Ms. Smith's announcement regarding the issue of the rising absentee level has raised the concern of parent Tom Frost and mother/director of "Key Educational consultants" Rosemary Collins. The advocates present similar arguments, Tom Frost's speech contending that the truancy epidemic should be dealt with lightly, is delivered in a colloquial tone and language style. On the other hand, Collin adopts a formal tone and language manner asserting immediate action to search for a solution. In an attempt to persuade, both authors utilise evidence and attack the education system. On the contrary, some differing techniques used are Collin's forceful phrases and Frost's clichés.

The evidence used adds to the weight of both the protagonists' arguments. Frost relates to the audience with an anecdote referring to his "daughter [being] picked on in year eight", the parents' `nods' indicate that many families are in the same predicament...