Tajuk rencana

Tajuk rencana adalah artikel pokok dalam surat kabar yang merupakan pandangan redaksi terhadap peristiwa yang sedang menjadi pembicaraan pada saat surat kabar itu diterbitkan. Dalam tajuk rencana biasanya diungkapkan adanya informasi atau masalah aktual, penegasan pentingnya masalah, opini redaksi tentang masalah tersebut, kritik dan saran atas permasalahan, dan harapan redaksi akan peran serta pembaca.

Ciri-ciri

• Berisi opini redaksi tentang peristiwa yang sedang hangat dibicarakan
• Berisi ulasan tentang suatu masalah yang dimuat
• Biasanya berskala nasional, berita internasional dapat menjadi tajuk rencana, apabila berita tersebut memberi dampak kepada nasional
• Tertuang pikiran subyektif redaksi

Aspek-Aspek yang menjadi fokus dalam tajuk utama

• Judul
• Latar Belakang Masalah
• Tokoh
• Masalah
• Peristiwa yang Disampaikan
• Opini Penulis
• Saran dan Solusi Permasalahan
• Kesimpulan
• Sumber Berita
• Anggota Redaksi

Removing Lead from Petrol

Removing Lead from Petrol
In all the discussion over the removal of lead from petrol (and the atmosphere) there doesn't seem to have been any mention of the difference between driving in the city and the country.
While I realize my leaded petrol car is polluting the air wherever I drive, I feel that when you travel through the country, where you only see the another car every five to ten minutes, the problem is not as severe as when traffic is concentrated on city roads.
Those who want to penalize older, leaded petrol vehicles and their owners don't seem to appreciate that, in the country, there is no public transport to fall back upon and one's own vehicle is the only way to get about.
I feel that the country people, who often have to travel huge distances to the nearest town and who already spend a great deal of money on petrol, should be treated differently to the people who live in the city.
Generic Structure Analysis
Thesis; paragraph 1
Arguments 1; paragraph 2
Argument 2; paragraph 3
Recommendation; paragraph 4
Language Feature Analysis
Focusing on the writer: using the first personal pronoun "I"
Using abstract noun; discussion
Using action verb: treat,
Using thinking verb; think, seem
Using passive voice; should be treated differently
Using simple present tense; there doesn't seem…, there is no public transport.., etc

Television

Television becomes one of the most important devices which takes place in almost houses. It can unite all members of the family as well as separate them. However, is it important to know what your kids are watching? The answer is, of course, absolutely "Yes" and that should be done by all parents. Television can expose things you have tried to protect the children from, especially violence, pornography, consumerism and so on.
Recently, a study demonstrated that spending too much time on watching TV during the day or at bedtime often cause bed-time disruption, stress, and short sleep duration.
Another research found that there is a significant relationship between the amount of time spent for watching television during adolescence and early adulthood, and the possibility of being aggressive.
Meanwhile, many studies have identified a relationship between kids who watch TV a lot and being inactive and overweight.
Considering some facts mentioning above, protect your children with the following tips:

* Limit television viewing to one-two hours each day
* Do not allow your children to have a TV set in their own bedrooms
* Review the rating of TV shows which your children watch
* Watch television with your children and discuss what is happening in the show


Notes on the Generic Structure of this Hortatory Exposition example
Firstly, we have to always remember that the social function of hortatory exposition text is driving the readers to act like the writer thought as stated in the text. Then the purpose of this hortatory is influencing and persuading the readers by presenting the supporting arguments. In many social activities, hortatory is applied for writing recommended thought, sales letter, advertising, speech campaign, and news advertorial.
Thesis: The writer's thought is presented as thesis which is proven with several arguments. In the first paragraph, the writer points his thought about the importance of accompanying children while they are watching TV show. It is important to protect the children from the bad influences of TV show.
Arguments: The next paragraphs show the writer arguments in supporting his thesis. It is supported by various researches that there are a great relationship between watching TV and the watcher's personality. One study describes that much time in watching TV can cause bed-time disruption. The others show the possibility of becoming an aggressive character because of watching television too much.
Recommendation: After stating the thesis and proving with various arguments, the text is completed with the writer's recommendation on how the parents should protect the children from the bed effect of watching TV.
Basically, both hortatory and analytical exposition have the similar position. Both take place as argumentative essays. Both show how important idea of the writer to be known. However the last paragraph of the essay usually make the difference from hortatory and analytical exposition. If it is a hortatory text, it will be ended with a strong recommendation while for analytical exposition, it will be closed with restatement of the writer's first paragraph.

Fasten Your Seat Belt!!!

Fasten Your Seat Belt!!!
A seat belt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop. As part of an overall occupant restraint system, seat belts are intended to reduce injuries by stopping the wearer from hitting hard interior elements of the vehicle or other passengers (the so-called second impact) and by preventing the wearer from being thrown from the vehicle.
During 2004, total accident in DKI Jakarta are 4.544 cases, with 1.146 death victims, 63% of that accident victims didn’t use seat belt (Source: tempo interactive). If we use seat belt, we will be safe if an accident happening to us. Of course it will decrease the number of death by fatal accident. This fact makes us realize that if we don’t use seat belt, we will endanger our life. So it’s very important to use seat belt.

For some people, using seat belt makes journey uncomfortable, makes us can’t move freely, etc. But if we used to wear it, it will be our habit. We will feel more and more comfortable if we often use it. Regardless of whether it is comfortable or not, it is very important for us to use seat belt, to save our life.

Government, especially police department, began enforcing us to use a seat belt to decrease the number of death victim. It’s appropriated with polices’ slogan “Melindungi dan Mengayomi Masyarakat Indonesia”. Because the number of death victim in Indonesia is so high. And most of the death victims didn’t use seat belt.

A rule in our country about seat belt:
UNDANG-UNDANG LALU LINTAS DAN ANGKUTAN JALAN
Pasal 61
(2) Barangsiapa tidak menggunakan sabuk keselamatan pada waktu mengemudikan kendaraan bermotor roda empat atau lebih, atau tidak mengggunakan helm pada waktu mengemudikan kendaraan bermotor roda dua atau pada waktu mengemudikan kendaraan bermotor roda empat atau lebih yang tidak dilengkapi dengan rumah-rumah, sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 23 ayat (1) huruf e, dipidana dengan pidana kurungan paling lama 1 (satu) bulan atau denda setinggi-tingginya Rp. 1.000.000,00 (satu juta rupiah).
This rule is good, but I think the sanction of this rule is so cruel; it’s very expensive to pay for Indonesian people. Indonesia isn’t a rich country. This rule is susceptible to be misused, the misuse of paying the sanction. It will be better if the sanction is below Rp 1.000.000,00.

How about a pregnant woman?

I think pregnant woman shouldn’t be free from the rule enforcing the use of a seat belt. Her big stomach isn’t a reason to not use seat belt. Now, there is a special seat belt which is designed for pregnant woman. For pregnant mothers, the fetus is protected by a sac full of amniotic fluid. This sac is quite strong and the fluid inside acts like a cushion to protect the fetus. The sac is pliable so it can change shape to a certain degree. The proper use of a seat belt will divert the pressure points off the sac, and thus the fetus would only be minimally affected. The lap belt should be worn low over the pelvic bones and not against the soft stomach area. The shoulder belt should be worn across the chest. Both should be worn snugly. So, the baby won’t be pressed by seat belt.

There is no reason for us to not use seat belt. There are so many advantages of using seat belt. And there are so many disadvantages if you don’t use seat belt. I think we have to rely on one thing: our safety. As wise men say: ”Protection is better than curing”. So, fasten your seat belt…!!!