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french edexcel u6: DISCURSIVE ESSAYS

I'm practising for the writing in registers exam on tuesday and I've realised I have a BIG problem.

Our teacher told us we should do the Task Based Assignments, so we have been "trained" for these. The only thing is I think I would find the discurive essays much easier, I'm better at that kind of thing.

But I have no guidance on what types of things to include. If anyone could give me any pointers they've been given on how to write/structure these types of essays I'd be REALLY grateful. (it's annoying how much emphasis there is on the "content" of these things rather than the actual quality of french, but there you go! that's why i'm worried about doing a discursive essay in the exam without ever being told what i'm supposed to include in them)

Thanks guys, I really would appreciate any help whatsoever. :smile:

Reply 1

Trundle

2

Hi! Don't panic!

The first thing to remember with the discursive essay is that you don't have many words to play with; aim for about 250. In that you need an introduction, a conclusion, and both sides of the argument (if applicable).

In the introduction, you set the scene, e.g. "Actuellement, il y a..." etc and give an indication as to where you are going.

Then, make sure you spend 15-20 minutes planning your arguments, preferably 3 for and 3 against. Then you can order them as appropriate. Make these arguments good and not wolly. Maybe a paragraph for and a paragraph against. Useful phrases to introduce the "for" side of the argument might be "Nombre sont ceux qui disent que...", whereas the "against" side of the argument might be introduced by "Venons-en maintenant à considérer l'opinion des autres".

Then move onto conclude. DO NOT repeat what you have said in your essay, but maybe suggest a solution to the problem (if applicable) and give your own opinion and justify it.

Although the French is important, it is very important also to make sure what you say is secure. Although he above structure is simplified, it makes sure you have a coherant structure with both sides of the argument.

Best of luck :smile:

Reply 2

leannemarie

11

If you use the search forum, there's a whole list of discursive essay titles that I posted and also some useful phrases for the essays.

Reply 3

wishuponastar

OP

thank you so much, that's really useful :smile:

hehe leanne i beat you to it i'd already found those: they're SUCH a help to practise with so thank you!

right, so i need to give both sides of the argument. do i need to give examples/statistics where applicable to back up any arguments? because that could be hard seeing as i could get any topic!

are there any topics that you'd advise me to look at vocab for specifically, i mean i'm guessing environment is one that comes up lots for example.

and finally- when i plan it, can i do this in english? will i be marked down for that, or do they disregard the plan?

thank you so much guys you're being such a great help :smile:

Reply 4

leannemarie

11

DON'T plan in English is what we were advised, but what we all did in our Spanish exam on Friday was ask for a piece of rough paper and then used that to plan in English/write phrases down we wanted to get in etc. But don't hand in anything that's in English.

Definitely learn environment vocab, because you can't blag it. I'm pretty certain I'll go for something on society/culture/politics but if you think you can write well on the environment, learn the vocab!

If you know statistics, use them! Try and include some examples. For example (!), I did an essay on the advs. and disadvs. of mulitculturalism on Friday and I used the example of the terrorsit attacks in Madrid. If you can relate it to the country, then even better!

My advice would be that there is a lot of time for this paper, don't rush it and regret it. Plan each bit properly, think of your arguments and choose the best ones. Think of examples if there are any and consider how you can get subjunctives in and more complex tenses etc.

I normally divide my essays up 50-75-75-50 although on Friday (for Spanish) it was more like 45-75-75-55 because I like having a few more words for the conclusion.

Reply 5

wishuponastar

OP

leannemann

DON'T plan in English is what we were advised, but what we all did in our Spanish exam on Friday was ask for a piece of rough paper and then used that to plan in English/write phrases down we wanted to get in etc. But don't hand in anything that's in English.

Are you allowed do that? I thought everything had to be handed in, no? If not then a rough bit of paper just to organise my ideas would be useful because i need to just think of the arguments first, then select which onces THEN put them into french.

