Discursive Essay
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susanrhodesDiscursive Essay
Uploaded by
susanrhodesDiscursive Essay
The main idea of writing discursive essays is to set some arguments. Your goal is to make
people discuss your topic pointing different opinions. Basically, it has a lot to do with
argumentative and persuasive essays though it is a separate type that has particular features.
Writing a discursive essay, you will have to deal with varieties of opinions. Learning them all,
you need to show your point of view is worth paying attention as well, and though it might be
some kind of hopeless one it deserves the right to take place and be considered.
The main clue that differ discursive essays from argumentative and persuasive ones is that
you do not have to prove your words with evidence. The strongest support here is your mind.
What to do
As we have already clarified, you need to set discourse in action. To do so, first of all you
need to pick a topic and develop it. After, you must thoroughly study opinions of your
opponents and those who support you. Carefully examine what they present and suggest and
extract elements that bring about controversies with your view on a matter.
To make the entire process easy-to-understand, let’s make a list of what to do:
• select the matter to discuss;
• determine your position;
• study opinions of opponents and followers;
• explain why one point is acceptable while the rest is not;
• pick arguments and think over proves.
It is very important to note that although pointing evidence is not a must, it does not mean that
you do not need any. If your position is supported by proves it automatically enhances your
side and makes you wiser for impartial readers.
What not to do
Though essay writing seems to be easy work to do, there are a lot of underwater stones one
should omit. Composing a discursive essay you do not have to be rude, on the contrary, you
should show how polite you are and represent enough large-minded. To argue does not mean
to express zero tolerance to your opponents.
Thus, try to avoid the following:
• do not dramatize your principal position;
• do not close to one and only opinion;
• do not pretend that your are the good and the rest is a root of all evil;
• do not point facts which you are not sure about;
• do not use words and expressions that may sound offensive to someone else.
Generally, writing discursive essays, an author should simply state his position. It should not
look like political debates overloaded with hatred and contradictory facts. Remember that the
truth is born in a dispute. But where passions are out of measure, truth evaporates.
