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A Guide to Writing a Discursive Essay: Format, Tips, and Examples

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A Guide to Writing a Discursive Essay Format, Tips, and Examples

A discursive essay states and explores more than one opinion regarding a topic (i.e., issue or argument), much like argumentative and persuasive essays, but there are differences.

If you have a discursive essay to write but don’t know how, this comprehensive guide will help you! It covers the concept of a discursive essay, its format, tips for writing an effective essay, and a simplified example.

Now, before we begin, we need to understand what discursive essays are to be able to write them properly.

Understanding Discursive Essays

What is a Discursive Essay?

A discursive essay is the one in which the author presents at least two different opinions related to the topic and extract a meaningful conclusion based on those opinions without trying to persuade or convince readers of any opinion.

Meaning of The Word “Discursive”

The word “discursive” is an adjective, meaning “relating to discourse.” So, a “discursive essay” means “an essay related to discourse” or “an essay containing discourse.”

Whereas the term “discourse” refers to the use of language to convey ideas and information, written or spoken. Examples of discourse include a written essay, blog post, or people conversing in comments on a social media post.

Types of Discursive Essay

Discursive essays focus on exploring multiple opinions about a topic, particularly to inform and engage readers. That said, there are three primary types of discursive essays, though some people categorize various other essays containing discourse as discursive essays as well, but this inclusion isn’t set in stone.

The three primary types of discursive essays are as follows:

1. Opinion Discursive Essays

An opinion essay presents and explores the author’s personal opinion with an in-depth explanation of how and why this opinion is formulated (i.e., how given pieces of evidence support this opinion), followed by contrasting or alternating opinions from others with the same depth of details and explanation before concluding.

2. For and Against Discursive Essays

In a for-and-against–discursive essay, the author presents both supporting and opposing arguments or perspectives about a topic, discussing its both positive and negative aspects, without favoring either side.

3. Problem and Solution Discursive Essays

A problem-and-solution essay focuses on examining a particular problem and proposing a potential solution at the end supported by various existing solutions presented in the essay with their advantages and disadvantages. The author’s opinion (proposed solution) is necessary in this essay.

Beside these three primary types of discursive essays, sometimes, argumentative and persuasive essays are also considered discursive:

1. Argumentative Essay: An argumentative essay focuses on exploration of an argument in depth. The author presents their argument or opinion and uses factual evidence and reasoning to convince readers of its accuracy.

Sometimes, an argumentative essay is written using discursive writing, which explores two or more opinions on the topic and is called an argumentative discursive essay.

2. Persuasive Essay: A persuasive essay, as the name indicates, persuades readers to agree with the author’s opinion. The author presents their opinion as well as opposing opinions and tries to convince readers through reasoning and emotion that their opinion is the most sound and correct way of perceiving the topic.

Difference Between Persuasive and Opinion Essay

You might be wondering what’s the difference between a persuasive and opinion essay.

Here is the difference: A persuasive essay is more emotional than it is factual and tries to persuade readers through emotional appeal to agree with the author’s opinion. On the other hand, an opinion essay is more logical, factual, and reasonable, stating alternative and contrasting opinions without persuading readers to agree with the author.

Expressing Personal Opinions in a Discursive Essay

Expressing personal opinions is allowed in discursive essays but only in the conclusion sections, unless you’re writing an opinion (or persuasive) essay, which focuses on the author’s personal opinion. However, in any case, an author still cannot persuade readers to accept or agree with their opinion, except in persuasive essays.

So, the author can provide their opinion in the conclusion section but it has to be sound, reasonable, and based on the given evidence.

The matter of deciding which opinion is right or wrong and should be agreed with is left up to readers, except in persuasive essays. They can agree with whichever opinion they find to be the most sound.

Writing a Discursive Essay

Writing a discursive essay is pretty much the same as writing other essays except for its unique purpose (i.e., discourse; exploring multiple insights).

Steps to Write a Discursive Essay

To write a discursive essay, you need to:

  • Pick a topic,
  • Identify what type of discursive essay suits your goal (i.e., presenting an opinion, comparing existing opinions, or suggesting a solution to a problem),
  • Research the topic (i.e., study the topic, learn and explore all the opinions, etc.)
  • Start writing.

Additionally, a discursive essay follows the same usual format as other types of essays.

