How to Write a Discursive Essay: Format, Tips, & Examples 

So, you need to accomplish your discursive essay writing. The typical questions most students ask are: How do you write it? What is discursive essay?

A discursive essay is an academic paper that involves a discussion on a particular topic. It is usually assigned to college students. You may be required to write a paper wherein you have to do one of the following:

• argue for the issue or against it;
• present your points of view on both sides;
• provide your unprejudiced opinion on that matter.

Don’t panic!

Check out the tips from Custom-writing.org experts below. They will assist you in discursive writing and encourage you to examine essay examples. Moreover, in this article, you’ll also learn about different types of discursive essay, and its introduction, main body, and conclusion structure.

❓ What Is a Discursive Essay?

First of all, let’s figure out what the discursive essay is.

You may think it’s similar to the argumentative essay. It is, but there’s a difference between them in terms of purpose: 

• Discursive essays aim to provide a reliable and unbiased assessment of an issue. They don’t have to be completely neutral. Instead, you should write them using the facts and research reports to present both sides of the issue. 
• Argumentative essays aim to persuade the reader in your position. This essay requires you to convince as well as educate the reader. The result should be less passionate and more concise than that of a persuasive essay.

And here’s how they differ regarding structure. 

We will take a detailed look at how to structure a discursive essay later, and now let’s find out what are the types of this assignment.

Keep reading!

🏁 Discursive Essay: Main Types

You have to think more critically and more in-depth when reviewing all viewpoints and aspects of discursive writing. Check these three main types of essay writing:

• Opinion Essay requires the author’s opinion on an issue which is stated in the introductory paragraph. It should be clearly presented and followed by reasons and supporting examples. Also, this essay paper should contain an opposing argument that comes before the conclusion. The writer must explain to readers why the mentioned argument is considered to be unconvincing. The writer’s opinion should be restated/summarized in the conclusion.
• For and Against Essay provides readers with a thorough debate on the topic with the help of opposing points of view. Each point should be discussed objectively and described in details. The introductory paragraph puts the issue under consideration. The main body of this essay paper should present examples, reasons, and arguments supported by justifications. The author’s own opinion with balanced reflections on the topic should be stated only in conclusion.
• Essay Suggesting Solution to a Problem discusses problems and finds the main solutions. The introduction paragraph explicitly declares a problem and analyses its causes and consequences. The main body of the essay should offer some suggestions for a possible solution to the problem and potential state consequences or expected results. In conclusion, author’s opinion should be distinctly summarized.

📑 Discursive Essay Format

Well, it’s time to talk about the structure of a discursive essay. Like most of the assignments, a discursive paper starts with an introduction and ends with a conclusion:

Introduction

The first question you may ask is how to start a discursive essay introduction. Simple!

• Give your readers a hook – something that would sound interesting to them.
• Provide a short explanation of the problem. You may use quotations, as well as rhetorical questions.
• Show your readers both sides of the arguments and sum up.

You may be wondering…

Is there something I should avoid in my discursive essay introduction?

Yes. No stereotypes and generalizations, please!

Main Body

The next step under formal essay writing you should take is to compose the body.

There are a few points you should remember:

• First and foremost: stay unprejudiced. Assess all of the aspects of an issue. Leave your feelings behind or for another essay type.
• Second: build your argumentation. If you have several arguments for your viewpoint—provide them in separate paragraphs. This will help you to keep your essay comprehensible and distinct. Don’t forget to submit supporting evidence.
• Third: write the body of an essay in an alternate manner. What does it mean? If your first paragraph supports the paper’s argument, then in the second paragraph you should write something in the opposite of it. Such a combination of supporting and opposite paragraphs will make your essay look apparent, and well researched. Besides, it will help you to remain neutral.
• Fourth: include topic sentences and evidence. Write a summary of the argument at the beginning of the paragraph. It will allow the reader to easier understand what the paragraph is about. Provide evidence to show that you’re not making the facts up.

Conclusion

Well, you’ve almost finished your writing. Now you should focus on the last section. Keep reading, and you will learn how to write a conclusion for a discursive essay.

