A persuasive essay reflects the opinions of the writer on a particular topic, and the content it has either discusses ‘for’ the subject or ‘against’ it.
This is like a text version of a debate that the children have in schools, where they are given a theme and split into two teams.
One of those teams is supposed to talk in favor of the topic, while the other needs to oppose it.
However, unlike the verbal debates, persuasive essays contain well-researched content that is sometimes accompanied by a reference or link to a reliable and supporting source to validate the facts.
In this article
How To Organize Your Persuasive Essay
The first step in learning how to write a persuasive essay requires you to understand how to outline the piece you are about to pen.
Therefore, in this section, you will learn the process of preparing the structure of a persuasive essay, regardless of the topic you are planning to write on.
The outlines of such an essay must have:
The Introduction
The introduction of the subject in question is essential, and therefore, the opening paragraph must contain some interesting points that can persuade the audience to continue reading the essay.
Make sure that this introductory passage is not too long to make the readers lose interest.
Additionally, the last line of the subsection should provide a clear indication of your opinion, so the audience knows what they are about to read.
The Body
Depending on the topic, the ‘Body’ of a persuasive essay may comprise multiple paragraphs, where each of those passages should focus on one point of the subject.
Additionally, every part should include at least one supporting link or reference to complement the point.
The "Against" Paragraph
This is another section in the ‘Body’ of the essay that discusses the ‘against’ aspect of the topic in question.
This paragraph should mention key points to refute the subject and to persuade the readers to believe in the rightness of the author’s point of view.
The Conclusion
The concluding paragraph should be a kind of a recap about everything you discussed in the ‘Introduction’ and the ‘Body’ sections of the essay. This passage should also contain a few links or references to support the author’s viewpoint.
How To Write Your Persuasive Essay
After understanding the process of preparing the outlines, it is time to learn how to write a persuasive essay. The following step-by-step guide shows the process to do so:
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Step 1: The Preparation
This step requires you to do a couple of things, including:
Choosing a Side
Since you are required to convince the readers for or against the subject in question, it is imperative to pick your side. Ensure that you follow your instinct regarding your opinions on the topic and choose accordingly.
Know Your Readers
Depending on the subject you are planning to write a persuasive essay on, make sure to understand what kind of audience you are about to address. This would help you come up with better, more engaging content for the essay.
Do Your Homework
The term ‘Homework’ here means thorough research that you must do before starting. With incomplete information, you are likely to end up writing an unimpressive essay that may fail to serve its purpose.
Collect Persuasive Facts
While researching, make sure to take note of all the links and references you come across, and use them throughout your essay to support your points and persuade the readers.
Step 2: Create an Outline
The next step is to prepare an outline for the essay. You can follow the method explained in Part 2 to learn how to create them.
The outlines help you draft the content in a proper and correct sequence, thus making the thesis more persuasive.
Step 3: Draft the Essay
This is the point where you are required to write the essay.
You can use the details you gathered in Step 1 and Step 2, and draft a decent and information-enriched persuasive essay to convince the target audience that your part is correct, and the opposition is otherwise.
During creation, it is essential to include references and links to support your points as needed.
It is also advisable to complement your writing with some mind mapping diagrams that can be drawn using one of the easiest, most efficient, and free tools, EdrawMind.
Step 4: Revision and Adjustments
After you are done drafting, it is now time to re-read the essay for proofreading, re-consider the organization of the points you covered, review the sentences for any grammatical errors, and re-check the words for any spelling mistakes.
And make any changes that you feel could be necessary to give the entire piece a professional finish.
Step 5: Publish the Essay
Once all the elements are in their corresponding and correct place, you can safely publish the essay to a forum or portal where it can reach the target audience.
At this point, you should thank every person who appreciates your thesis, and also be ready to face any criticism that people may throw at you.
While the positive feedback might encourage you to write more, the negative feedback would teach you how to craft better, more engaging, and convincing pieces in the future.
Resource Recommendations for Writing a Persuasive Essay
Having all the necessary references and tools at hand can make the whole work easier when composing a persuasive essay.
Trying out some sample essays using printable worksheets, here is a list of the most valuable resources that can assist you in your writing.
For Writing Guides and Style Manuals
If you are not familiar with the writing process, these resources can serve as your guide.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): The Purdue OWL website comprises detailed guides on the entire writing domain. It covers essay structure, supporting the idea, grammar, and provides the correct formats of citations such as APA and MLA.
- Style Guides: The Elements of Style by Strunk and White is one of the books that introduces the necessity of effective writing. The book's rules can help you remove redundant words and make your points more convincing.
You can use these when drafting, revising, or checking if your points flow well.
For Tests and Practice Prompts
The most effective way to enhance your skills is through practice. By utilizing real-world prompts, you gain the ability to react and use your persuasive skills within a limited time.
- Standardized Test Questions: Independent websites for tests similar to the SAT, ACT, or GRE practice test. These push you to think critically and respond with a structured argument.
- University Writing Center Websites: Many schools post PDF sets of essay prompts with sample responses. It is a good start if you want to try writing under timed conditions or need inspiration.
