BORED OF STUDIES FORUM – hschelper01 Discursive Writing Pattern of Arrangement / Structure: • Problem/Solution • Issue: ‘Ya/Na’ - One hand // Other hand. • Bookend: Start à Finish. • Chronology: Timeline • Emotional Blocks ‘SPEEECH’ Trigger à What to talk about whilst writing a discursive text: Social Political Environmental Educational Economic Cultural Historical Discursive Texts – NOTES: • NOT discussion essays, although they have some commonalities including: o Considering different perspectives of a topic. o Writing strong paragraphs on each perspective. § WITH supporting evidence. o Selecting a preferred position and articulating reasons for choice à BUT not in a forceful way: § Use writing and language techniques to help convey meaning. o UNLIKE a discussion essay in that it does not need to be in a formal or objective tone. • Discursive essays are an offer, not a demand. o Offer a range of insights into a particular topic à Do not demand the reader to accept any particular position. • A discursive text is like a dialogue about a topic, allowing the writer to put forward different positions in an engaging, sometimes provocative way. • Typically written in an active voice – but might sometime have passive voice. o Active Voice à Subject is performing an action denotive of a verb: § Marilyn (subject) mailed a letter (verb). o Passive Voice à Change of wording of active sentences so that the subject is no longer active, but is, instead being acted upon. § The letter (subject) was being mailed (verb). • Both informative and engaging. o Allowing writer to show off their mastery of language through the use of: § Anecdotes. § Analogies. § Figurative Language. • Structure à Include an introduction that aims to engage the reader/s. o Often referred to as an invitation for the reader to continue reading. BORED OF STUDIES FORUM – hschelper01 • • • • • • Some features of persuasive text: o Rhetorical devices. o Personal voice à Writers own thoughts AND reflections. o THEY do however DIFFER à Persuasive text puts forward arguments to support a predetermined position whilst discursive texts explore both sides of opinions – even if the writer may not agree with that particular option. Lines of argument supported with evidence: o Personal evidence. o Anecdotes. o Statistics. o Quotes from friends, family, experts. o References to shared human experiences. Variety of sentence types – simple, compound, complex. No ideal structure, however, ones outlined above use most frequently. Find examples of discursive texts in magazines, journals of websites (The Conversation). ‘Discursive texts are an offer.... not a demand.’ Points to consider when writing a discursive text: • Considering different perspectives to topics. • Writing a strong paragraph on each perspective with supporting evidence. • Selecting a preferred position and articulating reasons for choice but not in a forceful way à WHILST, also exploring other opinions in the SAME manner. • Do not require formal or objective tone. • Offer a range of insights into a particular topic but don’t demand that the reader accept only one of these positions as a definitive. • Like a dialogue about a topic à Allowing writer to put forward different positions in an engaging and sometimes provocative way. • Written in active voice but might also sometimes be written in passive voice. • Both informative and engaging. • Structurally – Discursive texts often include an introduction – ‘Hook’. • Use of rhetorical devices. • Links argument and opinions to topic and supports with evidence; personal, statistical, quotes from experts, references to the shared human experience/s. • Discussion/dialogue on topic of interest. • Presents a range of arguments about topic. • Support arguments with evidence. • Is designed to engage reader as well as inform them about the topic. • Appeals to the heart, mind and imagination of the reader. • Variety of sentence types – simple, complex, compound. • Don’t use direct quotations from interviews – to direct.
