Discussion: Setup & Example | Study smarter

A discussion is about being persuasive argue and claims with facts to substantiate. There are different ways and approaches to do this.

forms of discussion

There are different forms of discussion, which are explained in more detail below. You can use three different ones characteristics tell apart

Differentiation by form of discussion

A basic distinction is that of external Shape. Here you can differentiate between two different forms.

The linear discussion

the linear Discussion will also increasing called discussion. The name comes from the fact that the arguments are sorted in ascending order of importance.

This form of discussion is one-sided. That is, the linear discussion illuminates only one side of the argument. You will get a central question given and you decide on the position you want to take in your discussion. So collect and describe only arguments for your chosen side. You simply leave the other side out.

The dialectical discussion

One dialectic Discussion will also controversy Called discussion or pro-con discussion. It is the opposite of the linear discussion because it illuminates both positions of one issue. Although you can choose a side, you still weigh up both the pros and the cons in your text.

The two contradictory claims are also called thesis and antithesis. The thesis of your discussion is the assertion that corresponds to your opinion. The antithesis thus provides the corresponding counter-arguments.

Distinction according to topics of discussion

There are again two different forms of this division of the discussions. However, they do not differ in terms of their formal structure, but fundamentally in their content problem or question.

The problem discussion

When discussing the problem, the task usually consists of a concrete one decision question. This means that a certain problem is up for debate and a decision needs to be made.

In the introduction you first lead to the topic and take up the problem. In the main part, the opposing sides are discussed in depth and weighed against each other. In this case it is your task theses to formulate and at the same time a debilitating counter-thesis to create. You should not contradict your own opinion, but make it clear that you have dealt with the problem on both sides. In the final part you reveal your final decision.

The discussion of the problem always presents a dialectic Discussion as both sides are confronted with each other.

The Discussion

When discussing a matter, you are given a specific topic without there being a specific problem.

In your introduction, you develop additional questions about the main topic. They should serve to deepen the content of your argument. In the main part of the discussion, you make your arguments coherent chains of arguments one after the other. You then present the result of your discussion in the final part. You can also take a personal stand here.

This form of discussion can be dialectic as well as linear discussion to be written.

distinction by material

Most discussions are based on what already exists text material, for example factual texts or epic works. This shape is called textual or also material-based discussion, whereby here according to the text type between conventional text-based discussion and literary discussion is differentiated.

The textual discussion

Text-based discussions are based on factual texts or journalistic commentsfor example from serious newspaper articles or scientific research and study reports.

When you write a text-based discussion, you must first delve deeper into the content of the text. It’s about analyzing the text and the Opinion either support or refute the author’s argument in your discussion.

Write non-fiction authors neutral and objective. Nevertheless, a hidden opinion can be read in most texts. Comments from journalists are common opinions on a specific topic. So you contain an open opinion.

In your introduction, you first name the author and summarize the original text briefly and impartially. Then you can go into the individual arguments in more detail and strengthen your own position.

The literary discussion

In the literary discussion, the orientation text corresponds to a literary Plant. It can be a short story or a novel.

When you write a literary essay, you examine the reference text first in broad terms and then in detail. So you first write a synopsis that is as concise as possible and then discuss the passage that your task is about.

Don’t forget in your introduction title and author of the work, the text typethe Publisher and the Publishing year to mention. You should also name the most important characters and place the plot in place and time.

You justify your arguments in the text and support them with suitable quotations. You can use both direct and indirect quotes for this.

The free discussion

A discussion that does not have a reference text as a starting point is called a free discussion. In your task you will receive the topic that you can discuss freely as you wish. Collect as much as possible for this prior knowledge. You can also include your own experiences.

write discussion – preparation

In order for the structure of your discussion to remain intact and your arguments to be coherent, you must prepare yourself sufficiently before writing your discussion. The individual steps are explained here.

choice of shape

read yours task Read it carefully several times and make sure you understand everything. Next, you should look for a suitable one shape decide the discussion.

• Is it a material-based or one free Discussion?
• If you’re writing a textual argument: what’s yours reference text?
• The desired discussion deals with a specific decision problem or one facts?
• Should you the pros and cons to discuss or only illuminate one side?

In most cases you will find all the important information in your assignment. The operator «Discuss» always points to one dialectic discussion. If instead you are asked to refute the reference author’s arguments in a material-supported discussion, one must linear to write a discussion.

Selection of the argumentation principle

In the case of a material-based, i.e. a text-based, discussion, you must first sift through the source material thoroughly. That means you examine the reference text and mark important places in it. Even with a free discussion, you should gather enough knowledge before writing.

Also write down your own thoughts and make notes about possible gaps in the reference text. Perhaps you will find a weak point in the author’s argument and can use this advantage for yourself.

You then sort the collected material and bring the arguments into one Seriesin which they are the largest possible Effect own. When lining up the theses and arguments for a dialectical discussion, you have two basic options:

• the hourglass principle
• the zipper principle

The hourglass principle

The hourglass principle starts with the strongest argument of the other side, i.e. the most meaningful antithesis, and works its way down to the weakest. Then the other side follows. Here you start with the weakest and end with the strongest argument.

You can also apply this principle to a linear discussion. In this case, you would start with the weakest argument and work your way up to the strongest. Strong arguments are, for example, scientific facts that are difficult or impossible to refute.

The zipper principle is only suitable for one dialectical discussion. Again, you start with the strongest argument of the other side. On the other hand, you present the weakest argument for your opinion. This is followed by the medium-strong argument of the other side and the medium-strong argument of your side. You end your written exchange of blows with the weakest antithesis and the strongest argument that supports your thesis. Then you lead to the conclusion.

Studies show that readers are generally able to remember the last argument the longest. Therefore, both principles aim at one strong finish your chosen page.

When you have decided on a form and a principle of argument, it’s time to start writing. All kinds of discussion follow a fixed one Construction. It can be broken down into an introduction, main body and conclusion.

Introduction to Discussion

Your introduction should lead to the topic and address the problem or question. It must therefore contain a lot of information, but must not appear uninteresting. For example, start with a current one news topic, which fits your discussion. Alternatively, you can also refer to the results of a study, to your own experiences and adventures or to a quote.

In the context of textual discussion, it is also important to provide some data about the reference text. This includes:

• work title
• text type
• author
• Publishing year
• Publisher
• short summary

The conclusion of the introduction and transition to the main part is the central text statement, i.e. the core topic your discussion. Try to do this transition as much as possible naturally to design. There should be no clear break between the introduction and the main part.

body of the discussion

The body is the core of your argument. First you formulate your thesis or the antithesis of the other side, on which you build the following argument according to the hourglass or zipper principle. A complete argument always consists of:

• claim/thesis
• Reason
• Receipt/Example

Ideally, you have this in advance supporting documents to your claims and a few examples considered. In a text-based discussion, you access your…