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Discursive or argumentative writing involvesdiscussing, or
arguing around a particular topic.The task of discursive writing is
closely linked to thatof argumentative writing.The main difference
is that in discursive writing you
are asked to discuss, which usually means providingpoints both
for and against whereas in argumentativewriting you are asked to
argue a case, which usuallyinvolves only points for or against a
particularopinion.In both discursive and argumentative writing
youmight be expected to try to persuade the reader thatyour point
of view is correct.Discursive writing will generally be more
balancedthan argumentative writing.
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Each type of writing involves:Taking several lines of argument
and developingthem.Presenting lines of argument in an ordered
fashion.
Giving evidence to support the lines of argument.Linking
coherently each line of argument.
There are basically two differences:Discursive writing requires
providing points for and against.Argumentative writing requires
providing pointseither for or against.
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You have a choice of two ways of orderingyour points: Start with
what for you is the most powerful point,
move on to the next most powerful point and so
on. Start with what for you is the least powerful point,move on
to the next most powerful and up to themost powerful.
If your essay is discursive, you must also decide whetheryou
personally are for and against. Your own personalview will
determine whether you start with the points foror points
against.
The best way to structure a discursive essay is to deal withyour
own viewpoints second.
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You must develop points made by offering evidenceto support
them.It is also important to link points for and pointsagainst and
to show when your writing is movingfrom for to against, or from
against to for.
Introduction and Conclusion: Each of theseparagraphs will
probably be short. Although there isprobably less scope for
eye-catching openings indiscursive and argumentative writing than
there is innarrative, that is no excuse to make your
openingdull.
In the case of discursive writing, the concludingparagraph gives
you an opportunity to show yourown views and opinions. In the case
of argumentativewriting, you have a chance to round off your line
of argument with a final appeal to the reader.
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1. Select the topic of your essay .2. Choose the central idea,
or thesis, of your essay.For example: Information technology
hasrevolutionized the way we work.
3. Outline your essay into introductory, body andsummary
paragraphs.4. The introductory paragraph begins with aninteresting
sentence. For example: Home workershave grown from 150,000 to over
12 million in thepast 5 years thanks to the wonders of
thecomputer.
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8. In each of the body paragraphs (usually twoor three) the
ideas first presented in theintroductory paragraph are developed.9.
Develop your body paragraphs by givingdetailed information and
examples. Forexample: When the Internet was firstintroduced it was
used primarily by scientists,now it is common in every
classroom.10. Body paragraphs should develop thecentral idea and
finish with a summary of thatidea. There should be at least two
examplesor facts in each body paragraph to supportthe central
idea.
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11. The summary paragraph summarizes your essayand is often a
reverse of the introductory paragraph.12. Begin the summary
paragraph by quicklyrestating the principal ideas of your body
paragraphs.For example: The Internet in the home, benefits andease
of use of modern computer systems...13. The penultimate sentence
should restate yourbasic thesis of the essay. For example: We have
nowpassed from the industrial revolution to theinformation
revolution.14. Your final statement can be a future predictionbased
on what you have shown in the essay. Forexample: The next step: The
complete disappearanceof the workplace.
