DISCURSSIVE WRITING - TOPIC
This revision bite looks more closely at the second purpose of writing which is
examined in Standard Grade English - to deploy ideas and argue.
This means that you are expected to discuss a given topic and to present an
argument related to it.
Organising a discursive essay
There are three basic structures (ways of organising) for the discursive essay -
• you argue strongly for a given discussion topic
• you argue strongly against a given discussion topic
• you argue about a given discussion topic in a balanced way.
Ideally, you should read these over (and complete any accompanying
tasks)before you attempt the test bite. Good luck!
Finding information for a discursive essay
In the same way as you would look for information for the informative essay, you could try the following
areas for information which would support arguments in the discursive essay -
• any relevant books from any library you can reach (check the non-fiction and reference sections)
• the internet
• magazines and newspapers
• television and video
• mums and dads and brothers and sisters and uncles
• and aunts and friends . . . . . . !
It is important that you keep a note of where all your information comes from. This will allow
you to check it again later, and will also allow you to complete the ‘Sources consulted’ section
on the folio tag.
Other points
If you choose to do the discursive essay remember that you are expected to have a personal opinion - try
to make clear your personal interest in the issues you are offering for discussion!
Remember, in the examination itself, you will not be able to access information, nor take in
notes of any description (you won't know what's in the paper anyway!). So, the ideas about
access to all of the above sources apply mainly to the completion of discursive essays for your
folio.
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Planning a discursive essay
The following basic structure should be employed for writing this essay.
• Provide an interesting introduction.
• Provide a clear indication of your position, your stance in relation to the
topic (are you 'for' or 'against' ?).
• Present your first argument, with supporting evidence.
• Present your second argument, with supporting evidence.
• Present your third argument, with supporting evidence.
• Present your fourth argument, with supporting evidence, and so on (the
number of paragraphs like this will depend on the number of arguments you can
offer).
• Indicate, in a single paragraph, that there is another side to this
argument, with some idea of the points likely to be made for the view(s) which
are opposite to your own.
• Reiterate (state again) your position and conclude your essay.
This plan is followed in the exemplar essay provided in this revision bite.
Listen to this audio clip about presenting a balanced argument.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/english/writing/discursive_writing/revision/3/
Introducing a discursive essay
The opening of an essay is important. It should capture the reader's attention in some way or another. It
should avoid being bland or dull. It should invite the reader to read on and create a sense of interest. If
the beginning is flat, it will not inspire your audience.
Methods of Opening a Discursive Essay
The following methods are suggestions. It is up to you to decide which style suits your writing best.
Provocative
e.g."It is difficult to see how anyone can approve of fox hunting."
Balanced
e.g."Fox hunting is a subject about which people hold strongly contrasting views."
Quotation
e.g."Oscar Wilde once described fox hunting as 'The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable.'."
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
Illustration
e.g."On a glorious autumn morning a terrified, exhausted animal is savaged to death by a pack of baying
dogs while a group of expensively dressed humans encourage the dogs in their bloody work."
Anecdote
e.g."I have always detested fox hunting since I was almost physically sick while watching a television film
of the kill at the end of a hunt."
Linking ideas in a discursive essay
Any well-written piece of discursive writing will flow as one continuous piece despite being made up of
three or four different arguments. One of the techniques which can help you to achieve this effectively is
the use of linking words. These words are usually used at the beginning of a new paragraph but can also
be used to link ideas within a paragraph.
Same line of thought
e.g. - and, firstly, secondly etc., next, furthermore, likewise, in addition, similarly, also, moreover.
Conclusion/summary
e.g. - thus, therefore, consequently, accordingly, in retrospect, hence, in conclusion, in brief, as a result.
Definite statement
e.g. - without question, without doubt, unquestionably, absolutely.
Contrasting idea
e.g. - yet, on the other hand, nevertheless, however, although, conversely, otherwise, on the contrary.
Further examples
because, for instance, since, for example, so that, despite the fact that, accordingly, although, if, though,
unless.
Video clip: Presenting your own and the opposite side of an argument
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/english/writing/discursive_writing/revision/5/
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
English
Discursive writing
Formal tone in a discursive essay
It is important when you write a discursive essay to write in a proper formal way.
