Discursive essay writing

Writing for Information Doon Academy Library

Which type of essay?
Discursive/Argumentative
Both sides of argument
Informative/Persuasive
Explaining a topic

Planning 1
Before you start
Think about possible topics
Avoid the obvious ones – too boring
Watch the news
Do background reading

Locating information
Library catalogue
Issues series
English page
Discursive links
Newspapers websites
Statistics sites
Use a range of sources

Planning 2
Decide on your problem or question
Start a mind map
Try Mindomo or Mindmeister or Bubbl.us
Make up an essay plan

Locating information 2
Up to date
Reliable
Unbiased
Authoritative

Note-taking
Skim and scan for facts to back up your argument
Record them
In your jotter
In a visual way, making a timeline, a web or a diagram
By making lists, columns, or outlines
By highlighting text
Do not copy and paste

Note-taking 2
How does this fit with what I have already read?
What doesn’t make sense?
Which side does this evidence support?
What are the characteristics of this source?
What do I still need to find out?

Getting organised
You work hard to find information so look after it!
Only print what you need
Keep your notes on a mind-map or word doc.
Keep your work in a folder or inside your jotter.
Note your sources as you go along.

Getting organised 2
Note details of resources you use:
URL, Author, title, date, publisher, page numbers.
The work will be copyright.
This applies to web pages and
CD-ROMs as well as books

Academic honesty
Copyright means you must not copy!
Copy and pasting is passing of other people’s work as your own
SQA can cancel all your exam entries
Universities expel students caught copying

What is Plagiarism?
Using a choice phrase or sentence that you have come across.
C opying word-for-word directly from a text.
Paraphrasing the words from a text very closely.
Using text downloaded from the internet.
Borrowing statistics or assembled facts from another person or source.
Copying or downloading figures, photographs, pictures or diagrams without acknowledging your sources.
Source: Open University What constitutes plagiarism or cheating?

Self-evaluation 1
Review your information
Support your argument with evidence
Give your own opinion
Finish with a summary and a conclusion

Self-evaluation 2
Make sure you are happy with how your work looks.
Use the spelling and grammar checker
Ask someone else to read it over
Hand it in on time!
Have a look at Check your sources for more help

Discursive essay writing

by doonacad on Feb 15, 2011

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Discursive essay writing — Presentation Transcript