Common Language Features:

•The register is usually informal and written in a way someone speaks.

•Mostly written in first person (because you are talking about something that happened to you).

•Sometimes written in third person (if the anecdote is about someone else).

•They can vary in tone depending on the subject matter (from something serious to something more light-hearted or humorous).

•Are mostly written in past tense (but can be in present tense – more on this later!).

•They may often include hyperbole or exaggeration.

•Temporal connectives (words such as ‘then’ or ‘after’) are used to indicate a chronological sequence of events.

Why are anecdotes a key feature of discursive texts?

Anecdotes are an important feature of discursive writing. In discursive writing, anecdotes can help to:

•create a conversational tone

•build a connection between the writer/speaker and reader/listener

•craft an engaging personal voice

•build authority over the subject matter of the discursive piece by demonstrating personal experience and understanding

•build connections between personal experiences and the bigger ideas being explored.