1. Discursive Writing
Performance Criteria

2. What is Discursive Writing?
Discursive writing will treat a topic or issue in a way which presents a line of argument, dealing with two or more varying viewpoints.
A well written discursive essay will show the following:
Content
an awareness of the purpose and audience of your essay.
a secure understanding the topic you are writing about.
your enthusiasm for the topic you are writing about.
you have fully researched your topic.
a clear and continuous line of thought throughout your essay.
Style
you have used a range of techniques to reinforce the information your essay conveys.
your style of expression is confident and varied.
your essay is effectively structured.
your writing is technically accurate and makes sense.

3. Discursive Essay Task
Write a discursive essay on an issue you have strong feelings about.

4. Exemplar Essay
With a partner, consider the Discursive Essay you have been given.
Decide on what you think the strengths of the essay are.
Decide on the ways you think the essay could have been improved.
Decide on the mark you think it should have been awarded.

5. “An Invasion of ebooks” - Feedback
Comments:
Argument is subtle and sustained.
Candidate is fully engaged with the debate.
Fluent, conversational style.

6. Discursive Writing
Planning Your Essay

7. Discursive Essay Preparation Tasks
In order to prepare for your Discursive Essay, you should do the following:
Decide on the issue you are going to write about.
Decide on the stance which you will take on this issue.
Complete your research, having gathered all the necessary information you feel you need to write about the issue you have selected.
Decide on the main arguments you intend to include in your essay (remember that you should refer to arguments both for and against your stance).

8. Selecting an Issue
A good basis for a discursive essay is a controversial issue on which many people have differing opinions.
It can be on a serious subject:
e.g. “Should extremist political parties be banned?”
Or it can be more light-hearted in tone:
e.g. “Watching reality television is a complete waste of time.”
When considering topics for your discursive essay it is helpful to consider phrasing them either in the form of a question which can either be answered with “Yes”, or “No”, or in the form of a statement which could be either agreed or disagreed with.
For example, the following would probably not be a good discursive essay topic:
“Should the school leaving age be raised or lowered?”

9. Selecting an Issue
Consider the exemplar argumentative essay you were given.
What issue has the writer focused on?
What is the writer’s stance on this issue?
Now consider the argumentative essay you are going to write:
What issue do you intend to write about?
What is your stance on that issue?
You may wish to brainstorm some ideas in your jotter before reaching a decision.

10. Researching your Issue
Now you need to research the issue your essay will focus on.
What should I Research?
arguments in support of your stance, as well as evidence in support of them.
arguments opposing your stance, as well as evidence in support of them.
evidence which can be used to refute the arguments opposing your stance.
Where should I Research?
the internet
television and radio
books
magazines and newspapers
people – friends, relatives, teachers, etc.
Acknowledging your Sources
Your argumentative essay must include a bibliography of all sources you have used in your research.
It is therefore vital that you keep a record of all web sites, books, T.V. programmes etc. that you refer to in your research.
When you write your essay, take care to ensure that any information you include is:
acknowledged as a quotation, or
put into your own words.

11. Deciding on your Arguments
Once you have decided on the issue that you are going to address and have done some research on it, you need to decide on the main arguments you wish to include in your essay.
In order to do this you should complete a table like the one below, outlining the main arguments for and against your issue:
Issue: Capital punishment should be brought back to Britain.
For
Against
This will ensure that people who break the law do not re-offend.
It is morally wrong to take a life, regardless of the circumstances.
Some crimes are so horrible that the only fitting punishment for them is death.
If someone is proven innocent after they have been executed, then an innocent life will have been taken.
This will act as a deterrent to people who may commit a similar crime in the future.
Killing a murderer makes the government just as bad.

12. Deciding on your Arguments
Consider the exemplar argumentative essay you were given.
What arguments does the writer refer to that support her stance?
What arguments does the writer refer to that oppose her stance?
Now consider your own essay.
Create a table of arguments similar to the one on the previous side, outlining the arguments both for and against your stance.