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Discursive Essays
Based on:
How to Write a Discursive Article |
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_853
3904_write-discursivearticle.html#ixzz2NApveTdV
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/e
nglish/writing/discursive_writing

 Explore your article topic. Determine what you

would like your argument to be; generally one
argument has two opposing sides, one for the
topic and one against the topic. Both are
needed to write a well-rounded discursive
article.

 Gather evidence for both sides of your

argument. Search for credible information
within books, academic journals and scholarly
online sources. Gather the same amount of
evidence for each side of the argument so that
your article will not appear biased.
Be careful with plagiarism, though!

Introduction
Write your introduction. The introduction is
generally a paragraph long and should discuss
the article topic and the two opposing
arguments in general. Include facts about the
opposing sides.

Introduction
The opening of an essay is important. It should
capture the reader's attention in some way or
another. It should avoid being bland or dull. It
should invite the reader to read on and create
a sense of interest. If the beginning is flat, it
will not inspire your audience.

Methods of opening a discursive

paragraph

Provocative
e.g."It is difficult to see how anyone can approve of fox hunting."
Balanced
e.g."Fox hunting is a subject about which people hold strongly contrasting
views."
Quotation
e.g."Oscar Wilde once described fox hunting as 'The unspeakable in
pursuit of the uneatable.'."
Illustration
e.g."On a glorious autumn morning a terrified, exhausted animal is
savaged to death by a pack of baying dogs while a group of expensively
dressed humans encourage the dogs in their bloody work."
Anecdote
e.g."I have always detested fox hunting since I was almost physically sick
while watching a television film of the kill at the end of a hunt."

Body Paragraphs
Write your body paragraphs. There are several
different approaches to this process, one of
which is to dedicate a body paragraph to each of
the evidences found for the opposing sides of the
argument. Use either the A, A, B, B format, which
means that all of the evidentiary paragraphs for
the first side of the argument are grouped
together, or use the A, B, A, B format, which
means that the evidentiary paragraphs alternate
from one opposing side to the other.

Body paragraphs
Write supporting paragraphs in descending
order of importance. Each paragraph should
illustrate a single argument.
Explain the counterarguments to your essay's
thesis. Explain their beliefs and reasoning as
completely as possible. Don't artificially
weaken your opponent's arguments; your
essay will be stronger if you represent the
counterarguments fairly.

Body paragraphs
Explain why you reject the opponent's
arguments. Your reasons might be
moral, practical or logical. You may start
with a concession statement, admitting
that some of the opposing arguments
are valid, but state that you still think
your side is right.

Linking ideas in a discursive essay

Any well-written piece of discursive writing
will flow as one continuous piece despite
being made up of three or four different
arguments. One of the techniques which can
help you to achieve this effectively is the use
of linking words. These words are usually used
at the beginning of a new paragraph but can
also be used to link ideas within a paragraph.

Linking ideas in a discursive essay

Same line of thought
e.g. - and, firstly, secondly etc., next, furthermore, likewise, in
addition, similarly, also, moreover.
Conclusion/summary
e.g. - thus, therefore, consequently, accordingly, in retrospect,
hence, in conclusion, in brief, as a result.
Definite statement
e.g. - without question, without doubt, unquestionably,
absolutely.
Contrasting idea
e.g. - yet, on the other hand, nevertheless, however,
although, conversely, otherwise, on the contrary.
Further examples
because, for instance, since, for example, so that, despite the
fact that, accordingly, although, if, though, unless.

Conclusion
Write a conclusion for your discursive essay
that acknowledges your opponents' principal
argument, and explain why you don't
subscribe to it. For example, if you were
writing a paper against the death penalty, you
might say, "I acknowledge that murderers
deserve the most severe punishment society
has, but I believe the death penalty should not
be used because it can lead to the execution
of innocent people.

Conclusion
The conclusion should be one paragraph in
which you briefly summarize the main points
of your discursive article. Write which side of
the argument you find to be more factual or
more accurate and why, based on the
evidence you present in the body paragraphs,
you find that to be the case.

Formal tone in a discursive essay

It is important when you write a discursive
essay to write in a proper formal way.
You should not use an informal style to write a
discursive essay.

Formal tone in a discursive essay

Write in proper, complete sentences
Do not use abbreviations
(i.e./e.g./etc./UK/&)
Use complete words and expressions
Do not use contractions (isn't/don't/won't)
Use proper, standard English
Do not use slang (e.g. bloke/geezer etc) or
colloquial language (mate/bolshy etc.)

Formal tone in a discursive essay

You should try to make sure that you use a
decent standard of vocabulary in any formal
essay you write.
In particular, try to avoid weak vocabulary
such as 'get', 'got' and 'getting'. Relying on this
level of vocabulary too often suggests that
your power of expression is weak. Build up
your word power!