Free reference guide · HSC English
Discursive Writing for HSC English
Discursive writing explores a question through more than one perspective. Practise developing a personal voice, shifting viewpoints and reflecting on your choices.
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Quick reference
- Central question
- Choose an issue you can explore from more than one position, with a clear thread for the reader to follow.
- Movement between perspectives
- An anecdote, example or counterpoint can test an assumption and change the direction of the piece.
- Ending
- Return to the central question with a more precise view of its tensions. The task instructions determine what kind of ending fits.
Shift from one position to a competing one
“I kept the ticket because I thought I would forget the journey. My brother threw his away. He said the point of leaving was to stop carrying everything home.”
The two responses open a question about memory without settling it immediately. A next paragraph could test both positions using another example. The writer’s voice, the stimulus and the assessment instructions should guide the structure.
Try it yourself
Write 100 words exploring whether keeping old messages helps people stay connected. Include a contrasting perspective, then explain one deliberate choice of voice or structure.
Show the response check
Give both perspectives room to change the way the central question is understood. In a reflection, identify an exact choice, such as switching from anecdote to a question, and explain its purpose.
Keep practising
These examples are original. For official assessment materials, see the NSW Department of Education Craft of Writing teaching resource and check your course requirements.