Format of a Discursive Essay

A discursive essays is divided into the following three sections:

  • Introduction
  • Body paragraphs
  • Conclusion

Here’s how you can write each section:

1. Introduction

An introduction introduces the essay’s topic through background information and clarifies the essay’s purpose. In some essays, an introduction can also include the author’s opinion. Here’s how to write one:

  • Introduce the topic: Start by introducing and presenting the topic. Provide adequate background information about the topic concisely.
  • Use hooks to engage readers: A hook is an interesting opening sentence, like a question, statistic, or a quote, that grabs readers’ attention and makes them want to read further. Students are encouraged to use hooks in their essay openings.
  • Clarify the essay’s purpose: Write why you’re writing the essay and (i.e., to discuss varying viewpoints or suggest a potential solution to a problem)

2. Body paragraphs

Body paragraphs make up the main section of your essay. It presents the main points/arguments and examines them in depth. Here’s how you can write it:

  • Present the arguments: Present and discuss all your arguments one by one.
  • Balance the presentation: Present every side of the topic equally. Give an equal amount of detail to every opinion and don’t deviate to any one opinion in bias.
  • Structure the section logically: For example, if it’s a solution-problem essay, discuss the problem first and then the solution.
  • Use evidence to back each opinion: Evidence is crucial to ensure credibility. For every opinion you state, back it up with evidence, such as reliable facts, figures, and examples.

3. Conclusion

A conclusion includes a summary of the main points and sometimes the author’s opinion.

  • Summarize: Write a clear and concise summary of the essay’s main points discussed in the body.
  • Opinionate: Include your opinion in the conclusion if needed.
  • Don’t force an opinion if not required: Some essays don’t require a clear opinion. In this case, avoid forcing a conclusive opinion.
  • Provide final thoughts (optional): Sometimes, authors may provide some final thoughts at the end of the conclusion to connect the topic at hand to broader issues or future considerations.

Tips for Writing a Discursive Essay

Follow these steps for writing effective essays:

  • Avoid Jargon: Overuse of jargon and technical terms can feel unwelcoming to readers and overwhelm them. If a jargon is unavoidable, use parentheses or a sentence or two to explain it.
  • Use Simple and Clear Language: Simple and clear language is the key to communicate effectively.

Vague and wordy writing can cause misinterpretations and decreased readability, affecting readers’ understanding of the topic and studying experience. Consider rewriting these sentences for better understanding and readability.

Here’s a tip: You can easily rewrite wordy sentences using Paraphraser.us — an AI paraphrasing tool that paraphrase your input text for clarity.

Clear communication is essential to help readers understand your narrative as clearly as possible for greater conviction.

  • Employ an objective tone to avoid bias: An objective tone is necessary in most discursive essays. It ensures a bias-less approach to your writing.
  • Write objectively: An objective tone alone is not enough for a bias-less essay. Try your best to approach every opinion with an open mind and state it in the essay with an objective point of view.
  • Present Multiple Opinions: Discursive essays require you to present multiple opinions. So, you have to be mindful of this aspect. Avoid relying on a single opinion in your essay. 
  • Define and Maintain Your Tone: Another aspect to consider when writing essays is defining and maintaining a consistent tone. Essays can be written in a formal or humorous tone. Define what type of tone you want to use in the essay and stick to it without altering it here and there, which otherwise is considered unprofessional.
  • Use Evidence: Lack of evidence can render your essay discreditable and weak in narrative. That’s why you must back all the arguments with proper evidence to establish credibility and strengthen your narrative.
  • Avoid Logical Fallacies: In essays that require the author’s opinion, falling prey to a logical fallacy, such as ad hominem, is not uncommon. Learn about and try to avoid logical fallacies by revising your essays and identifying them within your argument.
  • Revise and Edit: Always revise and proofread your essays for mistake-finding. Look for grammatical errors, logical flaws, misinterpretations, factual errors, and inconsistency in writing.

Example of a Discursive Essay

Topic/Title: Should Cats Be Tamed?

Introduction:

Cats — the world’s most loved animal — have already charmed their way into human homes for centuries now. Yet, their independent, human-my-servant-like behavior raises one critical question: should cats be tamed, or are they better off roaming free? This essay will explore the pros and cons of taming these furry devil-in-disguise fairies.

Body:

On one hand, taming cats could mean fewer late-night zoomies and an end to their mind-bogglingly unsophisticated habit of knocking items off counters. On the other hand, their untamed nature is part of their appeal. Taming these creatures could mean losing their wild, tiger side of the traits — such as losing their basic survival instincts — and becoming hyper-sensitive and picky about the quality of milk and meals they enjoy, much like spoiled kids in wealthy families.

Conclusion:

While taming cats sounds tempting for the sake of sanity, their quirky independence is what makes them, well, cats. Perhaps the best solution is not to tame them but to embrace their chaos—after all, they’ve already tamed us.

Conclusion

A discursive essay is the one in which the author presents at least two different opinions related to the topic and extract a meaningful conclusion based on those opinions without trying to persuade or convince readers of any opinion. 

There are three primary types of discursive essays: opinion, for-and-against, and problem-and-solution essays, though some other essays are sometimes confused as discursive ones. The article further highlights the format of discursive essays with tips and an example.

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