Persuasive Essay

What is A Persuasive Essay? 

The purpose of persuasive writing is to convince your audience to adopt, or at least consider, your essay’s claim. To do this you must express your claim clearly in a thesis, present evidence in support of your claim, appeal to your audience’s values and beliefs, organize your essay logically, and present yourself as a knowledgeable, credible, and fair writer. 

When writing your persuasive essay, the most important shift you can make in your thinking is away from "What do I want to say" to "What does my audience need to hear to be persuaded?"

Do

• Read the assignment sheet and rubric. 

• Research first! Make sure there are enough credible sources out there that can be used in your essay.  

• Pick a topic that is current, relevant to society, and can be logically argued. Avoid moral topics, and any potential topic for a persuasive essay should be current, debatable, researchable and manageable. 

• Create a clear, firm, and debatable thesis. An effective thesis statement is important in a persuasive essay because the reader needs to know exactly what the argument is and why it is important. 

• Provide the necessary background information on the topic. Background information is often needed early in the essay to understand the argument. For example, if the writer is arguing that a certain amendment to the state constitution should be passed, it is probably necessary to describe what changes the amendment would make and whether or not a similar amendment has been proposed at some point.

• Focus on organization and transitions. These are particularly important in a persuasive essay because it involves multiple reasons and evidence to support the thesis, and counter arguments are often discussed and refuted as well. All persuasive essays should explain and support several reasons why the thesis is valid, as well as address counterarguments.

• Revise and edit to clarify your ideas. Use the Writing Center, Writer's Community Workshops, and feedback from your instructor and classmates.

Avoid

• Ranting. Try not to attack the opposing point of view, or write only toward an audience who already agrees with you.

• Manipulating your audience. Present sources fairly, and use emotional appeals with care.

• Over-using source material. Your ideas and logic should lead the essay, supported by evidence from sources. Readers don't like to read quote after quote after quote.

• Getting intimidated by "academic" writing. Imagine you are explaining your ideas to a friend: how would you persuade them?

• Waiting until the last minute. You need time to process and clarify your ideas. Spreading out the writing process allows you to take time away from your essay and then to come back to it with fresh eyes.

Need more Paragraph Guides? Check out our Intro and Conclusion Guides

Example Assignment Sheet