Elements of Discursive Writing

Learning intention: To increase awareness of discursive form and feature.

Characteristics of Discursive Writing

Basically, it’s an essay or text that explores a number of viewpoints without trying to persuade the reader.

Explores an issue or idea and may suggest a position or point of view.
Approaches a topic from different angles and explores themes and issues in a style that balances personal observations with different perspectives.
Uses personal anecdotes .
Can be humorous or serious in tone.
Primarily uses first-person voice.
Uses figurative language, but also facts.
Draws upon real life experiences and/or wide reading on the topic/issue.
Uses engaging imagery and literary techniques.
Begins with an event, an anecdote, or relevant quote that is then used to explore an idea.
Resolution may be reflective or open-ended.
Just discusses ideas and opinions on one topic, including the author’s own opinion.

The overall purpose of a discursive piece is to open discussion about one of the topics chosen an offer a diversity of views on it.

There are many diffeent structures for Discursives

Discursive Scaffold

Discursive Response Scaffold

Language:

· Rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos and logos)

· Imagery and metaphor (synthesised and cohesive)

· Vocabulary/connotation

· First person perspective (establish tone relevant to thesis)

· Second person address

· The use of anecdote is a possibility, however, this should be used conservatively and thoughtfully. Avoid slipping into recount and ensure the anecdote has merit and balanced with the argument presented.

Example Question:
"Then, although it was the end of the story, I put it at the beginning of the novel, as if I needed to tell the end first in order to go on and tell the rest" – Lydia Davis.
Use the above quote as stimulus for a piece of discursive writing.

Planning a discursive

Brainstorming ideas

So how should you start? The first step is to find a topic which you don’t particularly care about (so you aren’t tempted to push a particular opinion/side - it’s not a persuasive essay), but a topic that is interesting enough to write about. I found these steps helpful:

List 10 - 15 ideas that seem interesting.

Create a shortlist by reviewing and eliminating ideas that are:

- Too complicated to discuss in 1000-1200 words
- Doesn’t give you the opportunity to explore multiple angles
- Plain boring to write about
- Hard to research, and you don’t know enough information about

Briefly research each topic in your shortlist, and narrow it down to the best one.

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