The world isn’t as black and white as we like to believe. There are always two sides to an argument, even if online algorithms conspire to keep us within the safety of personalized feed bubbles. Still, considering both sides of the issue is an important skill, and discussion essays are designed to help you master it.
But what is a discussion essay, and how do you score an A? Read on to find answers to all your questions.
What is a discussion essay?
A discussion essay is an academic genre that requires an overview of two or more sides of the topic and a presentation of the writer’s opinion. It’s closest to the informative or expository genre, though it is often confused with argumentative or persuasive pieces. The latter, however, focus on a single take and use evidence to convince the audience to take the author’s side.
Though it’s not quite the same as compare-and-contrast or cause-and-effect expository papers, you can think of a discussion essay as an extended list of pros and cons or advantages and drawbacks. When you think about it like that, it’s obvious you engage in discussions every day whenever you’re choosing pizza toppings or an outfit for the day.
By the way, the same rules and requirements apply to the discussion paragraph structure or online course discussions. The focus is always on addressing different sides before stressing your point of view.
How do I structure a discussion essay?
The basic structure of a discussion essay is introduction + body + conclusion, just like it is for any other academic piece.
The introduction must include:
- Topic presentation (1 or 2 sentences)
- Thesis statement (1 or 2 sentences)
- Brief summary of your position (1 sentence)
The conclusion checklist covers:
- Summary of one side
- Summary of another side
- Your position and final thoughts
It’s the body paragraphs that usually stump students trying to figure out the structure of a discussion paper. There are two ways to go about it:
- Thematic. The first paragraph (or several) covers all the arguments in favor of one position, while the second half of the body covers all the points supporting the other point of view. It’s the easiest and most logical discussion writing structure, but it can also easily turn into a list, which won’t win you points with the professor.
- Argument - counterargument. You highlight three or more major distinctions between the different sides and cover both positions within one paragraph before moving on to the next point. This approach requires careful analysis and planning, but it can also make your narrative more streamlined.
Remember that you don’t need to work on your paper in order, especially if you don’t know how to start a discussion essay. You can work on body paragraphs and conclusion before returning to deal with the opening passage.
How to write a discussion essay
Although we could break down the writing process into minuscule chunks, the sheer number of steps can be as intimidating as one huge task. So, instead, let’s think of this assignment as a three-part job.
Pre-writing routine
Before you work on persuasion or refutation, you need to complete the pre-writing checklist:
- You clearly understand the prompt and topic. Highlight the keywords in the prompt and ensure you understand what is expected of you. Check out the rubric if it’s available to see what could win you the most points. If you have a free choice of a topic, keep reading to learn how to pick a good one.
- You have enough sources to cite and a couple of spares. When looking for supporting details, focus on credible, relevant, and objective sources, such as scientific articles, expert opinions, empirical evidence, etc.
- You have an outline with topic sentences for each paragraph. Start with a thesis statement, then outline all the major points for each side of the issue and formulate topic sentences for body passages. Finally, formulate your opinion on the matter to include in the conclusion.
If you check all of the above, you can move on to the next stage.
Writing process
There’s no magical solution for how to write a discussion essay. The only way to get it done is to write the paper. Still, there are a few tricks you can try:
- Brain dump. Don’t bother working out the best word choice or correct your spelling. Instead, type out everything that comes to mind and do it fast. The goal is to get as much in writing as possible to be edited later.
- Interval writing. If you can’t make yourself sit down and waste hours writing, set a timer at five or ten minutes, and promise yourself you’ll stop there. Odds are you’ll get sucked in and won’t want to stop once the timer chimes. But if you do, save your progress and repeat the exercise until your paper is done.
- Transcribing. If you get distracted when you sit down in front of the laptop, try taking voice notes on your phone while taking a walk or getting to campus. Speech-to-text software can later transcribe your notes for editing.
