Discursive Writing | Another Look

May 31st, 2009 | By CJ | Category: Foundation Articles

To understand discursive writing, think about why we write in the first place. It is a method of communication and manipulation. When one writes, one hopes to convince the reader of a concept. The aim is to educate the reader.

Mental skills are necessary for understanding concepts. In order to write so your reader understands, you must deliver information in a way they can use those mental facilities—observational, analytical, analogous, etcetera.—so your reader can then classify and remember the information. That is successfully accomplished using discursive writing.

It is interesting how the word “discourse” (from whence we get “discursive”) comes to us. Traced back from the Latin to French, it means, literally, “to run back and forth.” Which, in the case of writing, means to give your readers a thorough look at both sides of an idea, primarily by stating one side, then the other and back to the original premise.

Thus, you can organize your article in three ways: extolling the “pro” side, the “con” side, or both pro’s and con’s of your subject in a balanced way.

To write discursively means to give valid points for the education of your reader. There are 4 types of discursive writing:

Explanation – This type of article is designed to tell the “why” or “what happened” of the subject.
Argument –An attempt to convince the reader about the subject.
Description – Answers the questions, “how is it what is it?” Gives qualities or properties indemic to the subject.
Definition – Announces the nature of the subject. Answers “what it is?”

Planning To Write The Discursive Article

Write an interesting introduction that clearly indicates your stance (are you ‘for’ or ‘against’ ?).
Give your first point, with supporting evidence, followed by second, third and any subsequent points.
Tell the “other side of the story,” delivering points in such a fashion as to indicate what others believe, i.e., “Some would have you believe…” “Moreover, others feel that…” etcetera.
Restate your position, reiterating your points (without repeating them verbatim).
Draw to a conclusion and end your article.

With these points in mind, it should be easier for you to understand what you need to deliver to your reader in order to convince them that your point is valid, and ultimately lead them to the action you wish to produce in them, whether to read further, or to purchase a product, or believe a certain way. Keep these points in mind when planning to write your next article and you will be successful.