Research Investigation 9 Discursive essay - Focus Groups

You will continue to work on your research project and will be advised on discursive aspects.

Submission of second draft

• Key Terms: Discursive Essay

This means that you are expected to discuss a given topic and to present an argument related to it.

Organising a discursive essay

There are three basic structures (ways of organising) for the discursive essay -

• you argue strongly for a given discussion topic
• you argue strongly against a given discussion topic
• you argue about a given discussion topic in a balanced way.

Planning a discursive essay

The following basic structure should be employed for writing this essay.

• Provide an interesting introduction.
• Provide a clear indication of your position, your stance in relation to the topic (are you 'for' or 'against' ?).
• Present your first argument, with supporting evidence.
• Present your second argument, with supporting evidence.
• Present your third argument, with supporting evidence.
• Present your fourth argument, with supporting evidence, and so on (the number of paragraphs like this will depend on the number of arguments you can offer).
• Indicate, in a single paragraph, that there is another side to this argument, with some idea of the points likely to be made for the view(s) which are opposite to your own.
• Reiterate (state again) your position and conclude your essay.

Introducing a discursive essay

The opening of an essay is important. It should capture the reader's attention in some way or another. It should avoid being bland or dull. It should invite the reader to read on and create a sense of interest. If the beginning is flat, it will not inspire your audience.

Methods of Opening a Discursive Essay

The following methods are suggestions. It is up to you to decide which style suits your writing best.

Provocative

e.g."It is difficult to see how anyone can approve of fox hunting."

Balanced

e.g."Fox hunting is a subject about which people hold strongly contrasting views."

Quotation

e.g."Oscar Wilde once described fox hunting as 'The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable.'."

Illustration

e.g."On a glorious autumn morning a terrified, exhausted animal is savaged to death by a pack of baying dogs while a group of expensively dressed humans encourage the dogs in their bloody work."

Anecdote

e.g."I have always detested fox hunting since I was almost physically sick while watching a television film of the kill at the end of a hunt."

Linking ideas in a discursive essay

Any well-written piece of discursive writing will flow as one continuous piece despite being made up of three or four different arguments. One of the techniques which can help you to achieve this effectively is the use of linking words. These words are usually used at the beginning of a new paragraph but can also be used to link ideas within a paragraph.

Same line of thought

e.g. - and, firstly, secondly etc., next, furthermore, likewise, in addition, similarly, also, moreover.

Conclusion/summary

e.g. - thus, therefore, consequently, accordingly, in retrospect, hence, in conclusion, in brief, as a result.

Definite statement

e.g. - without question, without doubt, unquestionably, absolutely.

Contrasting idea

e.g. - yet, on the other hand, nevertheless, however, although, conversely, otherwise, on the contrary.

Further examples

because, for instance, since, for example, so that, despite the fact that, accordingly, although, if, though, unless.

Formal tone in a discursive essay

It is important when you write a discursive essay to write in a proper formal way.

You should not use an informal style to write a discursive essay.

In simple terms, this means the following -

Do	Do not use
Write in proper, complete sentences	Abbreviations (i.e./e.g./etc./UK/&)
Use complete words and expressions	Contractions (isn't/don't/won't)
Use proper, standard English	Slang (e.g. bloke/geezer etc)
	Colloquial language (mate/bolshy etc.)

On a slightly different note, you should also try to make sure that you use a decent standard of vocabulary in any formal essay you write.

In particular, try to avoid weak vocabulary such as 'get', 'got' and 'getting'. Relying on this level of vocabulary too often suggests that your power of expression is weak. Build up your word power!

Task 1:
Watch the video about Mount Snowden and make notes on how the presenter offers 
his own and the opposite side of an argument. Do this for homework in your orange books.
Bullet points are fine.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/english/writing/discursive_writing/revision/5/

You need to begin you primary research for Research Investigations.
Stay focussed on the title of your investigation.
What information are you looking for from participants of surveys, focus groups, questionnaires?

The clearer you are about this, the clearer your responses will be.
In your Investigations, write using percentages when indicating answers.

Focus group information