A superb persuasive essay must do two things before its conclusion: engage the reader and show them the writer has considered all sides of the matter. Thankfully, there are 2 writing strategies that do just that. They are respectively: using rhetorical questions and counterarguments.
When combined, the first two paragraphs of a text can hook the reader's interest and strengthen follow-up arguments effectively.
Try ending the introductory paragraph with a rhetorical question and presenting a counterargument in the first body paragraph. You can acknowledge it in the first sentence (using, for instance, the expression "which is a valid point") and refute it in the second one. That way, you will ramp up the persuasiveness of your text and have the reader avid to keep reading.
THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE A TEXT COGENT
Analyze the example below to better comprehend the aforesaid concepts:
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Animal testing has indisputably saved countless lives. Innumerable lifesaving treatments have been developed having animal research as a starting point, since chimpanzees, for instance, are nearly genetically identical to humans. Would making people withstand those tests instead of biologically similar organisms indeed relieve the suffering or only transfer it?
Some may argue that animals are subjected to cruel conditions, which is a valid point. However, there are laws that are intended to protect animals from mistreatment in the laboratories and they more often than not benefit themselves from the results, as vaccines and remedies tested on them can save their lives.
Furthermore, the animals used in research have short lifespans. Guinea pigs, for example, live on average 5-6 years, according to VCA Hospital, but the bulk of animals used in experiments live less than half a decade. (…)
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Now that you have already convinced the reader that the other side of the discussion does not have sufficiently logical points, you will be capable of more persuasively upholding your thesis in the following paragraphs and the reader will be prone to adhere to your opinion.
What is more, furnished below you will find the definition of counterargument.
Counterargument: An argument that disagrees with your position in the paper. You should acknowledge counterarguments, and either accept, accommodate or refute them.