I think I'll make sure I know some phrases and stuff for the TBA too just incase I get into the exam room and find it too difficult to do the discursive with so little practice!

Reply 6

leannemarie

11

wishuponastar

Are you allowed do that? I thought everything had to be handed in, no? If not then a rough bit of paper just to organise my ideas would be useful because i need to just think of the arguments first, then select which onces THEN put them into french.

I think I'll make sure I know some phrases and stuff for the TBA too just incase I get into the exam room and find it too difficult to do the discursive with so little practice!

Well someone in my class asked for some rough paper first and he didn't have a problem with that (examinations officer). I think technically everything should be handed in but we didn't take anything away from the exam room, which i think is the most important thing because they think that you could use it to tell someone else (who hasn't sat the exam yet) what to do.

If you have a go at one of the discursive essays and post it here then I'll be happy to look at it for you. I posted one somewhere on nuclear energy (I guess you've probably seen that.)

Reply 7

wishuponastar

OP

leannemann

If you have a go at one of the discursive essays and post it here then I'll be happy to look at it for you. I posted one somewhere on nuclear energy (I guess you've probably seen that.)

That would be great, if you don't mind! Thank you :smile:

I'll PM one to you later on (gotta type up what I've written first)

As for the rough paper thing, does the plan get marked? Say if I wrote arguments out in english, then did a french plan and they made me hand EVERYTHING in, would I get marked down for the english bit?

Sorry for all these questions by the way!

Reply 8

Amy22

Heya where exactly did u post some titles, i need lots of practice- so scared bout tuesday!! Thanks xxx

Reply 9

leannemarie

11

wishuponastar

That would be great, if you don't mind! Thank you :smile:

I'll PM one to you later on (gotta type up what I've written first)

As for the rough paper thing, does the plan get marked? Say if I wrote arguments out in english, then did a french plan and they made me hand EVERYTHING in, would I get marked down for the english bit?

Sorry for all these questions by the way!

You don't get any marks for a plan so I doubt they could mark you down for planning in English, I just think we were advised against it because it looks bad and creates a bad impression.

Ask your exams officer if you could have some rough paper just to scribble notes on beforehand.

Reply 10

kellywood_5

17

leannemann

I just think we were advised against it because it looks bad and creates a bad impression.

Also, if you write things down in English, you'll then try and translate word for word into French and it'll be harder to get it right, whereas if you plan in French from the start, you'll only include things you know how to say.

Reply 11

Trundle

2

I agree. I used to plan in English, but since I have started doing it in French, I find the writing of the essay so much easier, because your mind is only in one language and not two. To add to what Kelly said, if you plan in French, you know you can talk about what you are able to write. Ideas might be great in English but if you don't have a hope of writing about them in French, what's the point spending time on them? I would say, to an extent keep your ideas simple (but not bland), but expressed accurately. Obviously you know how confident you can be with your French, but don't be too ambitious and just end up with a piece that is a grammatical mess (as I have done many times before :p:

).

Reply 12

leannemarie

11

Oops I posted this in the wrong thread:
Here are the essay titles
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=235083
(After the Spanish ones)

Reply 13

allmyshoes

1

make sure your points are actually based on something (can be anywhere in the world, remember) and maybe add a figure in there or something.

make sure you use both y and en and present, past, future, conditional and subjunctive tenses. and si clauses!!

a few phrases that might be useful:

faut il-en conclure que..? - should we conclude from this that...
rien d'etonnant (accent on e) que..(+subj) - it is not surprising that..
a (accent!) en croire les sondages - if we are to believe the polls..

Reply 14

candystrippa

2

if you really want to write an english plan, but are scared that you would be marked down for it, why don't you just write it in pencil and then rub it out? =P

Reply 15

allmyshoes

1

anything you write on the paper, then cross out, will not even be looked at, so don't worry if you want to plan in english, just make sure you cross it out at the end!!!

french edexcel u6: DISCURSIVE ESSAYS

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