Discursive
Writing
Name:
School:
Class:
Workshop Series Overview:
In this workshop series you will be learning about discursive writing and building a longer piece in
this form from short segments that you create each week.
Each of these segments will feature your personal insights into the olfactory: the world of scents,
fragrances and smells.
You will choose the final order of these segments to build a longer piece of discursive writing that
shifts and meanders as it offers a range of insights into the olfactory.
What is Discursive Writing?
texts whose primary focus is to explore an idea or variety of topics.
these texts involve the discussion of an idea(s) or opinion(s) without the direct intention of
persuading the reader, listener or viewer to adopt any single point of view.
discursive texts can be humorous or serious in tone and can have a formal or informal register.
PERSUASIVE TEXTS DEMAND WHEREAS DISCURSIVE TEXTS OFFER
- Bianca Hewes
From the online Stage 6 Syllabus glossary
discursive: passing from one topic to another
“This book is distinctive because it has a discursive style.”
synonyms: digressive, loose, rambling, roundabout, meandering, digressive
Discursive texts are an offer and not a demand. They offer a range of insights into a particular
topic or topics, but don’t demand that the reader accept only one of these positions as definitive.
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Discursive
Writing
Name:
School:
Class:
Possible Features of Discursive Writing:
discursive writing is personal writing - it shares personal opinions, experiences and values.
explores an issue or an idea and may suggest a position or point of view.
approaches a topic or topics from different angles and explores themes and issues in a
style that balances personal observations with different perspectives.
uses personal anecdotes (a story from your life) and may have a conversational tone
primarily uses first person (I, me, my) although third person (he, she, they) and second
person (you, our) can also be used.
uses figurative language (e.g. similes, metaphors, personification) or may be more
factual.
draws upon real life experiences and/or draws from wide reading and viewing.
uses engaging imagery and language features.
may begin with an event, an anecdote or quotation that is then used to explore an idea or
ideas.
often alludes or refers to other texts, including memes, artworks, essay, life writing, novels,
films, plays, poetry,
may simultaneously inform and entertain an audience.
resolution or ending may be reflective or open-ended.
Then what shall I write? I can’t just write that this happened and then this happened then this
happened to boring infinitum. I’ll let my journal grow just like the mind does, just like a tree or
beast does, just like life does. Why should a book tell a tale in a dull straight line? Words
should wander and meander. They should fly like owls and flicker like bats and slip like cats.
They should murmur and scream and dance and sing. - David Almond
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Worst
Smells
Ever
Name:
School:
Class:
In 2013, 2000 members of the British public were surveyed and asked
what they thought were the worst smells.
How would YOU rank these smells from 1-10?
(1 = the worst smell, 10 = the least worst smell)
Smell
Rate from 1-10
(1 = worst smell,
10 = least worst smell)
smelly feet
sewers on a hot day
human sweat
wet dogs
farts
baby poo
cigarette smoking
the juice at the bottom of your garbage bin
(aka "bin juice")
rotten food
bad breath
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Worst
Smells Ever
Name:
School:
Class:
Planning / Ideating
Create a personal list below in which you nominate your choices of the worst or most
pukeworthy smells. There are no right or wrong answers.
1. _________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary Bank
Circle 4 adjectives from the Vocabulary Bank below (or add your own!) to best describe, in
your own personal way, a really bad and awful smell. You might use a formal or informal
style.
putrid
rank
foul
gross
abominable
nasty
odious
vile
yucky
grotty
festy
heinous
nauseating
disgusting
blecchy
foetid
nasty
blurk
foul
bleah
________________
________________
________________
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________________
www.storyfactory.org.au
Worst
Smells Ever
Name:
School:
Class:
Writing Activity
Write a short personal piece of writing that:
1. informs the reader about the British survey of worst smells, and then..
2. offers your personal opinions about what you believe to the worst smells or unlikely smells that
deserve to be on such a list. You might include an anecdote (or personal story from your life).
You should aim to write about 300-400 words or perhaps 8-10 sentences.
Aim to include word choices that describe these smells that reflect your personal style or voice.
You might shift between the first, second and the third person.
SENTENCE STEMS: (Use these or create your own!)
So in a 2013 British survey of the worst or most pukeworthy smells…
But I think…
If you ask me…
Recently I was reading…
So what do you think are the worst smells?
DRAFTING SPACE:
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