Post-writing routine
It’s not enough to learn how to discuss in an essay because your first draft will still need a lot of work before you can submit it for grading to get a top mark. Editing, proofreading, and formatting are critical. If you cannot get a professional editor to do it for you, swap papers with a classmate to get independent feedback. You can also leverage free online writing tools, such as Grammarly for spellcheck or EasyBib for generating a reference list. Remember to add a title page, if necessary, and ensure your paper fits the formatting requirements.
Tips for writing a discussion essay
We’ve covered the basics of how to structure a discussion piece and complete it to score a good grade. But there are a few extra tricks to expedite your writing process and boost your chances of scoring an A:
- Remember the word count requirements. If your professor wants a 1,000-word essay, you’ll need about 100 to 150 for introduction and 200 words for conclusion, leaving 650 to 700 for two to four main body paragraphs.
- Choose credible sources. Quotes from Wikipedia or Reddit aren’t worthy of citation. Instead, use Google Scholar and other academic search tools to find publications in reputable scientific articles.
- Outline using topic sentences. Instead of incomplete phrases or headings, think of topic sentences (or thesis statement) for each paragraph. It will help you find relevant evidence and examples and kick-start the writing process.
- Rely on facts instead of emotions. When formulating your opinion at the end of the paper, use the arguments and evidence presented instead of biases, emotions, or subjective takes.
- Get actionable feedback. Ideally, you want to check in with your TA or professor, but if that’s unlikely, consider hiring a professional editor to look over your writing and provide tips for making it better. Check out our essay writing services reviews to find a reliable service to help with that.
Discussion essay topic examples
If you have the freedom to choose a discussion topic, start by asking yourself what you want to achieve.
What’s your goal?
If you want to breeze through the assignment and get an easy A, go with the topic you already know well. For example, recycle one of the papers from another class, tweaking it to fit the discussion paper format.
Alternatively, if you want to impress your professor, get noticed, or published, pick a cutting-edge topic, something exciting and uncommon. It can be something you pick out from your social media feed or news headlines or merely a fresh look at an old classic.
Here are ten discussion writing examples you can use or adapt for class:
- Discover the positive and negative impact of the pandemic on the environment
- Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of free higher education.
- Consider the advantages and disadvantages of a bipartisan political system.
- Explore the positive and negative impact of solar panels on the environment.
- Consider different scholar’s opinions about the major influences in Shakespeare’s life.
- Discuss the potential positive and negative effects of banning TikTok in the US.
- Explore the benefits and drawbacks of vegetarianism for physical and mental health
- Analyze the positives and negatives of a child-free lifestyle.
- Discuss the pros and cons of government funding for space exploration programs.
- Consider the advantages and disadvantages of learning a foreign language.
Discussion essay example
A complete discussion essay example would not fit this short post, but to give you a better grasp of the assignment type, we crafted a few passages addressing the following prompt:
Discuss the positive and negative impact of generative AI technology on learning outcomes in college.
A sample introduction would look like this:
It took less than a year for generative artificial intelligence (AI) to become a commonplace presence on college campuses. While some professors argue that ChatGPT and similar tools promote academic dishonesty and negate the value of homework assignments, others embrace the possibilities for enhanced understanding, faster assignment development, and other creative uses of AI. Despite its misuse potential, I believe generative AI can be a valuable educational tool, and schools should not attempt to ban its use but welcome new opportunities and prepare students for the challenges arising in the job market.
A main body paragraph could read something like:
Machine learning and artificial intelligence models can enhance teaching and learning experiences across a variety of classes, as well as facilitate college administration and management processes, from admission essay screening to assisting students throughout the years. AI algorithms can be trained to develop personalized educational trajectories, optimize scheduling, and provide students with remote administrative assistance. Some professors are actively implementing AI-based training exercises into their syllabi and teaching students to develop AI-related competencies that are sought-after on the job market.
Final word of advice
Suppose you heed our advice and do everything right but still don’t manage to complete the paper on time. Or get a D after wasting all that time. It’s not an excuse to give up. Instead, it’s a sign you need professional help to guide your efforts, and writing companies can help with that. So, check out our EssayMarket review and Speedy Paper review to see if they can take over your task and help you master the art of writing discussion essays.
