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Discursive Response

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26 views

Discursive Response

Uploaded by

ishitarana311011
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Features of a discursive response (Read Unit 5.

6 – LB Q5 carefully as well)
A discursive essay is written in order to present a topic in a balanced way. It presents all
sides of an argument, and provides the reader with objective evidence about a particular
topic. It is written in an impersonal style, which helps to keep things unbiased.
This means that, as the writer of a discursive essay, you have to be very careful to avoid
arguing for one viewpoint. Instead, you should try to keep your personal opinion out of the
discussion.
Just like when you build a house, it’s important to structure your writing. You do this
by organising your paragraphs in the correct order, and by including the appropriate
information in the corresponding paragraphs. Obviously, you should start with an introduction
and end with a conclusion, but what comes in between?
Here are some key pointers to help you organise your paper:
1. Always be sure to use separate paragraphs. This might seem obvious, but if you
don’t know how to use a paragraph, your ideas quickly become jumbled.
2. Use your introductory paragraph well. Make your hypothesis statement in the first
paragraph. Discursive writing isn’t about writing creatively. It’s about getting the
information across succinctly. If it takes more than one paragraph for your reader to
understand your discussion, they may lose interest.
3. Use the second paragraph to explain HOW you’re going to make your
points. This will give the readers a ‘roadmap’ of your ideas, and help them to find the
points. Use the main points from your essay planning to help guide you.
4. Use your body paragraphs to craft compelling arguments. The main body of
your essay is the place for you to discuss the topic at length.
5. Write one idea per paragraph. Anything more a single idea in each separate
paragraph starts to get confusing.
6. Write a conclusion that wraps everything up nicely. Body paragraphs are great,
but they need to be tied together at the end. In a discursive response, the conclusion
should give your personal view, but it should be written in formal language and avoid
emotional content.

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