How to Write a Persuasive Essay - The Basics

What is a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay is a type of writing that attempts to convince the reader to agree with the author's point of view. 

Persuasive essays are often used to argue a point or opinion in academic and professional settings. They are designed to persuade readers to adopt a certain belief and take action. 

Ultimately, a persuasive essay must be thoughtful, convincing, and well-written in order to be effective. 

A persuasive essay should use logic and reason to demonstrate that its arguments are valid and its conclusion is the only logical one.

Purpose of Writing a Persuasive Essay 

The goal of persuasive essays is to make the reader think differently than before reading the essay. 

A persuasive essay may include factual evidence, logical reasoning, and personal insight to argue its point effectively, not simply state opinions.

For example, 

A persuasive essay arguing that public transportation should be free might include statistical evidence. 

They should discuss the economic benefits of free public transit and personal anecdotes about how it has helped people get to places on time.

Elements of a Persuasive Essay 

In order to write a persuasive essay, you need to know how to persuade your reader. Ethos, pathos, and logos are three ways to do this. 

Let's take a closer look at each one.

Ethos 

Ethos is about establishing your credibility as an author.  This involves using facts and evidence to support your arguments. 

It also includes presenting yourself in a way that shows you are knowledgeable about the subject. You can cite your sources, use authoritative language, and back up your claims by providing evidence. 

Pathos 

Pathos is about appealing to the emotions of your reader.  

Emotions such as sympathy, empathy, and anger can be powerful tools for persuading a reader. To do this, you need to use language that will evoke an emotional response in your reader.  

You can use vivid language and imagery to make them more likely to side with your argument.

For example, if you're trying to persuade your reader to take action on a social issue, you might use language that evokes anger or compassion. 

Logos

Logos is about using logic and reason to persuade your reader. It involves using facts, statistics, and other evidence to support your argument. 

You need to present a logical argument that can stand up to scrutiny. 

To do this, you must be well-informed about the issue and use reliable sources to back up your claims.

For example, you were trying to persuade someone that global warming is real. You might use scientific data or reports from climate experts as evidence.

Using these three elements in your persuasive essay, you can effectively argue your point of view. 

How to Write a Persuasive Essay? 

Persuasive essay writing can be challenging. But with the right preparation and guidance, you can write an essay that convinces your readers to agree with your point of view. 

Following are the steps that you can take in order to write a convincing and effective persuasive essay. 

How to Start a Persuasive Essay? 

Here are the steps you can follow to write a convincing, persuasive essay 

1. Start by Brainstorming

The first step to writing a perfect persuasive essay is brainstorming. 

This will help you formulate your argument and determine what evidence you'll need to support it. Spend some time thinking about what gets you fired up and motivated—this will be the main focus of your paper. 

2. Select Your Topic

Once you know what you want to argue, it's time to research and find out what other people have said about your topic. 

Try to find reputable sources that offer different perspectives on your topic to get a well-rounded view of what people think. 

Keep in mind that most people will be reading this with the same level of knowledge as you! Try not to get too technical or use too much jargon. 

3. Choose Your Side

After doing some research, it's time to decide which side of the argument you want to be on. Once you've chosen, it's important to stick with that side throughout your paper so you don't confuse your reader. 

Whichever side you choose, make sure that you have enough evidence to support your argument. 

4. Appeal to Human Emotions

For your argument to be convincing, it needs to appeal to your reader's emotions. After all, people are more likely to be convinced by an argument that speaks to them personally than purely logic-based. 

For example, you're trying to convince someone why animal testing is wrong. An emotional appeal might be more effective than listing scientific facts about the negative effects of animal testing. 

5. Work on Reader’s Objections 

It's important to anticipate any objections your reader might have so that you can address them in your paper. This shows that you're not only aware of other points of view but also can refute them effectively. 

By doing this, you'll make your argument essay even stronger and more convincing. 

6. Organize Your Evidence

Once you have gathered all of it, it's time to start putting it together into a cohesive argument. Begin by grouping together similar pieces of evidence. This will make it easier for you later when you start putting together your outline. 

As you're organizing your evidence, keep in mind how each piece will fit into your overall argument. Remember whether or not it supports the point you're trying to make. 

7. Form an Outline

The final step before beginning the actual writing process is creating an outline of what will be in your paper and where each piece of evidence will go. This outline will ensure that each piece of evidence ties into your argument convincingly. 

Having this structure already planned out will make writing the actual writing process much easier and faster. 

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Steps to Write a Persuasive Essay 

Once you have constructed the outline, it's time to write your essay. 

Introduction 

The introduction of your essay should begin with a hook that grabs the reader's attention and entices them to keep reading. 

It's also important to provide some background information about your topic so that the reader is familiar with what you're talking about.  For example, you could start with a statistic about childhood obesity rates in America. 

After the hook, you will need to write a thesis statement. This statement is the main argument you are trying to make in your persuasive essay. It should sum up your entire argument.  

For example, "Junk food should be banned from schools because it is unhealthy for children." 

