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By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
When you write, you need to do two important things:
Example of writing WITHOUT expansion:
"Traffic accidents are a problem."
Example of writing WITH expansion:
"Traffic accidents are a serious problem in many countries. In Ireland, for example, 140 people died in road accidents during 2019. The main causes include speeding, not wearing seatbelts, and using mobile phones while driving."
Notice how the second version gives the reader much more information – it includes specific numbers, examples, and explanations.
Every piece of writing has a purpose – a reason why it exists. In your IGCSE exam, you need to understand and use three main purposes:
Purpose: To give facts and information to the reader
What it includes:
Example from real life: A police website showing traffic accident statistics
In the Irish police (An Garda Síochána) website example, the information is presented in a table showing:
This is informational because it just presents the facts without arguing for or against anything.
When you write informational text:
Purpose: To convince the reader to agree with your point of view
What it includes:
Example topic: "Mobile phone use while driving should be banned completely"
How argumentative writing works:
Example of argumentative writing:
"Using mobile phones while driving should result in much stricter punishments. According to An Garda Síochána statistics, 28,952 fixed charge notices were issued for mobile phone use in 2019 alone. This shows that thousands of drivers are putting lives at risk. Therefore, the current fines are clearly not working as a deterrent, and stronger penalties such as driving bans should be introduced."
Purpose: To explore different sides of an issue without necessarily taking a strong position
What it includes:
Example topic: "Should young people be allowed to ride bicycles on busy roads?"
How discursive writing works:
Example of discursive writing:
"There are arguments both for and against allowing young cyclists on busy roads. On one hand, cycling promotes health and reduces pollution. It also gives young people independence. On the other hand, statistics show that road accidents involving cyclists are common, and young people may not have the experience to handle dangerous traffic situations. Some people suggest that dedicated cycle lanes would solve both problems, though others argue this is too expensive to implement nationwide."
Key difference between argumentative and discursive:
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