04/10/2024
What is a discursive essay?
A discursive essay is an essay that presents and explores two or more positions related to a given topic. For example, a discursive essay may discuss reasons to support adding solar panels to a public building and reasons to oppose doing so.
You might recognize that the word discursive, pronounced dis-kur-siv, is similar to the word discourse. This is because discursive is the adjective form of discourse, which is a noun that means “authoritative speech or writing about a subject.” In a discursive essay, the writer explores discourse surrounding their chosen topic, presenting both (and, in some cases, more than two) positions in good faith.
A discursive essay can be about anything. For example, you could write an essay that explores opposing opinions or a cause-and-effect essay that walks the reader through the repercussions of different actions, explaining how various choices could affect their outcomes.
When should you write a discursive essay?
You may be assigned to write a discursive essay. In this case, follow the assignment’s instructions, which may also specify discursive essay topics to choose from.
There are also scenarios where you may write a discursive essay without being assigned to do so. This could be an open-ended essay assignment—if you’re asked to write an analytical or political essay, structuring it as a discursive essay can be an effective way to thoroughly and accurately discuss your chosen topic.
A discursive essay can also be an engaging blog post or long-form post for a social media or publishing platform like LinkedIn or Substack. This type of essay is popular for writers seeking engagement with their work because its structure naturally invites commentary and further discussion. After all, that’s what discourse is all about.
Types of discursive essays
Just like there are many different discursive essay topics you can choose to write about, there are a variety of categories a discursive essay can fit into.