Should people marry before they are 25 years old?

Argumentative Comments Discursive Comments

There is really no good reason to Background There are a number of Background
(Already just reports
rush into marriage, but an people who get married
showing the facts, no
increasing number of young people bias) before they are 25. bias.
want to get married before they are
25.
I believe that young adults are Thesis This essay will discuss age Thesis
statement – statement,
getting married before they are and if it affects the
Clearly just states
equipped with the skills to build a states your success of a marriage the topic.
solid relationship that can last a opinion Not the
lifetime. viewpoint.
There are great advantages to Likely There are advantages to Point in
situation favour.
getting married older. Firstly it getting married older.
enables people to concentrate on Firstly it enables people to Formal
their education and get a degree concentrate on their language, no
and then a good job before education and get a emotions
contemplating marriage. This gives degree and then a job
a solid financial foundation for the before contemplating
marriage and is likely to lessen marriage. This may
concerns about money which lead to lessen concerns about
many arguments within a marriage. money which could lead to
arguments within a
marriage.
Secondly one has the opportunity to Used Secondly one might have Point in
statistics to favour.
meet more people before getting the opportunity to meet
back up the
married and ensuring that they have argument. more people before More
met the person that is right for getting married. On extensive
them. For example at university average a university use of
statistics
students get the opportunity to student meets 900 people
meet hundreds of interesting friends whereas the average
from a variety of backgrounds. On school only has a class of
average a university student meets 30 and relatively few
900 people, whereas at school there opportunities to meet
are relatively few people to meet people outside of their
and children only tend to socialize year group.
with their own class.

Thirdly divorce is much higher, Using a Thirdly the divorce rate Do not use
celebrity celebrities in
because they do not have the among young people is
example a discursive
emotional maturity to communicate higher and this may lead assignment,
effectively and compromise. For to psychological problems. but could
example Britney Spears got married Psychologists report that use
respected
when she was 22 and was divorced there are a number of
academics.
2 years later and has been in and young people who have
out of psychological therapy ever difficulties after a divorce.
since.

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 Argumentative Comments Discursive Comments
It is true that there are physical Counter There are also Point against
argument
benefits to having children when you disadvantages to getting
designed to
are much younger. However those minimize married when you are
are outweighed by the benefits of impact of older. The biggest
maturity which will ensure a parent other concerns are to do with
viewpoint
can effectively bring up a child with child-birth and statistics
good values so that they can show that women over 30
become a decent member of are more likely to have a
society. A large number of young miscarriage, have
parents have no jobs and their complications during birth
children in turn have no jobs. and recover more slowly
after the birth. After 40
most women will be
unable to have children
and older parents may not
be physically able to do
physical activities with
their children.
Some may argue that by waiting to Counter The second argument Point against
argument –
get married you may miss your against waiting to get
Suggesting
dream partner. This is certainly not that the married is that people
true, waiting to get married does other point may miss their
not mean not meeting people and is incorrect opportunity to get married
in their
dating them. However if they are to their ideal partner.
argument.
your ideal partner they will wait until Evidence suggests that
the right time before getting most couples meet in
married. For example my sister-in- university and there is a
law met her husband when they growing number of people
were at school, but they waited until who are using Websites
they could afford a proper wedding and getting back together
before getting married. with their school partners.
In conclusion it is clearly better to Strong final To conclude, the main Balanced
statement final
wait before getting married, because benefits of a later
statement
those that marry young, fail to marriage are emotional
marry the right person, are rarely and financial maturity
wealthy and may end up with whereas if people get
psychological trauma. married younger there will
be reduced physical risks
during pregnancy.

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Additional Questions
1. Do you think that a marriage arranged by parents is better than a love match?
2. Do you think that men and women are equal?
3. Do you think that people should be forced to have a medical examination before
marriage to check for sexual diseases and possible genetic incompatibilities?
4. Do you think that couples should be forced to wait for six months before getting
married?
5. Do you think that gay couples should be allowed to form a legal union?

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Differences between argumentative and discursive

Argumentative Discursive
Can use emotional Must use logical
language language
Can use personal Must be written in
pronouns the third person
e.g. I, you, we
and they
Should use your Must appear to be
own opinion balanced
Can use Must be written
informality to formally
persuade
Should take a side Must be balanced
from the start until the
conclusion
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Teacher's Notes
The table can be used as a table top cut out exercise to encourage students to see the
difference between the two types of assignments. The main example is designed to help
students understand this difference more clearly, but they can be used individually as
examples of how to answer the question.
Approaches to the question
● You may want to have a discussion on the topic and then see how the students' idea
compare to the ideas in my class.
● You could give a written exercise first and then ask them to compare it with the model
answer.
● You could ask the students to compare the two styles of assignment.

The example essays was typed live in class using the students' ideas to help them get a better
understanding of the differences between the two types of questions.

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