Discursive

Texts
Module C: Craft Of Writing
 What is a
discursive
text?
 What is a
discursive
text?
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. They include texts such as
feature articles, creative nonfiction, blogs,
personal essays, documentaries and speeches.
(NESA Glossary)
 • Writing explores topic or idea from multiple perspectives
• May begin with an event or quote (as a catalyst for
exploration)
• It may suggest a position or perspective
• Balances subjective and objective points of view

Discursive • May be conversational (uses personal anecdotes)

• Register may switch between informal and formal (for
Writing impact or effect)
• Often composed from a first-person perspective
Characteristics (sometimes third-person)
• Often uses low modality language (persuasive
argument/s are generally avoided as points of view are
balanced)
• Can include figurative language and facts
• Discursive texts may conclude in an open-ended, or
reflective fashion
MODULE C PRESCRIBED TEXTS
That Crafty Feeling Adapted from a lecture presented to
university writing students in 2008, this
Zadie Smith essay adopts a lively, self-conscious style
and incorporates a broad range of literary
and cultural references to reflect on
different approaches to writing fiction.
What Time Is It A self-conscious metafiction composed in
Now, Where You thirteen sections, the story explores both
Are? the possibilities and the limitations of
conventional storytelling.
Colum McCann
Father and Child First published in 1969, the poem is
structured as a diptych and uses rhythm
Gwen Harwood and rhyme, and imagery and literary
allusions, to portray the relationship
between a child and father as it has
changed over time.
Zadie Smith is a critically acclaimed English Smith, Zadie
author and professor of creative writing at
New York University. She was made a Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in
2002 and has won the James Tait Black Penguin, 2011
Memorial Prize, the Anisfield-Wolf Book
Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction. ISBN: 9780141019468
Colum McCann is an Irish novelist and McCann, Colum
short story writer. He is the recipient of
numerous awards and prizes including the Thirteen Ways of Looking
2009 National Book Award and the 2011
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Bloomsbury, 2016
ISBN: 9781408869857
Regarded as one of Australia’s finest poets, Harwood, Gwen
Gwen Harwood was the recipient of
numerous awards including the Grace Selected Poems
Leven Prize for Poetry and the Patrick
White Award. She was made an Officer of Penguin, 2001
the Order of Australia in 1989.
ISBN:9780141006680
Helpful links
The HSC Hub:
https://www.hschub.nsw.edu.au/search?query=discursi
ve

Discursive writing (Art Of Smart):

https://artofsmart.com.au/english/discursive-writing/

Module C FAQ (DET NSW):

https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nes
a/11-12/stage-6-learning-areas/stage-6-english/english-
advanced-2017/modules/module-c-the-craft-of-writing

What is a discursive text?

https://biancahewes.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/what-
the-heck-is-a-discursive-essay/

Writing a discursive essay:

https://www.matrix.edu.au/band-6-exemplar-discursive
-essay-2/