Organising a Discursive Essay about Car Use
Organising a Discursive Essay about Car Use
The two most common types of essays are the argumentative and the discursive.
An argumentative essay opens with a boldly expressed point of view and then the rest of the essay presents arguments (examples, proof or logic) to support that point of view. Normally, it refers to opposing arguments but demonstrates that these are weak or even false. (Look at this essay about zoos for an example.)
A discursive essay presents both sides of the issue in a more balanced way. In the end, however, it normally reaches a conclusion; in other words, the writer states what s/he thinks. The following is an example of how a discursive essay on handguns might be structured:
Introduction
: The issue of handgun ownership
A. Some people believe individuals should not own handguns
B. Others believe ownership is an important personal right
Disadvantages
of handgun ownership
- Both adults and children can have accidents
- People can use guns for crimes
Advantages
of handgun ownership
+ People can protect themselves from intruders
+ People can use guns for recreational purposes (e.g. target practice at gun clubs)
Conclusion
(a summary & evaluation of arguments above)
= Problems of accidents and crime make gun ownership difficult to accept
= Gun ownership should not be allowed in the interest of a better society
Your task in this assignment is to write a discursive essay about the advantages and disadvantages of car use. You will be given the various arguments both in favour of, and against, car use. Your first task will be to organise these arguments.
TASK 1
Read the following notes.
Identify all the points in favour of car use and mark them with the symbol ü .
Identify all the points against car use and mark them with the symbol û .
Not restricted by schedules as you are with public transport
Comfortable (spacious, cool, radio/CD etc.)
They cause air pollution (e.g. exhaust emissions contribute to
The two most common types of essays are the argumentative and the discursive.
An argumentative essay opens with a boldly expressed point of view and then the rest of the essay presents arguments (examples, proof or logic) to support that point of view. Normally, it refers to opposing arguments but demonstrates that these are weak or even false. (Look at this essay about zoos for an example.)
A discursive essay presents both sides of the issue in a more balanced way. In the end, however, it normally reaches a conclusion; in other words, the writer states what s/he thinks. The following is an example of how a discursive essay on handguns might be structured:
Introduction
: The issue of handgun ownership
A. Some people believe individuals should not own handguns
B. Others believe ownership is an important personal right
Disadvantages
of handgun ownership
- Both adults and children can have accidents
- People can use guns for crimes
Advantages
of handgun ownership
+ People can protect themselves from intruders
+ People can use guns for recreational purposes (e.g. target practice at gun clubs)
Conclusion
(a summary & evaluation of arguments above)
= Problems of accidents and crime make gun ownership difficult to accept
= Gun ownership should not be allowed in the interest of a better society
Your task in this assignment is to write a discursive essay about the advantages and disadvantages of car use. You will be given the various arguments both in favour of, and against, car use. Your first task will be to organise these arguments.
TASK 1
Read the following notes.
Identify all the points in favour of car use and mark them with the symbol ü .
Identify all the points against car use and mark them with the symbol û .
Not restricted by schedules as you are with public transport
Comfortable (spacious, cool, radio/CD etc.)
They cause air pollution (e.g. exhaust emissions contribute to