The Discursive Essay Mrs Munko Mr Kelly

The Discursive Essay Mrs. Munko / Mr. Kelly

The Discursive Essay Presents a written argument or case to an educated reader with no special knowledge of the following topic. Use your own ideas, knowledge, experience, and data to support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence Closely related to the conventional argumentative essay, but with a subtly different purpose and style.

Discursive Purposes A discursive essay attempts to present a much more balanced discussion of an issue than an argumentative essay It does not, however, have to be expressly neutral. Present both sides of the discussion, supported by facts and research. May draw tentative conclusions, offer recommendations, or state a low key opinion about the subject and suggest these to the reader.

Discursive Style More formal and impersonal style than other essays. Each issue should be discussed in a separate paragraph and each paragraph should begin with a strong topic sentence. Will typically alternate paragraphs or pages of point followed by paragraphs or pages of counterpoint. Express a low-key opinion, conclusion, or recommendation in the final paragraph.

Consider the following topic for a discursive essay.

More and more colleges and universities are offering courses via distance learning. Distance learning has many benefits, but there also drawbacks, and not every learner will be suited to this mode of study.

2 Possibilities… Introduction Advantages for Suitable Learners Disadvantages for Unsuitable Learners Conclusion Introduction Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning Suitable and un-suitable learners for Distance Learning Conclusion

Knowledge Check…

True or False? A discursive essay is an argumentative essay? FALSE! A discursive essay is argumentative in nature, but more balanced, refined, and offers no commitment until the final paragraph!

True or False? A discursive essay considers equally all perspectives. TRUE!!

True or False? A discursive essay states the writers opinion in the introductory paragraph? FALSE!! The discursive essay remains noncommittal until the final paragraph, where the writer offers an opinion or recommendation.

True or False? A discursive is more formal and detached than an argumentative essay? TRUE!!

Bonus! True or False? The discursive essay is the most difficult mode of academic writing to master? TRUE!! Due to its nature and formal conventions, the discursive essay is the most difficult for high school students to master. But, YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Thesis Statements for the discursive essay

Introductions and Thesis Statements

An Introduction includes A “Hook” that draws the reader into the essay A "hook" is usually a comment that inspires an emotional response from the reader. It should be used to get their interest. Comments and background give a history, context, or information regarding the topic. Announcing the topic A clear (but balanced) thesis statement. The thesis statement is the last sentence in the introduction paragraph and it describes what the essay is about.

Attention-getting openings A startling fact or bit of information A universal idea related to your thesis A rich, vivid description or image An interesting anecdote, story, or dramatic episode Beginning in the middle of the action A fresh analogy, metaphor or extended metaphor

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. ”

Openings to avoid Dictionary definitions of words your reader should know. “Did you know? ” or “Have you ever wondered? ” rhetorical questions “This paper will be about …” “In this paper I will prove” Quotations

More opening mistakes to avoid Beginning too far away from your actual topic (“There are many novels, all of which have characters. Some characters are heroes, and some are not. ”) Keep relevance in mind at all times A “book report” list of irrelevant facts (William Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan era in England. He wrote many plays. One of these plays was Hamlet. )

Globalization is an eraser that blurs out national borders. Virtually everyone eats at "Mc. Donald's", drinks "Heineken", dresses up in "Prada" and "Gucci", communicate through the Internet, watches movies with Bruce Willis, and works in multinational companies. And, many people are worrying that these phenomena might become reasons for losses of roots, traditions and the cultural identity. In order to come to a considered conclusion about globalization, we must examine a number of factors including the wars started because of globalization and the progress achieved due to it.

Teenagers are the mirrors of their surroundings. Parents and teachers are big components of those surroundings and many psychologists are alarmed that the crime rate among young people is rapidly escalating. Children are suffering from a lack of attention from their parents and teachers. In order to come to a considered conclusion about juvenile delinquency, we must take a number of factors into account, including parents’ business commitments and teachers’ concentration on giving an academic education to a kid.

Save the first for last Have at least a working version of your thesis before composing but save the introduction for later. Then it will truly introduce what’s written instead of what writer intended. This ties the introduction more effectively to the body paragraphs

Discursive Essay Thesis The thesis statement is generally noncommittal and presents the controversy, without indicating to what conclusion the writer will come.

Discursive Essay Thesis "In order to come to a considered conclusion about (insert assigned topic here), we must take a number of factors into account including factor x, factor y, and factor z”.