April+14+-+How+to+write+a+Discursive+(Argument)+Essay+1

**How to Write a Discursive (Argument) Essay**
There are five main steps in writing argument essays.


 * Step 1:** Read the question

Read the question. Decide what kind of essay it is – opinion, compare/contrast, problem and solution, cause and effect, or a mixture. The type of question will decide the layout and your ideas, but if you are not sure about which type of essay it is, don’t worry too much about the type.


 * Step 2:** Underline key words

Underline key vocabulary in the question and write words with the same or related meaning. This will really save you a lot of time later on. It will also help you to avoid repeating words and show that you understand the question.


 * Step 3:** Get Ideas

//Decide if you are for or against the idea.// Usually it is best to give both sides (for and against – one paragraph each) and then to give your opinion in the conclusion. However there are other ways of laying out your essay.


 * Step 4:** Decide Layout

You should decide on a layout. The easiest is 3773. That means four paragraphs: introduction (3 sentences) one side (7 sentences), the other side (7 sentences) and the conclusion (3 sentences). This will give you 20 sentences. With an average of about 12 words in each line, that is 240 words. Perfect!


 * Step 5:** Write!

After you have written your plan, write your essay. Follow the steps you have learned for writing the introduction, body, and conclusion. Check for spelling, capitalization, punctuation and grammar.