Discourse and Composition (paragraphs, essays, descriptions)
What the domain tests
Discourse and Composition tests your ability to organise extended writing: a paragraph, an essay or a description. Examiners look for a clear central idea, logical order, supporting detail, varied sentence structure and accurate language.
Core rules
- One paragraph, one controlling idea. Begin with a topic sentence that names the idea; develop it with reasons, examples or contrasts; close with a sentence that rounds it off.
- Coherence comes from order and connectors. Use first, moreover, however, therefore, for instance only when the logic requires them.
- Essay structure: introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs each developing one point, conclusion that returns to the thesis without simply repeating it.
- Description: establish a dominant impression, then use sensory detail and spatial order (foreground to background, left to right). Avoid piling up adjectives.
- Plan briefly before writing: list two or three points and decide their order.
Worked example
Topic sentence: Public libraries matter because they give people free access to knowledge.
Reasoning: this sentence makes a claim that can be supported. A supporting sentence could give an example: A student without internet at home can use a library’s computers to complete applications. A further sentence can explain the effect: This reduces inequality of access. The paragraph should not drift into a description of a particular library building unless that detail supports the claim.
Traps that cost marks
- Including a sentence that does not support the topic sentence.
- Listing points without developing any of them.
- Writing a narrative when the task asks for a description.
- An introduction that is long but has no thesis.
- A conclusion that introduces a new argument instead of closing the essay.