Body Paragraphs  

The body paragraphs of your essay will be where you present your evidence and make your case. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that introduces the paragraph's main idea. 

For example, "Junk food is full of empty calories and has no nutritional value."  

After your topic sentence, elaborate on your point using evidence from reliable sources.  

For example, "A study by the National Institutes of Health has shown that junk food is linked to higher rates of obesity and other health complications in children." 

The rest of the paragraph should consist of supporting sentences that provide evidence and analysis. Always respond to opposing viewpoints within each main point.

How to End a Persuasive Essay? 

Here are four strategies for ending your persuasive essay on a strong note.

• Draft a Conclusion

The first step in ending a persuasive essay is to draft a conclusion. Your conclusion should not be a repeat of your thesis statement or a rehashing of your main points. Instead, it should be a fresh, new perspective on why your opinion is correct. 

• Summary of Thesis Statement 

Your second option for ending your persuasive essay is to summarize your thesis statement in a broader context. This means that you will take your main argument and put it into perspective about the larger picture.

For example, your persuasive essay was about banning junk food from schools. Now you might end your essay by discussing the effects a ban can have on the health of future generations.

• A Call for Action 

Your third option for ending your persuasive essay is to make a call for action. This means you will ask your readers to do something after reading your essay. 

For example,  you might ask them to sign a petition, write a letter to lawmakers, or join an organization that advocates for healthier school lunches. 

• A Rhetorical Question 

Finally, you can end your persuasive essay with a rhetorical question. This means you will pose a question to the reader without providing any answer. 

For instance, you can ask  the reader, "Will you help in the fight for healthier school lunches?"  This question will challenge readers to think about your persuasive essay and its implications. 

If you want to learn more about how to write a persuasive essay, watch this informative video:

Persuasive Essay Format 

Following the tips outlined below, you can be confident that your persuasive essays will be formatted correctly and could even convince readers to agree with your point of view. 

Adopting these practices makes you a step closer to creating a compelling, persuasive essay!

Length 

The length of a persuasive essay is usually determined by the assignment requirements. However, most essays will fall into one of three categories: 500 words, 1500 words, or 2000 words. 

All text should be double-spaced, though 1.5 spacing can be used if needed.

Font 

Regarding font choice, Times New Roman, Arial, and Georgia are all acceptable options. The font size should be 12-point for the essay's body, though a 16-point font can be used for the title if desired. 

Also, ensure that your text is justified. 

Parts of Persuasive Essay 

The classic persuasive essay structure comprises three main parts: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

A quality persuasive essay depends on crafting an engaging and impactful thesis statement that clearly outlines your stance. For the most engaging essay, ensure to follow this strong argument with several paragraphs of evidence-backed facts and reasoning that support it.

Persuasive Essay Examples 

Let's look at some persuasive essay examples for reference to better understand persuasive essays.

For more examples to help jumpstart your writing, check out our persuasive essay examples blog.

Good Persuasive Essay Topics

When selecting a persuasive essay topic, you must choose an arguable issue you feel strongly about. You should also be sure that there is enough evidence and information available on the topic to support your position. 

Here are some good persuasive essay topics to help you out: 

• Does the media have an obligation to report truthfully? 
  
• Is year-round schooling beneficial for students? 
  
• Should the voting age be lowered? 
  
• Should school eliminate letter grades? 
  
• Should the US government provide free healthcare? 
  
• Are standardized tests an effective measure of academic performance? 
  
• Is social media beneficial for our mental health? 
  
• Is the Internet making us more productive or less creative? 
  
• Are we too reliant on technology? 
  
• Should there be restrictions on video game tournaments? 

If you're struggling to come up with persuasive essay topics, visit our blog for some inspiration. 

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Tips to Write a Compelling Persuasive essay 

Writing a persuasive essay is easy if you know how to structure it properly and use effective persuasion techniques. By following these tips, you can write a compelling, persuasive essay. 

These tips will engage your reader and convince them of your point of view!

• Avoid Fancy Vocabulary

It is important to use clear and easy-to-understand language. In this way, your reader can follow your argument without getting tangled in unfamiliar terminology. 

• Make Logical Transitions

If your argument feels disjointed or scattered, your reader will be confused. He will not be convinced by what you have to say. By making logical transitions, you can help make sure that your argument is clear and easy to follow. 

• Use Different Persuasion Techniques 

To persuade your reader effectively, you will need to use different persuasion techniques to build a strong argument. Some common persuasion techniques include emotional appeals explaining what’s in it for them and examples and stories. 

• Proofread 

Before you submit your persuasive essay, it is important to proofread it to catch any errors or typos. By proofreading your work, you can check for clarity and logic errors to fix them before submitting your essay. 

• Ask Questions

By asking questions, you can also get feedback from your reader about whether or not your argument convinces them. This feedback can be invaluable as you revise and edit your persuasive essay before submitting it for grading. 

Now that you've learned the basics of how to write a persuasive essay, it's time to put your skills into practice! 

Write an essay persuading your reader to agree with your point of view. Use our tips and examples to support your argument and structure your essay effectively. 

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