For Polishing Your Essay
Once you've finished writing the content, these tools can help you refine it and catch any errors you may have missed.
- Grammarly: Find grammar mistakes and unusual sentence structures quickly.
- Hemingway Editor: Helps you simplify your writing, trim the fluff, and fix awkward phrasing.
Tips To Level Up Your Persuasive Writing
Now that you’ve gathered your tools, take time to improve your writing. These practical tips can quickly boost how you write and argue your points. They help you build strong reasoning and keep your readers engaged.
Here is a mind map to provide an overview of the key tips to remember while writing.
Understand Your Audience
Who do you want to persuade? What matters to them? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your message and focus on those points that are more likely to resonate with them.
If your reader is doubtful, present more reasons. If they’ve been partly convinced, use their feelings to get them further.
Craft a Debatable Thesis Statement
Your thesis is the heart of your essay. It should take a side, and that side should be debatable. A bland or obvious opinion won’t hold attention.
Go for something you can actually argue. “School uniforms are unnecessary” is better than “Some students don’t like uniforms.”
A strong thesis is not a statement of fact; it is a claim that someone could reasonably disagree with. It gives your essay purpose.
Support Your Claims With Strong Evidence
Don't simply share your thoughts, but make your case. Support your arguments with numbers, research, expert views, or even a practical instance.
Every claim needs proof. What makes your argument effective is the strength and relevance of the evidence behind it.
Acknowledge and Refute Counterarguments
A good persuasive essay attempts to anticipate what the opposing side might argue. Step into the shoes of your opponent and raise a couple of their points.
Then, give reasons supporting your argument that it still makes more sense. It makes the reader believe that you have thoroughly researched the topic and also establishes a rapport with the reader.
Use a Mind Map To Organize Your Thoughts
Visualize your stance, main ideas, and supporting facts before writing. A mind map will enable you to identify missing parts, connect ideas, and establish a strong flow from introduction to conclusion.
How To Boost Efficiency With a Mind Map
Most likely, the hardest thing about writing is the time when you have to start. The first empty page sometimes makes one feel overwhelmed.
A mind map is a helpful diagram that changes the entire writing process from a challenge to a smaller, achievable one.
This visual tool also supports your thought process by allowing you to group and connect ideas before turning them into a written draft.
A Mind Map Helps You Plan Your Persuasive Essay
The main ideas of a persuasive essay include a thesis, arguments, evidence, and counterpoints. Are you keeping everything in your mind, or are you using a visual tool to make it easier?
Good choice if you're visualizing it. Here’s what a mind map can do for you:
- See your argument from above: Your main point goes in the center, and from there, you branch out with supporting arguments, evidence, and counterpoints.
- Group your ideas: One way to present your ideas is to group them by strength, theme, or importance. With this, you will find it easier to determine which elements should be included in the introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Spot gaps early: Mind maps simplify the process of identifying missing examples, weak arguments, or areas that require more research before drafting.
Using a Mind Mapping Tool
You don’t have to draw shapes and lines on paper unless you want to. Digital mind mapping tools can help you visualize and structure your ideas easily.
There are many free options for creating mind maps. One of them is Wondershare EdrawMind, a tool designed for knowledge management and structured thinking.
While you brainstorm, you will discover links that were previously invisible to you. That means writing the essay will be almost like completing an unfinished work.
A basic workflow might be something like this:
Step 1
Add your thesis in the center.
Step 2
Branch out your three strongest arguments.
Step 3
Add sub-branches with supporting evidence.
Step 4
Include counterarguments with quick rebuttals.
Step 5
Reorder ideas to strengthen flow.
Final Thoughts
In the above sections, you have learned how to write a persuasive essay easily.
The step-by-step guide, discussed in detail, would definitely help you prepare decent and appealing drafts supported by informative and self-descriptive mind mapping illustrations created using EdrawMind or any other equally efficient tool for your target readers.
FAQ
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How Can You Get an A+ on an Essay?
If you want to score an A+ on your essay, all the way through, you need to understand the instructions well. Research thoroughly and construct a thesis statement that will be the driving force of your entire essay.Then, proceed to write your body paragraphs supported with evidence. Finish with a strong conclusion. Review your persuasive essay and have someone else review it before submitting it. -
What’s the Rule of 3 in Persuasive Writing?
The Rule of Three refers to the use of three words or ideas consecutively to emphasize your point. Our minds are fond of patterns, and three seems to be the whole number. It gives your message a type of cadence and strength. -
What Are the Four Main Elements of Persuasive Writing?
The terms are Ethos, Pathos, Logos, and Kairos. Ethos establishes credibility. Pathos refers to the emotional aspect of connection. Logos relates to logic and factual correctness. Kairos refers to the concept of time, being aware of the right time and manner to convey your message. -
What Are the Six Key Traits of a Persuasive Essay?
A good essay starts with a strong thesis, solid facts, and a clear structure. It also helps to know who you're writing for and what the other side might say. -
What Mistakes Should You Avoid in Persuasive Writing?
Avoid phrases like "I think" or relying too much on personal views. Stick to facts, remain polite, and maintain a formal tone so your argument comes across as solid and credible.
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