• In the last section, you should summarize your article including the main points, specified in the body paragraphs.
• You may also logically express your opinion. Remember: it should resonate with your evidence stated in the body paragraphs.
• Don’t repeat findings, just summarize them.

What else?

Keep it short. Your conclusion length should not exceed one paragraph.

✍️ How to Write a Discursive Essay

Now that you’re familiar with the discursive essay format, you’re well-equipped to craft your paper. Simply follow this comprehensive step-by-step guide filled with valuable tips.  

1. Choose Your Topic

Selecting an effective topic for your discursive essay is a key step that governs the entire writing process. Here are actionable tips to help you with this:

1. The topic should be divisible into at least 3 aspects. This allows for analyzing different perspectives and crafting a well-rounded overview. For example, animal testing has aspects like effectiveness, alternatives, and morality.
2. The topic should be sufficiently covered in academic literature. This will provide you with a solid foundation of research and facts to support your arguments. Before finalizing a topic, check that ample information exists on it.
3. Claims and counterclaims on the topic should be about the same idea. For example, If the claim is that animal testing effectively enables drug development, the counterclaim could be that differences between species limit the usefulness of animal testing data. Both claims center on the efficacy of animal testing.

2. Research Your Topic

Before writing, research your topic thoroughly to gather pertinent information and evidence. Seek out sources that reinforce and dispute your stance, including academic journals, literature, reputable internet sites, news reports, and expert perspectives.

The most effective approach to discover reliable scholarly sources is exploring your university library or repositories. In this case, you can narrow your search field by applying Boolean operators: AND, OR, and NOT.

• Use AND to find articles that contain both search terms. For instance, looking for “canines AND felines” will display articles referencing both. 
• Use OR to find articles that contain either of the search terms. For example, searching for “canines OR felines” will produce articles mentioning one or both. 
• Use NOT to exclude specific terms from your search results. Searching for “canines NOT felines” will retrieve articles covering canines only.

3. Compose a Thesis Statement

The next step is to develop your thesis statement: a clear and concise declaration of your main argument.

Here are the key qualities of an effective thesis:

1. Two-sided. It presents two sides of the issue rather than being biased and one-sided.
2. Written in tentative language. Tentative words and phrases display some uncertainty or caution when presenting the discussion. This helps communicate openness to varied perspectives. Phrases such as “it could be argued” and “there is evidence to suggest” can introduce the thesis in a more nuanced manner.
3. Based on research, not just opinion. The thesis gains conviction when it includes research findings, statistics, expert views, and other reliable sources.

4. Formulate Claims and Counterclaims

Before you can start planning your essay structure, it is important to develop clear claims and counterclaims that are connected to each other. Claims constitute the main arguments in support of your thesis statement, while counterclaims present opposing viewpoints that challenge your claims.

For a 1000-word discursive essay, having 3 pros (claims) and 3 cons (counterclaims) is generally sufficient to provide a balanced discussion of the topic, but longer essays may require more arguments.

5. Outline Your Essay

Like any other academic work, a discursive paper consists of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Let’s focus on structuring body paragraphs since this can be the most challenging part for students.

One strategy to structure the main body of a discursive essay goes like this:

1. Present all the claims favoring your chosen issue.
2. Follow up with counterclaims that challenge or give alternative viewpoints on those arguments.

Another potent strategy is to present a claim and its connected counterclaim within the same paragraph. This method lets you directly contrast different perspectives on one aspect of the topic.

If you need help outlining your essay, try our free essay outline generator.

6. Write Your Discursive Essay

When writing a discursive essay, remember to appeal to logic rather than emotions. It means presenting well-reasoned arguments supported by facts rather than relying on feelings.

It’s common to include in-text citations to support your claims. By citing reputable sources, you will provide evidence and authority to your points, making your essay more credible and persuasive.

When including in-text citations, follow the appropriate citation style (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago) and provide a full reference list at the end of your essay to acknowledge the sources you have used.

👍 Discursive Writing Do’s and Don’ts

Do you want more discursive essay writing tips? Fine! Just check them below:

Basic Do’s of a Discursive Essay

Basic Don’Ts of a Discursive Essay

Well, now you know what discursive essay means, what are its main types, and how to structure it.

