Writing a balanced discursive article
English · Key Stage 3 · The School
What discursive writing is for
A DISCURSIVE article looks at an issue from more than one angle. It does not argue for one side from the very start, the way a persuasive piece does. It suits questions where a fair-minded reader could land on either side, once they have read good arguments for both.
Representing the other side fairly
A weak discursive piece sets up a WEAK version of the other view, just to knock it down easily. This is called a "straw man". A strong piece states the opposing view in its STRONGEST form — the version its own supporters would recognise and agree with. Only then does it respond. That fairness is what earns the reader's trust for the rest of the piece.
Structuring the piece
A typical structure: introduce the issue neutrally. Present one side with its strongest evidence. Present the other side with its strongest evidence. Then weigh them against each other before you conclude. Words like "on the other hand", "however" and "on balance" tell the reader exactly where they are in that structure.
Take an article on whether homework should be banned. Some research shows homework improves exam results. Other research shows it harms wellbeing, and hits some homes harder than others. A balanced conclusion does not have to sit exactly in the middle. It might say: "A small, tightly-limited amount of homework has stronger evidence behind it than banning it outright — but only if schools also fix the unfairness it creates between homes." This still takes a real position. What makes it balanced is that BOTH sides got their strongest case first. The conclusion follows from weighing them up, not from picking a side before the article even began.