How to Write a Discursive Essay?

This comprehensive guide will illuminate a relatively uncommon form of academic paper: the discursive essay. Whether you are entirely new to this essay type or have some prior experience with it from school or college, rest assured that this guide, along with the assistance of essay writing help, will elevate everyone’s discursive writing proficiency to the next level!

Throughout this guide, you will learn about the purpose of a discursive essay, its optimal structure, the right and the wrong ways of writing it, as well as plenty of discursive topic ideas, and an example of a perfect discursive essay.   

What is a Discursive Essay?

A discursive essay is a type of essay that provides a thoughtful and unbiased discourse on a chosen topic. The word “discursive” is derived from the Latin word “discursus” which means a conversation. In both verbal and written forms, such a conversation implies an open exchange of opinions, sharing of different perspectives, and exploring various facets and angles of a particular topic. 

In a discursive essay, the writer employs the style and logic of an open conversation, yet it takes on the form of a contemplative monologue (an internal discussion), necessitated by the inability to engage in a self-dialogue. Such an internal discussion should move from one point to another, considering various aspects, viewpoints, and ideas related to the chosen subject. 

The genuine discursive essay meaning aligns with the purpose of discursive writing, which is to furnish a comprehensive and balanced overview of a subject by analyzing multiple arguments and perspectives. For that reason, many people confuse a discursive essay with an analytical one. There are, however, a few important differences worth noting:

Maintaining a neutral and objective tone while meticulously examining opposing viewpoints is fundamental to the essence of a discursive essay. Furthermore, adhering to an academic writing style and eschewing emotional language is essential to ensuring that your essay avoids any perception of bias in the eyes of your readers.

When writing a discursive essay, the writer presents a methodical review of all pros and cons, arguments in favor and opposition, and supporting and contradicting arguments. For this reason, seasoned writers often introduce into their essays bullet points, numbered lists, and subheadings, each devoted to a particular fact or argument.  

How to Write a Good Discursive Essay?

Writing a good discursive essay starts with a topic selection. If you select a trite topic that claims a well-known fact, you won’t be able to make an interesting discussion out of it. Instead, you should come up with a debatable and even controversial topic that has room for multiple arguments. It will allow you to present different viewpoints, plus, reading such a thought-provoking paper will be appreciated by your audience.

Discursive essay topics examples:

• Government surveillance in the name of peace and security
• Legalization of psychedelic drugs when conventional drugs no longer help
• The right to bear arms
• The use of AI and predictive analytics in criminal justice
• The usefulness of the United Nations in resolving regional and global conflicts
• Study-life balance in schools and colleges
• Indigenous land rights and environmental conservation
• Legalization of same-sex adoption
• Ethical considerations in AI development
• Research in biotechnology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• The use of performance-enhancing drugs in popular sports

Once the topic is chosen, take some time to research it. Even if you know the subject well, you should still aim to collect as many details and additional facts as possible, and to that end find at least several trusted sources. 

Most institutions and instructors require students to format their sources in discursive essays according to one of the popular style guides. These may be APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), or Chicago styles.     

Structure of a Discursive Essay

As mentioned earlier, a discursive essay is characterized by a highly structured approach. In practice, this means that a student should come up with a clear outline before crafting a discursive essay:

1. Introduction:
   • A captivating start of an essay – the hook;
   • Followed by a clear explanation of the topic – background information;
   • Ending with a clear thesis statement – the goal, or the roadmap for the essay, in which the author lists point by point the aspects that they intend to discuss in the paper.
2. The Main Body:
   • Structure of the main body of the paper according to the aspects and arguments outlined earlier;
   • The main body requires splitting the text into paragraphs (if the text is shorter than 500 words) or adding chapters into the structure for longer texts;
   • Each paragraph or chapter starts with a topic sentence and includes facts, evidence, and examples in support of the relevant topic;
   • Counterarguments come at the end of the main body – they also require a thorough review supported by facts and evidence.
3. Conclusion:
   • Restating the thesis statement;
   • Summary of the key arguments for and against it;
   • Connection to a broader perspective and/or projection into the future to make a lasting impression on the audience.

The Right Ways and Wrong Ways of Writing a Discursive Essay

Once you start writing, you should maintain quality all the way. Our summary of the right ways and the wrong ways of writing a discursive essay will help you in that:

The Right Ways

The Wrong Ways 

Discursive Essay Example

Take a look at this example of a discursive essay on the topic of social media. Notice how the author balances arguments for and against social media in light of its societal influence.

The language used in this essay is neutral, while the main body is structured by paragraphs devoted to a particular aspect of social media. Interestingly, the usage of the transition words and phrases is minimal, nevertheless, this allows for a smooth flow of thoughts from one argument to another.

Those who pay close attention might have noticed that the conclusive sentences could’ve been more direct/provoking to make a more pronounced impression on the reader. Think of what kind of supposition or perhaps a question you would add to achieve that effect.    

The Key Takeaway

Discursive essay writing, no matter how complicated it may seem initially, serves a very straightforward and important purpose – to train students’ ability to make weighted decisions. By providing the readers with a balanced analysis of controversial subjects, we learn how to approach complex problems from multiple angles, accounting for diverse factors, and doing it with a cool head, so to speak. Such skills and experience become handy in many life situations, including shopping choices, investments, career, and even marriage planning. 

So, equip yourself with the tips and examples provided in this guide, and get down to the business of writing your finest discursive essay ever!