The primary types of discursive include the following:
In learning how to write a discursive essay, certain do's and don'ts serve as guiding principles throughout the writing process. By adhering to these guidelines, writers can navigate the complexities of presenting arguments, counterarguments, and nuanced analyses, ensuring the essay resonates with clarity and persuasiveness.
The concept of a thesis statement was introduced in Chapter 21. The information below relates specifically to a discursive essay thesis statement.
As noted in the introduction to this chapter, the discursive essay should not take a stance and therefore the thesis statement must also impartially indicate more than one perspective. The goal is to present both sides of an argument equally and allow the reader to make an informed and well-reasoned choice after providing supporting evidence for each side of the argument.
Download your free discursive essay cheatsheet!
This guide serves as a roadmap, offering not just a set of rules but a toolkit to empower students in their academic journey. As you embark on future writing endeavors, armed with the knowledge gained here, you can confidently navigate the challenges of constructing well-reasoned, balanced discursive essays that contribute meaningfully to academic discourse and foster a deeper understanding of complex issues. If you want to continue your academic learning journey right now, we suggest that you read about the next.
A discursive essay explores and discusses both sides of a particular topic or issue. It presents balanced arguments from various perspectives without necessarily taking a clear stance.
Transitional phrases and sentences help guide the reader through the arguments in a discursive essay and show how they are connected. They are essential for ensuring that the essay is well-structured and easy to follow.
A discursive essay, like most essays, should begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. You can either talk about a topic neutrally, showing both the pros and cons, or you can argue for or against.
What do I do once I’ve got a second draft of my discursive essay?
However, to create a discursive essay of a high standard, you will want to include arguments that oppose yours and then undermine them with evidence. You are including other opinions or options then countering them to strengthen your argument. The structure of this paragraph is similar, you present the opposing argument and then evidence against it -summary of point + evidence.
A discursive essay’s introduction should include:
Use previous chapters to explore your chosen topic through concept mapping (Chapter 18) and essay outlining (Chapter 19), with one variance; you must include your proposed claims and counter claims in your proposed paragraph structures. What follows is a generic model for a discursive essay. The following Chapter 27 will examine this in further details.
This is the most important part of a discursive essay.
The conclusion of a discursive essay should summarize the main arguments presented in the essay, restate the topic sentence, and discuss which argument or viewpoint the author finds most convincing. It should also acknowledge that there may be different perspectives on the issue and end with a call to action or a question for further consideration.
Social Issues of Discursive Essay Topics
This chapter gives an overview of what a discursive essay is and a few things to consider when choosing your topic. It also provides a generic outline for a discursive essay structure. The following chapter examines the structure in further detail.
Technology of Discursive Essay Topics
A discursive essay is an essay which involves a discussion. You’re encouraged to examine different perspectives on the issue so that the discussion you provide is a balanced one! You are on the right track if your essay sheds light on the issue by looking at it from different viewpoints.
Education of Discursive Essay Topics
In recent years, “What is your opinion?” and “What are your views?” are common signposts used to indicate a discursive essay topic. However, there are also instances where such questions are not used. Consider: