TEXT 1 Everyone now agrees that television has many educational benefits because there is an excellent range of quality children's programs available to watch. Children are able to learn many skills that they would in school like reading, writing and counting, as well as learning about the world around them because of the great coverage we get from news reporters and television broadcasts. Firstly, I believe that children can develop a variety of skills often learnt at school from television. Play School and Sesame Street are just some of the popular children's shows that teach numeracy and literacy skills. In addition to this, children are able to watch programs, which dramatize classic children's fiction, bringing the stories to life. "Misery Guts", by Morris Gleitzman, is currently being viewed by children throughout Australia. Not only to do they learn about the world around them, but children are also exposed to some great authors and literature. Secondly, it is without a doubt that television allows children to learn about the world around them. Some children are fortunate enough to travel with their families; however, not all have the opportunity to see these places. We would have had to rely heavily on pictures, newspaper articles and radio broadcasts, which of course would take a lot longer to reach us and wouldn't be as thorough. Documentaries are a great way to teach children about the world around them. For example, a documentary on the most dangerous African animals can be enjoyed by children even though they may not actually be able to travel to Africa. The teacher can show these animals in their habitat, without being there in person. The children, therefore, have a clearer idea of how the animal lives and survives. To sum up, I most certainly feel that television provides a range of educational opportunities for children. QUESTIONS FROM TEXT 11. What is the type of this text?
2. What is the purpose of this text?
3. Is the author for or against this topic? How do you know?
4. What reasons does the author give to support their opinion?
5. Who could the author be writing this text to? 6. What emotive words or phrases does the author use to influence the reader?
7. What connectives (words or phrases) has the author used to sequence the text?
8. List two reasons that support the author's argument that television allows children to learn about the world around them.
9. Do you think television is educational? Why or why not?
10. What is the best title for the text?​