The Discursive Essay

educated reader with no special knowledge of the following topic.
Use

your own ideas, knowledge, experience, and data to support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence
Closely related to the conventional argumentative essay, but with a subtly different purpose and style.

balanced discussion of an issue than an argumentative essay
It does

not, however, have to be expressly neutral.
Present both sides of the discussion, supported by facts and research.
May draw tentative conclusions, offer recommendations, or state a low key opinion about the subject and suggest these to the reader.

should be discussed in a separate paragraph and each paragraph

should begin with a strong topic sentence.
Will typically alternate paragraphs or pages of point followed by paragraphs or pages of counterpoint.
Express a low-key opinion, conclusion, or recommendation in the final paragraph.

distance learning.

Distance learning has many benefits, but there are also

drawbacks, and not every learner will be suited to this mode of study.

of Distance Learning
Suitable and un-suitable learners for Distance Learning
Conclusion

essay is argumentative in nature, but more balanced, refined, and

offers no commitment until the final paragraph!

the introductory paragraph?
FALSE!!
The discursive essay remains noncommittal until the final

paragraph, where the writer offers an opinion or recommendation.

an argumentative essay?
TRUE!!

mode of academic writing to master?
TRUE!!
Due to its nature and

formal conventions, the discursive essay is the most difficult for high school students to master. But, YOU CAN DO THIS!!

essay
A "hook" is usually a comment that inspires an emotional

response from the reader. It should be used to get their interest.
Comments and background give a history, context, or information regarding the topic.
Announcing the topic
A clear (but balanced) thesis statement.
The thesis statement is the last sentence in the introduction paragraph and it describes what the essay is about.

universal idea related to your thesis
A rich, vivid description

or image
An interesting anecdote, story, or dramatic episode
Beginning in the middle of the action
A fresh analogy, metaphor or extended metaphor

women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances; And

one man in his time plays many parts.”

“Did you know?” or “Have you ever wondered?” rhetorical questions
“This

paper will be about …” “In this paper I will prove”
Quotations

actual topic (“There are many novels, all of which have

characters. Some characters are heroes, and some are not.”)
Keep relevance in mind at all times
A “book report” list of irrelevant facts (William Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan era in England. He wrote many plays. One of these plays was Hamlet.)

borders. Virtually everyone eats at "McDonald's", drinks "Heineken", dresses up

in "Prada" and "Gucci", communicate through the Internet, watches movies with Bruce Willis, and works in multinational companies. And, many people are worrying that these phenomena might become reasons for losses of roots, traditions and the cultural identity. In order to come to a considered conclusion about globalization, we must examine a number of factors including the wars started because of globalization and the progress achieved due to it.

are big components of those surroundings and many psychologists are

alarmed that the crime rate among young people is rapidly escalating. Children are suffering from a lack of attention from their parents and teachers. In order to come to a considered conclusion about juvenile delinquency, we must take a number of factors into account, including parents’ business commitments and teachers’ concentration on giving an academic education to a kid.

of your thesis before composing but save the introduction for

later.
Then it will truly introduce what’s written instead of what writer intended.
This ties the introduction more effectively to the body paragraphs

the controversy, without indicating to what conclusion the writer will

come.

about (insert assigned topic here), we must take a number

of factors into account including factor x, factor y, and factor z”.