of understanding and being understood and getting what we

want and need from these around us.

Writing is one of four basic skills. It is very important in teaching and

learning English. Writing involves some language components (spelling,

grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation). Writing clear sentences requires you to

learn the rules of English grammar and mechanics such as the correct use of verbs

and pronouns, as well as commas and other marks of punctuation.

There are various ways to organize the sentences in a piece of writing.

Based on generic structure and language feature dominantly used, texts are

divided into several types. They are narrative, recount, descriptive, report,

explanation, exposition, procedure, discussion, review, anecdote, spoof, and news

item. These variations are known as Genre of Text.

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CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

A. Definition

Discussion is a text which presents a problematic discourse. This problem

will be discussed from different viewpoints. The purpose of the discussion test is

to consider a problem or issue from many points of view to assist in gaining a

more complete understanding of it, so that decision can be made or a solution

devised. In its written form the discussion text often forms a part of other more

complex genres, such as an investigation or scientific report. It often occurs after

some initial research, in which case it would normally include a reference list. It

may also include explanations and descriptions.

B. Structure

The basic generic structure of the discussion text consists of four parts:

1. Statement of Issue.

Statement of issue term known as opening or explanation of the subject

matter being discussed or discussed. This section is located in the first

paragraph. Usually contains about main idea or main idea of an issue.

2. Supporting Point.

Supporting point that is often referred to as advocates argue is the support

of opinion on issues that have been discussed. Usually found in the second

paragraph.

3. Contrastive Point.

Contrastive point is often referred to as a differentiator or opinions to the

contrary; it could be a rejection of disapproval of the problem being

discussed. Usually found in the third paragraph.

4. Recommendation.

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Recommendation is often referred to as the conclusions of the problems in

terms of the good and bad of the authors and the surrounding environment

this section is very commonly found on the end of a paragraph.

C. Material

The languages of features that are used in the text discussion include:

1. Uses general nouns (common noun). For example, such as: alcohol,

abortion, smoking, cloning, and others.

2. Uses relating verbs (copula). For example, like: is, are, were, was, and

others.

3. Uses thinking verbs (verb to think). For example, such as: think, feel,

hope, believe, and others.

4. Uses additive connective. For example like: in addition, furthermore,

besides, etc.

5. Uses contrastive connective. For example like: in although, even if,

nevertheless, and others.

6. Uses causal connective. For example, such as: Because, Because of, and

others.

7. Uses modalities (capital). For example like: perhaps, must, can, should,

would, and others.

8. Uses adverbial Manner (adverb way). For example like: hopefully,

deliberately, and others.

9. Using the simple present tense.

D. Determination of Discussion Topics in Text.

To search for a topic in the discussion text is neither difficult nor easy.

Because the text discussion many things are described explicitly. As for how to

determine the topic of the discussion text, namely:

1. Instructions contained in the beginning.

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At the time of making the text discussion, the authors definitely put a main

idea in the first paragraph. So, are expressly subject looks directly at the

problem?

2. Instructions contained on the issue.

Obviously the topic is directly exposed to the problems being faced.

3. Answering the question.

To find the answer of the question is concerned, it must read the whole of

the paragraph and look for phrases that correspond to the question.

E. Example of Discussion Text

Topic: “HACKING: PRO AND CONTRA?”

Do you know what a hacker is? Well, a hacker is a person who enjoys

exploring the details of programmable systems on computers and they like to

stretch the capability of the systems. And you know what, the activities they do in

the computers are called ‘hacking’.

So, what’s the problem with ‘hacking and its hackers’? Well, the problem

is whether ‘hacking and its hackers’ is legal or illegal? What I mean is that people

in the world have many different views about hacking and the hackers. Some of

them take sides, but many objects.

To get back to what I was saying previously, let us see the positive points

of a hacker, shall we? Although in most places breaking into computer systems is

considered illegal, I believe that hackers don’t do anything illegal because they

only want to know and try the systems. I dare to say that a hacker likes finding

the strengths and the weaknesses of a computer system. They feel proud if they

can find the weaknesses. So I don’t really see the crimes in this case. In addition,

these hackers sometimes help the police catch the ‘white collar criminals’, such as

bank robbers, money launderers, credit card forgers. For example, in 2000, the

U.S. hackers caught some Singaporean hackers who made ‘Virus Love’ to break

up the programs of the U.S. National Security system.

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Nevertheless, those who object to the good points of a hacker say that

hacking is a crime. The reason is that some hackers use their brilliant skills to

break into banks and other vital institutions where they can get money, destroy

information, and the worst thing is they can get secret information and sell it to

another country. This is a treachery.

Take for example, in 1994; The U.S. government broke a conspiracy of

computer hackers out of Majorca, Spain. These hackers were responsible for

accessing and eliminating 190,000 telephone credit card numbers over computer

bulletin boards in America and Europe. Seeing this fact, I don’t blame those who

think negatively about hackers.

To put the whole thing in a nut shell, I personally think that hackers are

not bad people with their brilliant skills. However, they could be bad because of

money orientation to get the wealth. That’s just the point.

Vocabularies:

1. hack kb. 1 orang yang diupah untuk mengerjakan kerja-kerja

kesusasteraan. 2 Inf.: taksi. -kkt. 1 menetak. memakuk, memarang. 2

melukai seseorang dengan kasar. Sl.: to h. around ngeluyur. hackingcough

batu

2. previously sebelumnya

3. strength kb. 1 kekuatan. s. of materials kekuatan materi. 2 tenaga.s. of mind

tenaga/kekuatan pikiran. 3 daya. tensils s. daya regang. 4 jumlah,

persentase (of alcohol)

4. dare kb. tantangan. -kkt. berani. -daring kb. keberanian, kenekatan. ks.

berani. He’s a d. warrior Ia seorang prajurit pemberani.

5. collar kb. 1 kerah. 2 ban leher (anjing dan kuda). -kkt. 1 Inf.: menahan. 2

menangkap. c. stud kancing leher.

6. nevertheless kk. namun, meskipun begitu/demikian.

7. destroy kkt. memusnahkan, merusakkan, menghancurkan. 2 membinasakan,

membunuh (an animal). to d. o.s. membunuh diri.

8. treachery kb. (j. -ries) penghianatan.

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9. eliminate kkt. 1 menghapuskan, melenyapkan (a problem). 2 menyisihkan. 3

membersihkan, mengeluarkan. 4 (kill) menyingkirkan, membunuh.

10. blame kb. kesalahan. -kkt. menyalahkan. -blamed ks. Inf.: jahanam,

terkutuk.

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CHAPTER III

CLOSING

A. Conclusion

Discussion text is an argumentative writing, use logical reasoning, and use

language effectively.

In preparing the text discussion whiles the preparation procedure for the

correct structure of the text as follows:

1. Statement of Issue.

2. Supporting Point.

3. Contrastive Point.

4. Recommendation.

The languages of features that are used in the text discussion include:

1. Uses general nouns (common noun).

2. Uses relating verbs (copula).

3. Uses thinking verbs (verb to think).

4. Uses additive connective.

5. Uses contrastive connective.

6. Uses causal connective.

7. Uses modalities (capital).

8. Uses adverbial Manner (adverb way).

9. Using the simple present tense.

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