Differences Between

Argumentative & Discursive

Essay Writing

The Learning board

Mª Ascensión Villalba Varona – avillalba@varonas.com

 Taking a stand vs Neutrality

The goal of an argumentative essay is to take a The goal of discursive essay is to present both sides

stance on a topic and convince your audience that of an argument equally and then draw some tentative
your arguments are valid. conclusions based on the evidence.
Sure, you include a discussion of
the counterargument and rebuttal to the Though some readers may be convinced by your
counterargument in an argumentative essay. But arguments and conclusions, the goal isn’t to convince
the whole purpose in doing so is to further anyone. Your goal is to objectively evaluate the topic.
convince your readers that your arguments are
stronger—essentially that you’re right,
and they’re wrong.
What is an argumentative essay?

An argumentative essay requires you to pick a debatable topic, do extensive research on it, choose a side in the
debate, and then argue for that side by citing the evidence you have gathered. When writing this essay, you’ll
take a stance on a topic and include evidence from research sources to convince your audience.

Purpose:
To convince and/or persuade the audience

Key features

Takes a strong stance on a debatable issue

Examines both sides of the topic
Uses credible research sources to support thesis
Refutes opposing viewpoints

Organization pattern

Develops a clear thesis statement to indicate stance

Includes at least two key points to support thesis
Integrates evidence from research sources to support claims

Point of view
Third person point of view
Argumentative Essay Outline Structure

The very basics of an argumentative essay is made of four main sections:

1.Introduction
2.Key arguments
3.Counterargument and rebuttal
4.Conclusion

Argumentative essays samples:

Should sports be segregated by gender?

Should religion be taught in schools?
Should people in prison be allowed to vote?
Should animal testing be allowed?

Position on one side of the argument, defending only one stance

Mª Ascensión Villalba Varona – avillalba@varonas.com

Sample essay:

2011 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. www.SmekensEducation.com

What Is a Discursive Essay?
A discursive essay presents both sides of an argument, then states your stance.

The purpose

The goal of a discursive essay is to present a balanced and objective analysis of both sides of

the argument. (Note: Sometimes you may need to examine three or more positions as topics
may be more nuanced than basic for-or-against arguments, opinion essay, suggesting a solution
to a problem.)

Key features

The discursive essay is a formal essay that requires a formal tone. This means that you’ll write
in third person point of view to evaluate arguments and express your opinion.

Mª Ascensión Villalba Varona – avillalba@varonas.com

Structure:
A discursive essay is organized like most essays in 3 main sections:
1.- Introduction (hook, background, thesis statament
2.- Body Paragraphs (for/against)
3.- Conclusion

Strategies:
•Thesis statement: The thesis statement in a discursive essay should not take a stance on the argument. The
goal is to present both sides of the argument equally.
Ex.: Even though some studies indicate that professor comments written in red have no effect on students’
emotions, other studies suggest that seeing red ink on papers can cause students unnecessary stress.

•Body paragraphs: A discursive essay should develop both sides of the argument equally and provide just
as much evidence to support one side as it does to support the other. (Don’t try to slip in more evidence for
one side just because it happens to be the side you agree with.)

•Conclusion: The concluding paragraph of a discursive essay is your chance to explain your conclusions

based on the evidence you’ve presented. Your conclusion won’t express a definitive answer. But it will leave
room for your audience to consider both sides of the argument and your tentative conclusions.
Ex.: Based on the evidence, it seems fair to conclude that professors who use red ink to grade papers do not
cause their students unnecessary psychological stress.
 Discursive Topics Samples:
1. Do Energy drinks pose health risks to people under 18
2. Do all adults need eight hours of sleep each night?
3. Is technology addition a real additction?
4. Discuss the various pros and cons of video games among teenagers.
5. What are the various advantages and disadvantages of globalisation?
6. Is the society becoming over-regulated?
7. Is homeschooling a major disadvantage for the students?
8. Is social media having a negative/positive impact on our lives?
9. What are the different advantages and disadvantages of peer pressure?
10. Can virtual reality turn out to be dangerous for the youngsters?
11. Weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of studying/beginning to work at 18... of living alone/with other people... and so on.
12. All marketing strategies are essentially manipulative." Discuss, using examples from your experience.
13. To what extent are gender roles and stereotypes influenced by the media?

Discursive essay topic #1: Do energy drinks pose health risks to people under 18?
Many swear by energy drinks and the boost of energy from caffeine they provide,
but others claim that such high levels of caffeine are too dangerous for young people.
Discursive essay topic #2: Do all adults need eight hours of sleep each night?
Many experts state that adults require eight hours of sleep to stay healthy.
But others argue that sleep needs vary, and some people may require fewer (or even more) hours of restful sleep each night.
Discursive essay topic #3: Is technology addiction a real addiction?
Some believe that technology is a tool and that limiting technology use is simply a matter of putting down the gaming system, tablet,
or phone. Yet others argue that tech addiction is real. They claim people need professional medical treatment to manage their
addictions.
 Are electric cars a replacement for those powered by fossil fuels?

Electric cars are currently being developed by many well-known automotive companies. Many people still
question whether electric cars are a feasible replacement for petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles. In this essay, I
will explore the opinions for and against the use of electric cars and their replacement of petrol and diesel-
fuelled cars.

On the one hand, electric cars are environmentally friendly. Not only are they powered by renewable energy
sources, but they are clean to run and maintain on the road. To support this opinion, recent studies show that
the use of electric cars helps to minimize pollution in urban and rural areas. Clearly, electric cars are one way
to tackle ecological concerns and support a ‘greener’ environment.

On the other hand, electric cars are inconvenient to maintain and to dispose of. The driver of an electric
vehicle must recharge his car approximately every 100 kilometres. In addition, the plutonium battery of an
electric car is toxic to the environment and must be safely disposed of through expensive means. In brief,
scientists are still exploring ways to produce these types of vehicles so that they are easier to manufacture,
maintain and use safely.

To sum up, it is evident that there are both pros and cons in the development of electric vehicles. Despite the
expense of development and the inconvenience of recharging electric cars, I strongly believe that continuing
with the research and production of these vehicles is well worth the investment and that we should remain
supportive to the use of electric cars and to their development in the future.
From: Ieltspodcast
 References and helpful material retrieved from:

Cómo escribir un essay – Varona’s Institute Blog

Sentence starters for Essays – Lab Web de Inglés
How to write a discurssive Essay – Slideshire
How to write a Discursive Essay – Solid Essay
All types of Essays Guides – Handmade Writing
Good topics for Argumentative Essays - Essay Shark
50 Great Argumentatie Essays Topics for any assigment - PrepScholar
20 Discursive Essay Topics – Kibin
What is a Thesis Statement - 7ESL
Difference Between Argumentative and Discursive Essays – Iwriteessays.com
Academic Writing: Essays – Bethlehem College
How to begin an Essay – ThoughtCo.
Writing Paragraphs – Butte College
Argumentative Essays Samples – Examples.com
IELTS Writings Samples – Writing9
Discurssive Essay IELTS – IELTS Podcast

Dated: 28 Sept 2021

Sep 2021

Mª Ascensión Villalba Varona – avillalba@varonas.com