Guide to spelling, punctuation and grammar

Paragraph 5
It can be argued, then, 
(1) 
that young men are less
‘socialised’ than young women. 
(2) 
This means they
find social occasions more difficult than young
women and forming lasting relationships more
problematical. Boys too often are taught not to show
feelings or ‘weakness’ so that there is a danger that
they become guarded and withdrawn. Expressing
their emotions becomes difficult as they mature.
Becoming a fan, then, can make up for that lack
because in the male group it is acceptable to show
intense emotions on behalf of your team whether it be
joy, disappointment, anger or enthusiasm. You are
allowed to cry tears when your team does well or is
defeated, because it is safely within the context of
being a fan. However, outside that context, too often
such a show of emotion would be dismissed as ‘cissy’.
(3)
Watching professional sport can be an outlet for male
emotions that are frowned upon in other situations.
(4)
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6 – S
AMPLE ESSAY
1:
A DISCURSIVE ESSAY

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Paragraph 6
Nevertheless, 
(1)
we do not have to look far for
evidence that obsession with sport can hurt
relationships, frequently cause financial problems as
money that could be spent on more essential things
is lavished on the expenses involved in following
your team and is a major contributor to anti-social
behaviour such as binge drinking and violence
towards others who are seen as ‘enemies’. 
(2)
When
interest in sport reaches this intensity, it is clear that
something essential is missing from an individual’s
life. Watching sport can be exciting and a way of
bringing people together. Too often it is all-
consuming so that fans lurch from extremes of
despair to joy, depending on their team’s fortunes. It
is a diversion from real life problems so that when
you are following your team, you can put out of
mind serious issues in your life that need to be dealt
with. 
(3) 
Many marriages, for example, have
foundered on the rocks of sporting obsession. 
(4)