Useful techniques for persuasive writing

• High Modality Language: Strong definitive words like ‘must,’ ‘certainly,’ and ‘definitely,’ rather than ‘might,’ ‘perhaps,’ and ’could’

• Inclusive Language: Language which uses inclusive pronouns, such as ‘we’ and ‘our’

• Emotive Language: Language which seeks to elicit an emotion

NESA defines discursive writing as including:

“Writing without the direct intention of persuading the reader, listener or viewer to adopt any single point of view. Discursive texts can be humorous or serious in tone and can have a formal or informal register”

"Texts whose primary focus is to explore an idea or variety of topics. These texts involve the discussion of an idea(s) or opinion(s) without the direct intention of persuading the reader, listener or viewer to adopt any single point of view."

Discursive texts can be humorous or serious in tone and can have a formal or informal register.

Discursive writing is exploratory. It takes an idea, a quote, an event, a person or a memory and explores this. It may end with a reflection and draws widely from many sources including the individual’s personal knowledge, understanding and experience. It can come in many forms, such as a creative non-fiction piece, a travel blog, a discussion essay, a speech or a personal essay.

The purpose behind discursive writing is for you to engage in a deeply relatable, thought-provoking discussion by exploring multiple perspectives on a topic.

Features of discursive writing

TIPS for discursive writing

In a discursive piece of writing, you’ll be expected to write using your own personal voice – not your voice as the author of a story, or your voice as an essayist – your voice as a person. This is what your reader will be expecting and thus, this is what you should aim to achieve.

Momentarily forget everything you know about regular essay writing and let your own voice flow through onto the page, in a way that is authentically you.

How to write discursively

Find a compelling topic or idea to explore

• Start with a strong hook, such as David Sedaris’ essay ‘Untamed’ “When I was young, my family didn’t go on outings to the circus or trips to Disneyland. We couldn’t afford them. Instead, we stayed in our small rural West Texas town, and my parents took us to cemeteries.”

• Show not tell

• Craft a thought-provoking, reflective conclusion that could leave the issue open for further thought.

Planning a discursive piece

• What was the event, idea or situation or who was the person?

• Why does the event, idea, situation or the person still linger in your memories?

• What questions are provoked?

• How did you feel?

• How did you respond?

• What did it mean to you then?

• What does it mean to you now?

• Did it change the way that you perceive yourself, others or the world around you?

Discursive Writing Sample Opening

Everybody has seen the moody, withdrawn teenager with music blasting out of their white earbuds, or the girl rapidly texting on her smartphone. The youth of today are characterised as constantly immersed in technological advancements that promote non-stop communication and instant gratification. However, we must ask if we can place any blame on this generation for the way in which technology has come to permeate and dominate their lives - leaving them simultaneously more connected and more isolated than ever before, using devices as crutch to avoid face-to-face communication while maintaining a plethora of digital connections.

Even now, as I write this article, several drafts and plans have been made on the various devices I own, synced through the mysterious magic of the Google Suite and no doubt consumed by you through some digital technology. Every step involved in its creation has been pushed along by technology. This is precisely what is happening to teens....