You should not use an informal style to write a discursive essay.
In simple terms, this means the following -
Do Do not use
Write in proper, complete sentences Abbreviations (i.e./e.g./etc./UK/&)
Use complete words and expressions Contractions (isn't/don't/won't)
Use proper, standard English Slang (e.g. bloke/geezer etc)
Colloquial language (mate/bolshy etc.)
On a slightly different note, you should also try to make sure that you use a decent standard of
vocabulary in any formal essay you write.
In particular, try to avoid weak vocabulary such as 'get', 'got' and 'getting'. Relying on this level of
vocabulary too often suggests that your power of expression is weak. Build up your word power!
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
Discursive essay example
In this page, you will concentrate on one discursive essay structure.
Below you will find an example discursive essay. Read the essay over carefully. Study it and work out
how it has been written.
Reading the essay
Whilst reading the essay, consider the following questions, writing down your ideas -
• what is the main idea the writer is arguing about?
• each paragraph has a sub-topic which contributes to the essay's main topic - what does each
paragraph contribute to the argument?
• what evidence does the writer offer to support the arguments?
• which of the three suggested structures identified earlier does the writer adopt in this essay?
• does the writer link ideas clearly in the essay?
• You will probably want to read the essay over twice to help you answer these questions.
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
1 A subject which always arouses strong feelings on both sides of the argument is the use of animals in
medical research. I believe that, though this may have been necessary in the past, other ways can be
developed to test drugs and, in the future, animals should not be used.
2 One of my main reasons for saying this is that living tissues can be grown in test tubes and new drugs
can be tested on these. Computers can also be programmed to show how medicines will react in the
human body.
3 Moreover, animals are not always like humans. They do not suffer from all human diseases, so
scientists have to give them the illnesses artificially. The joints in rabbit legs are inflamed with
chemicals to help research in rheumatism. These tests do not always work because animals do not react
to drugs in the same way as humans. Aspirin, for example, damages pregnant mice and dogs, but not
pregnant women. Arsenic, which is a deadly poison for humans, has no effect on sheep, while
penicillin, which is so valuable to humans, kills guinea pigs.
4 In addition, I believe that animal experiments should not be used because of the unnecessary pain that
they cause to animals. The government introduced new rules about the use of animals in experiments in
1986. Scientists claim that these rules safeguard animals because they state that discomfort must be
kept to a minimum and that painkillers must be used where necessary and appropriate. Surely this
means, however, that scientists can still decide not to use painkillers in the animal experiments because
they do not consider them appropriate. The British Union against Vivisection claims that 75% of
animals experimented on are given no anaesthetic.
5 In spite of the claims of some scientists about the effectiveness of animal research, the death rate in
this country has stayed the same over the last thirty years. There is also more long-term sickness, even
though greater numbers of animals are being used in research.
6 On the other hand, scientists claim that some experiments are so small, for example giving an
injection, that painkillers are not needed. They also argue that experiments on animals have been very
useful in the past. For instance, the lives of ten million human diabetics have been saved because of
experiments with insulin on dogs. Dogs also benefited, as the same drug can be used on them. In fact, a
third of medicines used by vets are the same as those used by doctors.
7 It is argued by researchers that the use of animals in experiments cannot be replaced by methods
using living tissue which has been grown in test tubes. These tests do not show how the drugs work on
whole animals and so they only have limited effectiveness.
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
8 Although I accept that some drugs can be used on animals and humans, this does not mean that they
have to be tested on animals in the first place when alternative methods are available. Alternative
methods do work. Various groups have been set up to put money into other ways of researching. For
example the Dr. Hadwen Trust has shown how human cartilage can be grown in test tubes to study
rheumatism. Similar research is being done into cancer and multiple sclerosis. Tests can be done on
bacteria to see whether a chemical will cause cancer. There is even a programme of volunteer human
researchers, where people suffering from illnesses offer to help in research.
9 In conclusion, I accept that animal experiments have brought great benefits in the past, but now
money needs to be spent on developing other methods of testing drugs and medical procedures, so that
the use of animals can be phased out altogether.
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
Párroco Emilio Franco, 53 – 28053 Madrid – Tlf.: 91 478 94 86 – avillalba@varonas.com
