I have added another example of a newspaper column. The writer is New Zealander Kerre Woodham. Woodham is a well-known columnist and her topic is the recently announced Government initiative to identify children aged from 3 to 7 with behavioural problems.
Kerre Woodham writes for The Herald on Sunday.
Here is an extract-
“Can you really predict whether someone is going to become a useful, law-abiding member of the community or a law-breaking waste of space at the age of 3?
A Government initiative to identify little ones aged from 3 to 7 with behavioural problems begins this year, a co-operative venture between the Ministries of Education, Health and Social Development. Kids who tick too many negative boxes – who are violent towards their peers, lack empathy, who are disruptive and self-obsessed – will be identified as at risk of becoming crims. They will be given lessons in how to behave appropriately, hopefully offering them an alternative path to the rocky one they’re treading.
At the same time, parents and teachers will attend workshops to teach them how to respond when children are acting out.
According to one of the experts who advised the Government on the scheme, the success rate should be around 80 per cent and the expense – roughly $4000 a child – will be minimal compared with what it would cost to try to turn around the life of a teenager or a young adult.”
Read the rest here.
scholarship@cc 
Q1
-It’s better(and less expensive) to try correct children’s behaviour early rather than when they are teenagers
-People who disagree need to sit on the naughty step
-Parents parenting methods are usually the cause of children’s bad behaviour
Q2
-“Oh yes, there’ll be those who’ll shriek about a nanny state and how the Government has no right to interfere in the family, but they need to go and sit on the naughty step.”
-“Surely, if we can identify which kids are being let down by their parents, and give the parents the skills they need to raise their children properly, we’ll all be winners”
Q3
_”The Ministry of Education has apparently adopted an American programme, The Incredible Years, as its intervention for “children with challenging behaviours”. That’s what the ministry would call them. You and I would probably call them toerags.”-colloquial language;trying to identify with the reader
-“A small group of people and their progeny cost this country millions in benefits, hospital care, social services and jail time.” Listing for effect
-She uses statistics for example different extremes of costs so reader is immensly appalled by the difference
-Rhetorical question as opening line attracts reader’s attention and makes them think
Thankyou, you sum up Woodham’s ideas and support with apt examples. Effective language discussed. A great response 🙂