Discursive Essay Outline
A discursive essay is an essay that requires you to argue for or against a given topic. A discursive essay may also require you to present your views on both sides of a given topic in a balanced manner without picking any sides.
There are three types of discursive essays. These are:
- Opinion essays. The writer is required to state their opinion and provide arguments to support the opinion. The writer must also give arguments against the topic and explain why they cannot support the topic.
- Essays suggesting a solution to a problem. This type of discursive essay brings forward a problem and provides several ways to solve the problem. The writer must then give their opinion on the best solution to the problem in their conclusion.
- For and against essays. These type of discursive essays gives reasons for and against a given topic. The writer is however required to give their opinion on the topic by stating their preference before making a conclusion on the essay.
Discursive Essay Layout
The following is a discursive essay outline:
1. Introduction
Your introduction should be short and precise. A discursive essay’s introduction should include:
- A hook sentence. Write an interesting phrase or line that will grab the readers’ attention.
- A thesis statement.
- A topic sentence.
- A short explanation of your topic.
- An introduction of both sides of your arguments.
2. Body
In the body part, describe the causes of the events in detail. The body should include:
- An assessment of all the aspects of the event.
- Two to three points to prove and support your views in different paragraphs. You should argue out your strongest evidence first.
- You can provide evidence alternatively. That is, provide evidence that supports your thesis statement in your first paragraph and then prevent evidence that is against it in your second paragraph.
- Ensure that you do not give any biased information.
3. Conclusion
Your conclusion should remind your readers of your arguments and supporting evidence. It should restate the overall claim and supporting evidence presented in your essay.
Your conclusion:
- Should not simply restate your introduction paragraph.
- Should restate your thesis statement.
- Should tell the readers why they should care about your essay.
- State your personal stand on the topic.
- Should create a sense of movement to a more complex understanding of your paper’s subject.
- Should summarize the evidence that you have provided and convince the reader why you have picked your stand.
- Should serve as your essay’s climax.
- Should have a concrete language to avoid leaving the readers with the impression that your arguments were vague and unsure.
4. References
Include a list of the quotes and ideas from previous works related to your topic. This is the most important part of a discursive essay.