discursive essay tips

discursive essay tips

Effective Strategies for Writing a Discursive Essay

1. Introduction to Discursive Essays

Therefore, a discursive essay is a type of essay that consists in discussing a problem, an issue, or a phenomenon. It’s very useful in terms of exam preparation, composition writing, or for basically any other kind of written expression. You’ll then, usually, have to write around two sides of A4 paper. So, let’s see the best strategies to compose a good discursive essay. Before you start to write, first and foremost, you need to make a plan. This will definitely help you to create a good structure and to simply have a point from which you can progress. If you start writing with no clear idea about your planned essay, you could, in the end, if you finish it, come up with a text that didn’t make much sense and who probably will not score many points.

Discursive essays are those in which you have to explain the issue by taking into account the advantages and disadvantages. How we approach this type of essay is, obviously, determining its definitive structure. In general, some rules that should be followed in all types of essays: to have a clear introduction and conclusion, and present the information in a clear, direct, and concise manner. Another golden rule is, in an essay, to present your information in a logical manner. This means, for example, that you should not choose both the advantages and disadvantages of a proposal. As the main advantage of this way is to focus on just one point of view most often this way to structure an essay.

2. Structuring Your Discursive Essay

Critical essays are biased for or against the subject they are tackling. Such disallowance in critical analysis is counteractive. The reason that counteractive disallowance is introduced for the established essay is that generalizations are infrequent and deliberate thought, detailed research, and refined contemplation are required for an intrinsic, interesting discourse. Issues which are supported in a discursive essay would be more impressive in another age.

There are three basic structures (ways of organizing) for the discursive essay – you argue strongly for a given discussion topic, you argue strongly against a given discussion topic, or you argue about the relative advantages or disadvantages of a given discussion topic. If you are asked to argue for a particular position, do some reading on the topic and come up with some points or arguments which will be put forward by you, as a means of backing up your position. These points are critical to your success. If you are asked to argue against a particular position, do some reading on the topic and collect some evidence, points which are on your side of the argument.

3. Developing Strong Arguments and Counterarguments

In longer essays especially, however, it’s often helpful to use one of the counterargument strategies to support arguments. Even where counterarguments are considered but not logically discarded in the text, they weigh arguments directly. After all, texts in which opposing viewpoints are considered seem more carefully and credibly researched than those that seem to discard dislike opinions out of hand. Also, including an occasional concession to a different belief can give a writer additional ethos since it shows that she has considered multiple viewpoints. According to the classical model of writing, logos, pathos, and ethos must be used to persuade an audience.

Counterarguments and qualifying language are specifically used in argumentative essays for the purpose of considering strains of thought which oppose an author’s arguments. However, other types of essays used in high-stakes testing (such as the persuasive essay in many end-of-course writing exams and the responding to a writer’s argument essay in the SAT writing exam) also require that opposing viewpoints be considered. Once again, many conventions for developing counterarguments and qualifying language in shorter forms of writing can also lend themselves to use in other essay types.

4. Using Persuasive Language and Rhetorical Devices

Another persuasive language and rhetorical device is that of association, for example, personal anecdotes and quotations, gaining the reader’s trust. It may be the case that a particular person is trusted by the reader, for whatever reason. Quoting or just simply mentioning the person can lead to the reader having a better relationship with the writer. Personal anecdotes can have a similar effect to quoting someone as they are viewed as honest when used in a persuasive text. Humor is another effective use of persuasive language, although careful consideration must be given to it when used in a formal text. It has the potential to lighten the mood of the text, making it more interesting and easier to understand. Irony, natural authority, connotations, analogy, and hyperbole are just a few other persuasive language and rhetorical devices that can be exploited.

A few examples of such language are, firstly, the use of concrete, definite language or the power of pronouns. This works for recreating the passage as if it were face to face, in order to keep the reader engaged. It works by conveying meaning that the reader can relate to, for instance by providing concrete, real-life situations. Another way to keep the person interested is the use of powerful pronouns. The most powerful pronoun is ‘you’, and while this can often be overused, keeping its use to a minimum in persuasive writing can really make the person feel as though the text is personal to them. Another effective use of pronouns is ‘we’, and using this in a persuasive text can create a real sense of a shared experience.

When it comes to writing, how you say it can be just as important as what the content is. This is especially true in academic writing. It may be the case that every sentence has to be grammatically perfect, and every piece of information has to be accurate. This is especially the case when you are trying to persuade someone to think a certain way. Exploiting the use of persuasive language and rhetorical devices is something that not only the best writers can do, but it is also something that the best writers must do.

5. Concluding Your Discursive Essay

6. Use the Right Language The character of discursive essays is ill-fated. The author has to start each paragraph with a clear and proper beginning, followed by the ongoing sentences that will develop the topic. Current studies imply that in this sort of essay, narrative linguistic tactics are definitely not recommended. They must not write about the past, and they should definitely not tell stories connected to the topic. For example, if the teacher assigns the task to explore renewable energy solutions in essay form, it is strictly forbidden to start the introduction with the following sentences explaining why one is personally intolerant of non-sustainable resources. Instead, statements that reject scientific or statistical evidence can be written. The proper suggestion is to surround the issues and to deal simultaneously with every single one during the whole essay.

5. Concluding Your Discursive Essay Summarize each point and include a statement that allows the reader to comprehend why the issue might concern them or consider its relevance. To draw conclusions is challenging and risky. Be patient and use your logic and your thinking.

4. Use Linkers When writing discursive essays, it is essential to use linkers. Linkers are the essential particular words that support the story flow. They also guide the reader from one paragraph of the main body to the next. Furthermore, they help to inform the reader that a new argument, idea, or comment is going to come. Their useful characteristic allows replacing the unfamiliar subject of discussion with the correct words, which link the conversation to the new paragraph one.

3. Use Examples If you state specific examples, you are likely to add more logical and convincing arguments. Always select the examples that have a common background. It means that if the students are discussing data security, the following examples such as delivery services they shop via and parties can be given, but pets’ protection will not make a good example.

2. Use Elaborative Language To persuade the reader and to ensure one’s point of view will gain full support, it is crucial to use explicit and persuasive argumentative language. The reader will resent an aggressive tone, just like a formal one is considered to be an inconvenient and inappropriate position to be used in your pieces of writing. So, a balance between these two is required.

Conclusion – In this last part, the author has to sum up both discussed points of view in either a biased or impartial manner. This step is an essential part of raising the reader’s knowledge regarding the matter point-by-point.

Main body – In this part, the author has to write at least three paragraphs to introduce three separate points regarding the chosen topic. To prove the point of view, the writer is entitled to use supporting evidence. It can be taken from newspapers, personal experience, interviews, etc.

Introduction – In this part, the author has to inform the reader about the topic, offer some additional info to help them grasp what is being discussed, and present a thesis statement.

1. Structure your Discursive Essay To come up with a good essay, you have to work out the structure. As a matter of fact, every piece of writing can be connected to the basic essay structure. There are three main parts, and they are as follows: