Discussion

Part of your assignment asks you to discuss how to overcome shameful problems, taking your starting point in “Washdays” by Simon Neal and using some of the following phrases: on the one hand, on the other hand, for instance, not until, apart from, likewise, finally, in other words. First, we will explain the phrases and then give you some points for your discussion.

Useful phrases

The phrases ‘on the one hand’ and ‘on the other hand’ are used to present opposing ideas, or different aspects of the same issue/topic, like in the following example:

On the one hand, Kyle desperately wants to find a solution to his bedwetting problem. On the other hand, he is too ashamed to talk about it. This leads to him lying to his mother and the librarian.

‘For instance’ is used to introduce an example that usually supports a previous statement:

Kyle does everything he can to hide his bedwetting problem. For instance, he tears up the note from his mother to his teacher because his mother mentioned his problem in it.

‘Not until’ is used to indicate continuance to a specific time, like in the following example:

It is not until Kyle’s mother discovers the nappies that she realises the boy’s feelings of shame.

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Overcoming shameful problems

The short film ‘Washdays’ explores the problem of shame felt by children who wet their beds. In the film, young Kyle tries to deal with what he considers to be a shameful problem—bedwetting.

Kyle’s actions show how feelings of guilt and shame, exacerbated by parents’ lack of empathy and understanding, can lead children to look for solutions on their own and overlook the rule of good conduct. The bedwetting problem seems so important to Kyle that he is willing to skip school, to lie, and steal to find a solution to it.

The film’s message is that children should not be made feel bad for involuntary actions like bedwetting and their parents should be more sensitive to the children’s feelings and problems. Kyle’s actions also help us pinpoint some of the ways to overcome shameful problems.

For instance, although skipping school is not something one should do, Kyle’s action suggests that to deal with a shameful problem one has to make time for it. Clearing one’s schedule, setting aside some hours to deal with a shameful problem is a starting point to finding a solution.

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