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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 2

Writing a discursive essay
A discursive essay is an essay that explores a particular subject. A discursive essay needs to be
balanced: you should present arguments on both sides in a neutral way before you express your
own opinion.
1 Read the essay and say if these statements are true or false.
1
2
3
4
5
6

The author gives a firm opinion on the subject in the introduction.

The second paragraph supports the proposition in the title.
In the third paragraph the author says that he thinks healthcare and university should be free.
The author offers an extreme opinion in the final paragraph.
In general, the essay is balanced.
There are too many paragraphs in the essay for the content. Two would be enough.

Students, not the state, should pay university tuition fees.

Twenty years ago, if you went to university in the UK, all of your
tuition fees were paid for by the government. Now, however, you
have to pay for them yourself. There is currently a lot of debate about
which of these two situations is better. What is more, there are no
straightforward answers.

Introduction

In an ideal world, all education would be free, including tertiary

education. Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that we do not
live in an ideal world and there is not an unlimited supply of money.
In addition to this, the more money the government spends, the
more it taxes its citizens, and the less money they have.

Explore one side

of the argument

On the other hand, it could be argued that in a modern democratic

society, citizens have some basic rights. For example, many people
would agree that universal free healthcare is a basic right: no one
should go without medical attention because they cant afford it.
Likewise, a significant number of people also think university fees
should be free of charge. After all, they maintain, if healthcare is free,
why shouldnt university be free, too?
In my own view, university tuition fees should not be totally free. If
they are, many people will go to university just because they dont
know what to do after secondary school. Obviously, this is not the
purpose of going to university. At the same time, fees should not be
so expensive that they put off people from poor families from
carrying on with their studies. Consequently, the best solution
would be for the government to subsidise tuition fees, but not to pay
for them entirely.

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Explore another
side of the
argument

Your own view

Writing Reference Pearson Educacin, S.A., 2012

Learn to use linking devices

2a) Look at the linking devices in bold in the text. Classify them according to their use.
a) To introduce additional information
b) To indicate a contrast with what has come before
c) To follow a logical argument
d) To prove your point
b) Classify these linking devices according to the categories in 2a).
additionally
in conclusion

thus
evidently

To introduce additional
information

so
on the contrary

To indicate a contrast with

what has come before

furthermore
hence
To follow a logical
argument

for this reason

To prove your
point

3 Delete the incorrect alternative in each sentence.

1 He pays his own fees. For this reason / However / Consequently, he wants to complete
his degree as soon as possible.
2 Janes family have a lot of money. However / Thus / Nevertheless, they dont give her
much.
3 Everybody failed the exam. Evidently / In addition to this / Obviously, it was too difficult.
4 Healthcare is very expensive in the United States. On the contrary / For this reason /
Hence, its a good idea to have health insurance.
5 She lives a long way from the university. Furthermore / Consequently / Whats more,
public transport in the area is very poor.
6 His sister studied Maths at university. Thus / However / In contrast, he studied French.

Extension
4a) Look at the sentences and translate them.
1
2
3
4

I went to university, whereas my father didnt.

Despite all my advice, they didnt go to university.
Shes extremely intelligent. Having said that, shes also very lazy.
Although he worked very hard, he failed all his exams.

b) Which of the expressions in bold

i) connects two clauses in the same sentence?
ii) is followed by a noun clause?
iii) has a similar meaning to however?
c) Rewrite sentences 1-4 as indicated.
1
2
3
4

Use
Use
Use
Use

however.
although.
although.
despite.

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Writing Reference Pearson Educacin, S.A., 2012

Practice
5 Write an essay on the subject: Royal families serve no useful purpose in todays
society (250300 words).
Writing plan

Paragraph
Paragraph
Paragraph
Paragraph

1:
2:
3:
4:

introduce the topic.

present one side of the argument.
present the other side of the argument.
give your own view.

Check your essay

Have you followed the writing plan?
Is your essay balanced?
Have you avoided giving your own opinion until the last paragraph?
Have you used a good range of linking devices to help make your meaning clear?
Have you checked the grammar, spelling and punctuation of your essay?

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Writing Reference Pearson Educacin, S.A., 2012