Discursive Essay Topics

1. Discussion of risk factors that impact human health.
2. Discuss the necessity of understanding cultural heritage to provide efficient health care.
3. Analyze different opinions on withdrawing patients’ treatment.
4. Examine different views on the Civil War.
5. Discuss what hostile emotional states are and how they impact human life.
6. Discuss the meaning of metaphors used by Virgil in Aeneid.
7. Describe different opinions on telehealth in nursing homes.
8. The ethicality of stem cell technology.
9. Explore the effectiveness of motivational interviewing.
10. Discuss how people present themselves online.
11. Discuss the reasons for Coca-Cola’s marketing success.
12. Analyze the food safety issues and the ways to improve the situation.
13. Examine the essential meaning of sleep for people’s physical and mental health.
14. Explore various complications of working with groups.
15. Discussion of the modern issues with virtue ethics.
16. Describe different views on the definition of love.
17. Give the for and against arguments considering food security technologies.
18. Discuss how the concept of the American dream is presented in the film The Great Gatsby.
19. Analyze the influence of family problems on children and suggest ways to improve the situation.
20. Present the various points of view on the ethical concepts of Buddhism.
21. Examine the attitudes towards the problem of homelessness and the suggested ways of its solution.
22. Explore different opinions on the American revolution and its consequences.
23. Discuss various policies and views around the globe on abortion.
24. Discussion of the history of food foraging in different communities.
25. Multiple thoughts on civility on the Internet.
26. Analyze arguments on the effectiveness of hand sanitizers.
27. Discuss the importance of visual aids in learning.
28. Present and evaluate the theories of international development.
29. Discuss how to prevent the spread of the West Nile Virus (WNV).
30. Is embracing renewable energy sources beneficial for both environment and the global economy?
31. Examine the correctness of the statement that the ideology of pleasure is the foundation of social activism.
32. Discussion of the ethical dilemma of population control.
33. Discuss the ethics of experimental studies.
34. Analyze the topic of gun violence and gun control laws.
35. Explore the reasons for opioid crises in the US.
36. Give arguments for and against random drug testing.
37. Discuss the problem of endangered species.
38. Express your opinion on the necessity of parents to be included in children’s education.
39. Present your attitude towards working in a bureaucratic organization.
40. Discuss the issue of the nursing shortage and suggest a solution.
41. Give different viewpoints on the definition of beauty.
42. Analyze the problem of police misconduct.
43. Discuss the description of violence of African people in literature.
44. Examine the views on Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory.
45. Describe the various opinions on mysticism and express your attitude towards it.
46. Discuss the diverse standpoints on spirituality.
47. Is nature protection an urgent problem?
48. Analyze different ideas on physical privacy at work.
49. Discussion on the Jewish heritage in nursing.
50. Examine the views on the meaning of life.

📃 Discursive Essay Examples

If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of discursive writing, check out our collection of discursive essay examples. These samples can provide valuable insights into effective argumentation and organization.

1. Pros and cons of DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
2. Freedom of speech and restrictions: pros and cons. 
3. The low-cost provider strategy: pros and cons. 
4. NASA’s efforts of space colonization: pros and cons. 
5. Artificial intelligence: pros and cons. 
6. Cloning discussion: pros and cons. 
7. Pros and cons of free speech regulations on social media. 
8. Globalization and its pros and cons. 
9. Pros and cons of diagnosing patients in mental health practices. 
10. The Family and Medical Leave Act: pros and cons. 

Want to see a fully-formatted sample essay? Feel free to download the PDF file below: 

Good luck with your discussions and discursive essays! Be sure to check out the articles on our blog for more academic wisdom. By the way, on the Custom-Writing website, you may find the best essay topics for your academic writing.

And don’t forget to share your opinion in the comments below.

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🔗 References

1. Writing an Opinion Essay: Grace Fleming, ThoughtCo
2. How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay: Easy Step-by-Step Guide: Master Class
3. Ending the Essay: Conclusions: Harvard College Writing Center
4. Academic Writing Style: University of Southern California
5. Cite Your Sources: Library Guides at University of California, Santa Cruz