Discursive Essay Plan

Paragraph 1 Introduction
Your first paragraph should:
be a general introduction. Dont include specific points from the main body of the
argument
include a response to the title. You may need to identify the issues that lie behind the
title, to give historical or topical background
be interesting and relevant
Paragraph 2 Background
rovide some of the history of the topic you are !riting about.
Paragraph 3 Your argument "at least #$% reasons, thus #$% paragraphs&
'hese paragraphs must:
contain one major point of the argument, stating your reason for agreeing$disagreeing
!ith (uestion posed.
begin with or have near its start a topic (or signpost!" sentence "a sentence !hich
indicates !hat the paragraph !ill be about and ho! it relates to the essay title&. 'his is
)*' a sub+heading, Your !riting should be formal continuous prose.
be lin#ed to the paragraph that comes before, often !ith a suitable con-unction or link
!ords such as in addition, nevertheless, despite this, however. Dont put also or for
example at the start of a sentence.
contain generalised evidence of your research "e.g. statistics$e.pert opinion&.
2
nd
$ast Paragraph /ounter argument "0 paragraph&
*pen !ith 1/ontrary to this23 1In contrast there are those !ho...3 1*n
the other hand23
$ist the opposing sides reasons but do not change your opinion. 4se
phrases like: some people claim There are those who say
%onclusion
& good conclusion '($$)
be crisp and conclusive in feel* the goal of the whole essay
& good conclusion +&,)
return to something mentioned in the first paragraph
evaluate !hat has gone before
hint at something you might have follo!ed up had the scope of the (uestion allo!ed it
5ive your opinion. 6 discursive essay should feel as if you have !eighed up the arguments
and come to a conclusion at the end.
6 poor conclusion !ill simply restate or summarise points made earlier or be a fe! sentences
stuck on at the end.
E-amples of .penings to Discursive 'riting
6 !riter can choose to begin their discursive !riting in a variety of different !ay. In the
e.amples belo!, the controversial topic is 7ast 7ood.
Belo! are a variety of !ays that the !riter can use to open his discussion on the topic.
1. /tating what the controversy is about
8hile children are lured to 7ast 7ood outlets by the colourful appearance of the restaurants
and the appetising smell of their products, nutritionalists have e.pressed concern about
!hat they see as an unhealthy diet.
2. /ummarising the views in a balanced way
It is difficult to balance the increasing popularity of fast food outlets !ith the heavy
criticisms !hich are made about them by medical and nutritional e.perts.
3. 0sing a 1uotation from an e-pert
1 'here is nothing inevitable about the fast food nation that surrounds us about its
marketing strategies, labour policies, and agricultural techni(ues, about its relentless drive
for conformity and cheapness.3 9uch is the claim made by :ric 9cholsser, author of Fast Food
Nation. It is a vie!, ho!ever, !hich is not shared by all.
2. 0sing an illustrative opening to create a picture
;ohn grins !ith delight as his mother emerges from the car carrying the tell+tale
<acDonalds bag. 9ucculent cheeseburgers, crispy chips, ice+fold /ola everything a boy !ho
could !ant. =is elderly neighbour casts a critical eye over the proceedings, thinking of the
food of her childhood: !holesome home+made soups and fresh garden vegetables and no
s!eets.
$in#ing 'ords
3o provide an illustration)
7or e.ample that is that is to say for instance
in other !ords namely such as as follo!s

'ypical of this a typical$particular$key e.ample

Including especially not least in particular
)otably chiefly mainly most importantly

6 good illustration of this is it is interesting to note
3o e-tend a point)
9imilarly e(ually like!ise also
7urthermore Indeed in the same !ay
Besides above all as !ell in addition

3o show cause and effect4conclusion)
9o therefore accordingly thus hence
'hen as result$conse(uence resulting from$in conse(uence of this

in this$that case conse(uentlybecause of this$that

for this reason o!ing to$due to the fact this demonstrates

it follo!s that this suggests that accepting$assuming this
in conclusion it can be concluded from this this implies
in short to conclude in all in brief
3o show the ne-t step)
first"ly& second"ly& to begin$start !ith in the first$second place
first and foremost first and most importantly another
then after ne.t after!ards third"ly& finally
ultimately
3o indicate a contrast)
=o!ever on the other hand alternatively in contrast
Instead conversely on the contrary in fact
>atherin comparison another possibility
But better$!orst still despite this in spite of
)evertheless not!ithstanding for all that yet
6lthough in opposition to this