Writing persuasively

A persuasive essay is a form of academic writing that is built around a central argument. Such essays are sometimes called argumentative essays because of this. In this category of composition, the writer aims to persuade the reader to accept his or her point of view. There are numerous steps to follow when constructing persuasive arguments which we will  cover in this article.

Steps for writing a persuasive essay:

First decide on the issue you will be discussing. It needs to be a topic you have a solid opinion on, and also a topic people disagree about.

Research the issue to be aware of how to best prove your point. Consider what your possible opponents can object to on each point you make.

Make an outline, listing your strongest arguments that will help you prove your point. Look for statistics, factual data and quotes of famous people to support your arguments.

Write an introduction, stating how debated the issue is and why it is important to reach consensus on the matter. Finish the introduction with a thesis statement, indicating your personal position on the discussed subject.

Argue your point, introducing a new reason or fact in every paragraph. There should be no less than three strong arguments to support your point of view.

Make a conclusion. Here you may express your understanding as to why the matter is so difficult to agree upon, but conclude that the position you support is the best possible (or most likely to be true) variant based on the evidence you provided earlier in the essay.

Thoroughly proofread your essay.

Key points to consider

There are various persuasive techniques that have been proven to be the most effective in an argumentative essay. Three basic persuasive techniques are: appeal to emotions, appeal to facts and evidence, and appeal to logic. Try to combine and mix them to make a stronger point.

Build your argument based on your audiences and its qualities. Think of who you are appealing to, envision your audience’s main characteristics and build your arguments based on what your audience most values.

An approach to persuasion is when a writer is aware of the point of view of an opposing side, and then argues about its weaknesses. Use parenthetical clauses such as, however nevertheless, despite the fact that, on the other hand, and so on to link the two opposing points together.

Combine the main points with minor points that also contribute to the general idea. Start each paragraph with its major point, then go on to explain it, and introduce a minor point closer to the end of the paragraph to support your initial major point. Using rhetorical questions and appealing to common truths is a sound way to make a point.

Do’s and Don’ts
  • Do
  1. Do prove your points with factual data. Stating something without factual basis is considered a weak point, so a successful essay should have statistics and quotes that serve as supporting evidence.
  2. Do be certain about your position.
  3. Do appeal to the emotions of your readers. This can have more of an effect than raw facts.
  4. Do make sure to review the points of both sides of the argument before you start making the outline.
  5. Do remain tolerant of the other people’s opinions, even if you strongly disagree with them.
  • Don’t
  1. Don’t be too flat and determined in trying to prove your point, ignoring counter arguments. Recognising the fact that a lot of people might not agree does not mean that you expose your arguments weak side.
  2. Don’t choose a topic that you are hesitant about which side to take. You should be solid and steady in what you are trying to prove, otherwise it will be almost impossible to persuade your reader.
  3. Don’t try to introduce another argument in the conclusion. The conclusion should be about summarising and reiterating why your main message is important.
  4. Don’t appeal to subjective personal or religious beliefs. Try to remain objective and focus on facts.
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