ManyWriters.comHow to Master the Art of Persuasive Essay Writing?
Writing a persuasive essay means arguing on some point and convincing your audience that your ideas are better than the opposite ones. As a rule, persuasive essays feature debatable topics. A writer should accept a certain position, express personal opinions, and provide strong arguments to prove his claim. Whether you are talking about euthanasia, junk foods, or antidepressants, knowing how to approach persuasive writing is important. Let’s talk about some basic strategies you should keep in mind to make the process easier and your paper – more efficient.
What is a persuasive essay?
To put it simple, persuasive essay is an argument (or even a set of them). Depending on the topic of your paper, you can provide different kinds of reasoning to convince your audience. This may include statistics, logical evidence, real-life examples, and quotes of experts. In some cases, persuasive writing allows an element of emotional appeal.
What is a purpose of a persuasive essay?
A writer has one main aim when writing a persuasive essay: show your readers that your point of view is more legitimate than the opposite one. You have to persuade your readers and make them come up to a certain idea. Provide solid argumentation and be clear to make them agree with your thoughts or at least admit that they are correct and supported by objective facts.
How to write a persuasive essay?
- Step 1: Choose the topic
If your teacher didn’t provide you with a topic, you will have to invent one yourself. Remember that your topic should be a part of a large and meaningful issue and has at least two opposite points. In a word, your topic should be debatable. If you can figure out two opposite claims about a certain issue, then it will work. To find a topic like that, you can check newspapers, journals, and online news portals.
- Step 2: What is your position?
Think about your topic and do some background research to come up with your opinion about it. Which side of the problem are you going to take? What are the possible solutions of the issue you can offer? You should know the main purpose of your future essay even before you start writing it.
- Step 3: Think about a potential reaction of your audience
What would they say about your position? Will they agree, disagree, or stay neutral? This is important since you can use the potential reaction of your readers as an instrument of influence and build your argumentation on that basis.
- Step 4: Do a research
There is no way you can persuade your audience if you don’t have enough evidence to support your ideas. Therefore, you will need to arm yourself with knowledge and facts. You can visit a college library, find some sources online, or talk with people who are professionals on your theme. Don’t forget to make notes.
- Step 5: Structuring your work
Your argumention should be well-structured and clear. Start with the strongest points and end with those that are less strong. Make sure that every paragraph includes one certain point supported with quotations from the reliable sources. Start every paragraph with a short introduction, then present your argument, analyze it, and provide a small conclusion. All of your paragraphs should be logically connected and lead your reader through the argumentation in a clear and consistent manner.
- Step 6: Disprove the opposite point
Nothing is more convincible than disproving the opposing idea. Find errors, logical mistakes, and other weak sides of the claim you are against.
- Step 7: Support your own ideas with facts
Make sure that you provide enough facts that support your claim. Don’t confuse facts and truths. Facts can be proven by statistics and logic, while truths are just beliefs shared by people and they cannot be proven at all. Use reasonable arguments from reliable sources and make sure that you cite them properly. Make your ideas more particular with the help of concrete examples.The art of persuasion doesn’t come naturally. However, when you learn the rules and realize how a convincing argument is created, you may use this skill in every sphere of your life. Follow these tips to compose strong argumentative papers and your chances for better grades will grow!