Essay Questions: 'Discuss'

Structurally sound 

'Discuss' is a word that can evoke dread in students - it is distinct from 'describe', 'argue that', 'agree or disagree' because it focuses on opinion, and an opinion is something many students can be afraid to express for fear that it may turn out to be the wrong one. The purpose of this post is to highlight to anyone facing a 'discuss' title for an essay that it is not necessarily their opinion that is required . . .

 In my former life as an English Literature tutor I was on occasion expected to set essay questions and a frequent favourite of mine was definitely the 'discuss' type question; 

e.g. John Ruskin described the Duomo in Milan as being "from every style in the world: and every style spoiled". Discuss with reference to the architecture and history of the building.

I particularly like this kind of question because of the breadth of responses that it could elicit. 

The main hope was that by positing a hypothesis or making a statement requiring research to be fully understood, and one that might also generate feelings of agreement, disagreement or something in the middle - this would allow students to present findings based around a thesis, antithesis and a synthesis; thus proving their ability to construct and research an argument. With this sort of question; as a student, you are being given an opportunity to present your views (or if you prefer the views of others); to present these views you will need to describe and interpret the key points raised by the question and find supporting arguments (from others) and evidence (from others - or based on fact) that you can use to justify your opinion. On occasion research may possibly reveal that there is only one possible conclusion, but this is rarely the case and would somewhat defeat the purpose of setting such a question.

In the case of the question about the Duomo the approaches are multiple – it requires an evaluation of the truth of both the first and second part of Ruskin’s statement; an understanding of why he made it (also what else did he say?); an investigation of what other people have said about the cathedral; research into the several hundred year history of its construction with emphasis on the origin of the architectural styles that were drawn on throughout this period; examination of plans, photographs of the current building; a determination of how far it is fit for the purpose for which it was designed; an illumination of what constitutes ‘spoiled’ in this context compared to other adjectives that might have been chosen; and so on, until an informed opinion is reached. 

For my part, I chose this picture for this blog post because I saw the Duomo when this view was hidden behind scaffolding - and because I agree not with Ruskin (or Oscar Wilde for that matter - he detested it), but rather with Mark Twain: “What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful!”

For those of you with other essay title types to challenge you come back later for future posts - all requests encouraged!