Read the following argumentative texts and analyze the text, the similarities and differences:

TEXT A: Exposition Text

Do not Support Nuclear Energy

The need for electrical energy has significantly expanded due to various electronic equipment use,
such as kitchen appliances, home appliances, and lighting. It consequently demands governments to find
other energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable energy. Non-renewable energy includes coal,
gas, and oil, whereas renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, processes natural sources, such
as wind and nuclear, to activate power plants. However, the nuclear energy debate revolves around
whether governments should build nuclear power plants to supply household necessities. A number of
people generally think that building and maintaining nuclear power plants will cost more than wind and
solar power plants. Additionally, the risks posed by system failures or human errors might lead to
dangerous accidents. In short, nuclear power is not a good energy source for the world because of its cost
and danger.
Nuclear power tends to be costly. “In June 2008, the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
estimated that building a new 1,000 megawatt (MW) reactor could cost up to $7.5 billion”. Dunai, as
written in Reuters (2019), mentions that “the cost of generating solar power ranges from $36 to $44 per
megawatt-hour (MWh), while onshore wind power comes in at $29–$56 per MWh”. Despite the
construction costs, operating nuclear power requires governments to employ professional nuclear power
technicians compensated for a higher salary than the other power plant technicians. In addition to the
construction and operation costs, training and equipment or components of safety features should also be
considered to operate nuclear power plants.
Another primary concern in using nuclear energy is the safety issue. Nuclear power plants use
uranium, which releases radioactive waste into the environment. It is mainly used to generate electricity,
yet the fuels are not entirely burned out in the reactor and generate waste. To some extent, it is difficult to
dispose of or store nuclear waste products safely. “For that reason, waste management is another major
problem that has to be dealt with as nuclear waste products from the reactors are radioactive and
hazardous”. To summarize, working with nuclear fuels and waste can harm workers’ health in general.
The risk of accidents in operating nuclear power plants is also the other factor against nuclear
power. In operating nuclear powers, human error might substantially contribute to failures. Nuclear
severe accidents, such as the Chernobyl (USSR in 1986), the Kola (Russia in 1991), and the Tokaimura
(Japan in 1999), have exposed radioactivity to many people, affecting their physical health. These
tragedies might happen because of several reasons, such as inadequately trained personnel. Unfortunately,
human error is not the only source of nuclear power accidents. Nuclear power stations might also fail due
to reactor system failures failing to complete a safety evaluation report, such as the cooling malfunction.
So far, history has only recorded three accidents involving system failures, namely the Three Mile Island
(the USA, 1979), the Tarapur (India, 1992), and the Darlington (Canada, 1992) accidents, yet the
remaining power plants might also fail in the future.
In a nutshell, nuclear energy is not the most efficient approach to address electrical needs.
Operating nuclear power plants, on the other hand, is neither affordable nor risky. Because of the cost and
the danger, the world should develop different types of energy to replace nuclear power. Scientists have
to conduct more research to find nuclear power alternatives, which are more safe and friendly.
TEXT B: Discussion Text
Electric Cars: A Coin to Toss

Electric vehicles are gaining popularity across Europe, as they are proving themselves more able to
take on work that was traditionally undertaken by diesel vehicles. There are now 4,000 registered electric
vans in the United Kingdom. An electric vehicle is different from a traditional vehicle in one fundamental
way: electricity is used to drive the wheels instead of a petrol or diesel engine. Electric vehicles, also
referred to as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion
engine. The vehicle uses a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor and must be plugged
into a wall outlet or charging equipment, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). It uses a
larger version of a battery similar to the one in your phone, which is connected to an electric motor that
turns the wheels. As the government is now looking for environmentally friendly transportation, the
number of companies developing electric cars is increasing. Yet, people think that the electric car is a
coin with its benefits and drawbacks.
Electric vehicles’ running cost is very likely to be considerably lower than the equivalent petrol or
diesel-powered vehicles. This is partly because electricity costs significantly less than petrol or diesel – at
the moment at least. Many studies show electric vehicles are cheaper to operate than gasoline-powered
vehicles with a lower total cost of ownership over the vehicle's lifetime, due to fuel and maintenance
savings outstripping purchase price differences. If you charge your electric car at home overnight, for
example, it could cost you as little as £5 for a full charge rather than the £50-80 (or more) that you’ll have
to shell out for a full tank of petrol or diesel. Another beauty of electric vehicles is associated with
environmental friendliness and the absence of emissions. Electric vehicles don’t contribute to local
pollution since electric vehicles cause non-exhaust emissions and smokestack emissions from the electric
power plants that charge them. When running, electric cars emit little to no pollutants as they run on
electric motors and involve no combustion. In addition to the air pollution benefit, electric cars are much
quieter since they do not have moving parts. They simply don’t cause noise pollution which commonly
occurs in urban areas.
In contrast to the benefits, electric vehicles also offer downsides. Electric vehicles are still more
expensive to buy than the equivalent petrol, diesel, or hybrid vehicles. This is because electric vehicle
technology is still relatively new, and there are high costs involved in development and production–
particularly of the batteries. And even if the battery is the most expensive part of an electric vehicle, there
are several issues with the use of batteries. A single battery will only last around 10-20 years and up to
150,000-miles. Furthermore, environmental issues are surrounding the disposal of used batteries. They’re
filled with various potentially harmful chemicals, such as lithium, that are very difficult – if not
impossible – to recycle or dispose of safely and without potentially harming the environment. Creating
the lithium-ion battery pack is also more environmentally harmful than the manufacturing process for an
average petrol-powered vehicle. The other concern deals with the charging infrastructure facilities. As
electric vehicles are relatively new, it is sometimes difficult to find the location and availability of electric
vehicle charging points, especially when you are driving on a long trip and rural areas. If you can find
one, the charging process can take from 30 minutes to an hour using the latest public rapid chargers. You
may be twiddling your thumbs for an entire day if you are using a standard domestic socket.
Electric cars might become a solution to address the pollution issues. Yet, we have to consider how
the batteries are disposed of and also, electric charging points cannot easily be found on long journeys as
the technology is relatively new. As technology improves, I believe that electric cars will gain popularity
among people who can afford them.
Points to ponder TEXT A TEXT B

Topic

Similarities

Differences

MAIN IDEAS :

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

ARGUMENTS :

1st

2nd

3rd

4th
 5th

6th

CLOSING PARAGRAPH :

Difference(s)

PART B. DISCUSSION TEXT: Choose one of the following topics and draft your discussion text.
1. Pros and cons of being vegan
2. Pros and cons of cancel culture
3. Pros and cons of space exploration
4. Pros and cons of interfaith marriage
5. Pros and cons of artificial intelligence
6. Advantages and disadvantages of being childfree
7. Legalization of recreational drugs: benefits and drawbacks
8. Pros and cons of TikTok Shops or other marketplace platforms
DISCUSSION TEXT OUTLINE

1. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH: issue

(Please introduce the issue you’ll discuss in the following paragraphs. It might include the definition of terms and
explanations of how the current conditions are)
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2. ARGUMENTS (PRO) : express arguments supporting the issue

(Please use three arguments for each stance. Support your arguments with explanations and examples)
a. …………………………………
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b. …………………………………
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c. …………………………………
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3. ARGUMENTS (CONS) : express arguments against the issue

(Please use three arguments for each stance. Support your arguments with explanations and examples)
a. …………………………………
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b. …………………………………
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c. …………………………………
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4. CONCLUSION
(Please summarize the discussion and it is even possible to offer an opinion concerning the issue)
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 DISCUSSION TEXT

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