Writing to Discuss

1. Many essay topics ask you to weigh the pros and cons of a scenario before stating your preference.
These are referred to as discussion essays or essays for and against. In this sense, the academic
definition of the term discuss is equivalent to its common usage meaning, which is two people
discussing a subject from opposing perspectives. Typically, a balanced viewpoint is necessary for a
discussion essay. Discussion essays differ from persuasion essays in that both sides of an argument
are presented. It's critical to keep facts and views clearly separate when writing a debate essay.
Some writer like to start their discussion with an idea, while others prefer to start with the question
and end with an answer. Whatever way you prefer to do it - it should be clear to the reader from the
beginning what you like to discuss in your text.
2. Writing a discussion essay requires steps to make it effective.
 Your introduction should introduce the topic and give a summary of what you are going to
discuss. You need to make sure that your introduction is interesting and engaging enough to keep
the reader interested and encourage them to read on.
 Once you have finished writing your introduction, you need to move on to the body of your
essay. Here you should focus on supporting your ideas with relevant evidence from your reading
and other sources.
 You should also try to connect your ideas to broader issues or ideas that you are studying as part
of your course.
 Finally, you need to write about your conclusion, where you sum up your main points and explain
their significance. When writing a conclusion, it is important to make sure that you do not
introduce new ideas and that you stick to the key points that you have already covered in your
body.
3. A discussion essay is very different from other types of essays that you have to not only write about
your ideas but you also have to give your opinion on the topic you are discussing. The best way to
ensure that you can do this is to
 Make sure that you back up your ideas with evidence from the text you are discussing.
 Although it is important to give your opinions, you should also be impartial and objective
 Try to avoid biased language and avoid giving opinions on matters that are not relevant to the
topic
 Instead of writing an argumentative essay where you convince your point of view is correct, you
should allow your readers to form their own opinion based on the evidence presented.
 It is important to use relevant and timely evidence.
4. Discussion essays are an important writing genre that can be applied in several academic settings.
They can be used to communicate ideas and arguments in a clear and organized way. They are often
written in response to a specific assignment, such as responding to an article or a book chapter. They
may also be written as an independent paper that explore a particular topic. It is used to present
information and insights based on previous studies and research. They are often used when the author
wishes to challenge conventional wisdom and present alternative viewpoint on a particular subject.
5. The topics that are discussed in these essays vary widely, and students can write about a variety of
different issues. This essay allows students to hone their critical thinking skills, develop their
analytical skills and information gathering skills.