How to Write a Discussion Essay?
The world isn’t as black and white as we like to believe. There are always two sides to an argument, which means no matter what you are talking about, there is room for discussion. As mentioned in the University of Oxford article, effective writing skills take time and practice to develop, therefore, the more you work on the discussion essay assignments, the better you become. But how do you succeed with the first project? What do you start with? What is the discussion essay structure to follow?
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These are the questions most students ask as they get the discussion essay writing assignment. While some of them prefer to save their time and effort by choosing to read a detailed EssayMarket review and get qualified assistance, others accept the challenge and start learning how to write a discussion essay. Keep reading if you belong to the second category of learners willing to accept the challenge and thrive.
What Is a Discussion Essay?
Before you dive into the writing process and start analyzing how to write a discussion essay, you need to deal with the definition and core peculiarities of the essay type. 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. How does this paper type differ from argumentative, persuasive, or expository ones? Check out the table below to notice the key features of the discussion essay that keep it unique.
| Feature | Discussion essay | Argumentative essay | Persuasive essay | Expository essay |
| Purpose | Explore numerous sides of an issue | Convince the reader of a specific point | Persuade the audience using logic and emotion | Inform or explain a subject matter |
| Tone | Objective | Logical, assertive | Emotional | Informative, neutral |
| Structure | Importance of both pros and cons | Emphasis on the strong argument | Strong call to action | Summary without any biased or personal conclusions |
| Counterarguments | Yes, critical | Yes, sometimes | Yes, but not always | Rarely |
Telling the difference between these types of papers may be complicated, but there is always a chance to get qualified help. Read some of the essay writing service reviews and opt for the one that seems the most reliable and trustworthy.
Discussion Essay Structure
Discussion essay writing starts with planning. If you follow the recommendations specified by the University of Reading or stick to other guidelines for creating a stunning discussion essay outline, chances are you will succeed with even the most complicated project. Check out the table to discover a quick and easy way how to write a discussion essay. Make sure you include each part and keep it concise and informative.
| Introduction | Main body | Conclusion |
| Topic presentation (1 or 2 sentences) Thesis statement (1 or 2 sentences) Brief summary of your position (1 sentence) | Detailed information about the discussed subject 1-3 paragraphs, each presenting a separate idea or concept | Summary of one side Summary of the other side Your position and final thoughts |
Remember that following the discussion essay structure is a certain way to achieve the desired success. You may choose to start with the body passage and proceed to the conclusion and introduction, or stick to a different strategy. Anyway, you will get an influential and interesting discussion essay compliant with college requirements.
Step-by-Step: How to Write a Discussion Essay
Once you are aware of the discussion essay definition and core peculiarities, you are ready to proceed to the guidelines on how to write a discussion essay. Check out a comprehensive step-by-step guide that will help you go through the writing process with ease. Besides, look through the Papercoach Review beforehand, so that you can always rely on professional assistance if needed. Mind the effective discussion essay tips to advance your writing to a new level.
Pre-writing checklist
Before you work on the discussion essay, make sure you are ready to get started. Scan a checklist so that you know how to implement discussion in an essay.
- 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 strategies
There’s no magical solution for how to start a discussion essay. The only way to succeed with the process is by making an effort, spending time, reflecting on the topic, and following the guidelines. As a result, you will get an influential and impressive discussion essay. However, check out a few discussion essay tips that may be of great help.
- 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.
Post-writing (editing, feedback, formatting)
Even if you know how to cope with the discussion essay format, it does not guarantee you success with the process. In addition to creating the first discussion essay draft, you need to know how to improve it and come up with flawless, well-structured, and impeccable text. Mind the following post-writing stages:
- Editing
- Feedback
- Formatting
Discussion Essay Tips for High Grades
We’ve covered the basics of how to structure a discussion essay 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 for the discussion essay:
- Remember the word count requirements.
- Choose credible sources.
- Outline using topic sentences.
- Rely on facts instead of emotions.
- Get actionable feedback.
Example of a Discussion Essay Introductions
Capturing the attention of the readers to the discussion essay is critical, which means the introductory passage matters. Students who manage to create an enticing opening paragraph that keeps the audience excited about the rest of the paper succeed. A quick hook, relevant background information on the topic, and a few details that encourage the readers to continue reflecting on the topic are the exact elements that can help to achieve the desired result.
Check out a great example of discussion essay introduction and follow the pattern as you start working on your own assignment.
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10 Discussion Essay Topics You Can Use
While some students get specific discussion essay topics to analyze, others have complete freedom and flexibility in their choice. It can make the process simpler or more complicated, depending on your ability to single out the most important aspect within the scope of the discussed issue.
Avoid the discussion essay topics that are too general and common. Instead, a quick research and analysis of the field may help you specify one of the most interesting and appealing issues to analyze. Look through some of the topic ideas to get inspired and acknowledge what kind of topics may work the best.
- 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.
Following the writing tips and guidelines, you can easily succeed with any discussion paper writing. Excellent structure, relevant data, and proper formatting are the key features to consider while working on the assignment. Make sure you keep the introduction and discussion essay conclusion concise, while the body part informative. Focus on the writing tips and keep working on the advancement of your skills so that each project you work on is better than the previous one.
