HOOK
Introduction
ISSUE
CONTENTION
3X MAIN POINTS
REBUTTAL
CONNECTIVES/ SIGN-POSTS
Rape. Loss. War. Devastation. Murder. These are the details of January 26th that we ignorantly celebrate each Australia day. Good morning, my name is Rhianna, and today I will be speaking to you about the issue of whether Australia Day’s date should be changed. I will contend that the date of Australia day should be changed as, the date is offensive and should be a day to commemorate the loss of Indigenous Australians. Firstly, I will explore the offensiveness of the date that Australia day is currently set on. Secondly, I will discuss the fact that many Australians are in favour of changing the date. Lastly, I will encourage that many Aboriginal Australians should be honoured and given their own day. Thereafter, I will rebutt the view that some people argue that Aboriginal Australians should simply ‘get over it.’ However this is ignorant thinking and they should not be expected to get over the number of slavery cases, rapes and ultimately deaths.
BODY 1
Argument 1/Topic Sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Link
Australia day should be changed, as the date is disrespectful to Indigenous Australians. January 26th is understood as the day that Indigenous Australians were “invaded” by British Settlers. Creativespirits.org states before the arrival of the European settlers, it is estimated that there were over 250,000 Aboriginal Australians in Australia. By 1920 the population of Indigenous Australians shrunk down to an estimate of 60000. This is statistic illustrates the events of genocide that are celebrated on January 26th each year and the absolute coulessness of honouring the mass murder of a race. What an outrage! Open your eyes Australia, look at your dark past, a past that you actually want to celebrate? Get real! There is no exact answer to how many children were taken during the stolen generation. However, it is guessed that between 1883 & 1969 over 6,200 children were removed from families in NSW alone. Nevermind it being an invasion, it was also the beginning of the complete destruction of one of the world’s oldest cultures. This is why Australians SHOULD NOT celebrate Australia Day, as they are only paying homage to the atrocities that occured.
BODY 2
Argument 1/Topic Sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Link
Many Australians agree that Australia day should be changed. Outcomes show that 37% of Australians believe that the present date is insulting to Native Australians. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if the date was changed? What have WE got to lose? Certainly no more than those that have lost their land, their culture and ultimately, their rights! The day is significantly important to Indigenous Australians and doesn’t mean much to Non-Indigenous Australians. A survey shown on ABC.NET.AU reveals that 49% of Australians concede that Australia day shouldn’t be on a day that could come off as offensive to Indigenous Australians. Clearly the government should take initiative and listen to their people. The people acknowledge that January 26 is offensive, rude and neglectful of the past. Dear Australian Government; its time to do the same!! Get off your oh-so-comfy desk chairs and provide the people with what they not only they want but what they DESERVE. Easy done right? The fact that Australia day has still not been changed is a disgrace.
BODY 3
Argument 3/Topic Sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Link
Australia day should be a day to honour the Indigenous Australians. The moment we finally acknowledge the terrible history of Aboriginal Australians & act on this is long overdue. This day should be a day to honour Indigenous Australians who’ve made great achievements. Korf (28/1/18) of CreativeSpirits.Info states The National Council of Australia Day views January 26th as a “day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the generations to come” &, “a day to reflect on… what we can be proud of in our great nation.” Well, why don’t we embrace this purpose in making Australia better place & change the date. Let’s give us something to be proud of! Aboriginal Australians should be honoured & given their own day. THIS IS NOT OUR DAY TO CELEBRATE, NOR IS IT ONE TO TAKE. For goodness sake have we not taken enough?
BODY 4: REBUTTAL
Argument
Evidence
Explanation
Link
Some people argue that Aboriginal Australians should simply ‘get over it.’ However this is ignorant thinking – they should not be expected to get over the rate of abuse and ultimately the deaths at our own hands. Rhonda Collard Spratt shares her story with ABC.NET.AU. Spratt says she was removed from her family at age three and forced to live at the Churches of Christ Carnarvon Native Mission in Western Australia. She was gang raped at 16. SIXTEEN purely for being aboriginal. Unsurprisingly, this is not the only case. Statistics from creativespirits show that 97% percent of Aboriginal people experience racism regularly. The fact that indigenous Australians are expected to get over something that is still being experienced is ridiculous and impractical.
Conclusion
Sum up main points
Refer back to contention (re-word)
Overall, The date of Australia day should be changed for the date is brutally offensive to Indigenous Australians, the fact that many are in favour of changing the date. And finally, the reality that many Aboriginal Australians should deserve to be honoured and given their own day to celebrate the achievements of Indigenous Australians.
Highlight= evidence.