Discursive writing is a type of content usually found in the form of blogs, articles, essays and speeches. Discursive writing is characterized by being subjective or opinionated in nature and engaging the reader by focusing on questions and ideas. It typically has more than one argument or point of view, all of which are meant to debate with each other in order to come up with a conclusion.
This type of writing is usually informal and conversational in nature. It works by using both persuasion and “give-and-take” interaction to engage the reader and gain their interest. It can sometimes also be written in a formal style, with this variant used for academic writing, but discursive writing that is formal would still have the characteristics of one complementing the other.
How do you write discursive writing?
Discursive writing is not easily classified as there are no specific parameters that can be used to recognize it. This makes it important to know what the parameters are when recognizing a piece of work as discursive, in order to properly understand it.
When writing discursively, there are certain qualities that need to be present in order for the reader to recognize that the article or speech is discursive and not something else. There are six things that typically make a piece of writing discursive:
- Language used to create a tone that is informal. There are numerous colloquial terms and phrases, for example, that would demonstrate a casual and conversational tone, like saying “I hope you know what I mean here” or just “means.”
- Discursive writing often uses dialogue in order to specify or clarify an argument. This is when one writer will address another, or several other writers, instead of the reader directly. This is completely fine in a discursive piece, as long as it doesn’t feel like the writer is addressing the reader directly.
- Discursive writing often has more than one argument. This is something that people tend to struggle with when they try to write discursively, but what they don’t realize is that this is actually a good thing. Having more than one argument allows for more discussion and debate and will help in having the writer interact with what they have written.
- Subjectivity is a very obvious trait of discursive writing. This is when the writer takes an opinion that they have in order to express it to another person or people.
- Discursive writing often uses humour and wit in order to make the reader smile, laugh, or otherwise engage with the writer.
- Discursive writing is not usually restricted to a certain form or structure, as long as it is easy for the reader to understand.
Where can you find discursive writing?
Discursive writing can be found anywhere there is a writer who wants to express their opinion or question and help others make sense of the situation they are talking about. This means that you can find discursive writing in places of everyday life, as well as online.
Discursive writing can be found on blogs and personal websites, which are both places where you will typically see this type of writing, due to them having the highest level of freedom. Discursive writing can also be found in speeches and papers written by university students about various topics.
How can discursive writing be useful to you?
Discursive writing is very useful in helping the writer engage with the reader or listeners through a mutual dialogue or conversation. These “conversations” often lead to a conclusion, which will help others understand what it is that the writer wants them to know. This process greatly helps other people understand what it is you are trying to say, as they are able to discuss and debate your points with you.
It also helps to gain a deeper understanding of the topic that you are writing about, as you will be able to clarify your own thoughts and opinions. This can help others see your point of view, and understand why you hold that opinion in the first place.
Discursive writing is also useful in helping you to become a better writer and speaker by allowing you more opportunities to write, speak and debate in order to engage with others. This can help you become more comfortable and confident when speaking out, as you will have had the chance to practice and improve.
It can also help you become more organized and constructive in your writing, as discursive writing does not usually follow an exact structure or pattern. This forces the writer to be able to organize their ideas in their head before writing them down.
Discursive writing also helps you reach a larger audience through the use of discussion boards, blogs and other forms of social media. This allows your work to be shared easily and talked about by people from all over the world.
What are the common mistakes in discursive writing?
There are two things that can make discursive writing less effective and harder to understand. The first is when it is written in an unclear manner that gives the reader little to no idea about what the writer is trying to say. This can often be a result of poor grammar, spelling errors or inconsistencies in punctuation.
Discursive writing will also suffer if it does not have a sense of direction or focus. This is often a result of writers who try to say too much or cover too many areas, which will cause them to jump from point to point and leave the reader confused.
What are some examples of discursive writing?
You can find discursive writing in books, movies, speeches and in everyday conversation. There are various types of discursive writing, such as personal communication and philosophical writing. Some famous writers that write discursively are William Faulkner and William Shakespeare.
You will also see a lot of discursive writing from people who write blogs. Blogging allows for a writer to express their opinion on any number of topics without having to follow a set structure or strict guidelines. This allows for very freedom in their writing, but it also makes them more vulnerable.
Is discursive writing a good way to learn how to write?
Discursive writing is a great way to learn how to write. It can help you develop and improve many different skills that are involved in becoming a better writer. These include things like communication, organization and speaking. It will also help you become more confident and articulate in your own writing, allowing you to express your ideas more clearly and effectively.
When is discursive writing, not a good idea?
You should be wary of discursive writing if you are not sure of what you are trying to say. If you are unsure whether your ideas make sense or whether you can back them up, then it may be better for someone else to write the article for you in a more structured and concise manner.
You should also avoid discursive writing if your ideas are too complicated or controversial. This is because it will be hard for people to agree on what you are saying. You should also avoid discursive writing if your ideas are too technical. This is because not everyone will understand your writing and not everyone will agree with it.
Conclusion
Discursive writing as you can see is a great way to learn how to write. It is a fun and very engaging way to learn. Once you have learned how to write, you can then move on to more structured writing, such as college essay writing.
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