Elements of Discourse

Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of discourse (e.g., purpose, speaker, audience, form) when completing narrative, expository, persuasive, or descriptive writing assignments.

A piece of writing is a form of communication. You, the writer, are talking to the reader, or the audience. Discourse is a fancy word for conversation. In writing, discourse is defined as a "formal, orderly, and usually extended expression of thought on a subject." This just means that you, the writer, choose a topic, express your opinion on the topic in your thesis, and then go into more detail to support your thesis.

A building has many elements that make it a building. It has a foundation, walls, doors, and a roof. Discourse also has many elements. Let's look at the elements of discourse.