The Model Texts
Including referenced evidence increases the formality of a text. The
two texts provided below illustrate this. The informal text does not include
any references to support the argument being presented; however, the formal
text contains several examples. In each case, the referenced evidence
supports and adds authority to the writer's expressed opinion.
| FORMAL TEXT |
INFORMAL TEXT |
The inequity in the distribution of wealth
in Australia is yet another indicator of Australia's lack
of egalitarianism. In 1995, 20% of the Australian
population owned 72.2% of Australia's wealth with the top 50% owning
92.1% (Raskall 1998, p287).
Such a significant skew in the distribution of wealth indicates
that, at least in terms of economics, there is an established class
system in Australia. McGregor (1988) argues
that Australian society can be categorised into three levels: the
Upper, Middle and Working classes. In addition, it has been shown
that most Australians continue to remain in the class into which
they were born (McGregor 1988, p156) despite arguments about the
ease of social mobility in Australian society (Fitzpatrick, 1994).
The issue of class and its inherent inequity, however, is
further compounded by factors such as race and gender within and
across these class divisions.
The relative disadvantage of women with regard to their earnings
and levels of asset ownership indicates that within classes there
is further economic inequity based on gender...
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Because only a few people have most of the money and power in Australia,
I conclude that it is not an equal society. Society has an Upper,
Middle and Lower class and I think that most people when they are
born into one class, end up staying in that class for their whole
lives. When all three classes are looked at more closely, other
things such as the differences between the sexes and people's racial
backgrounds also add to the unequal nature of Australian society.
Women earn less than men and own less than men. Why is this so?
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2000
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