How to Write a Persuasive Essay

The following article on how to write a persuasive essay presents the guidelines and tips to write a good persuasive essay. It outlines what a persuasive essay is, the purpose of a persuasive essay, the characteristics of a well-written persuasive essay, and on how to write a persuasive essay.

What is a persuasive essay?

Among the different types of essays there exists a kind of essay referred to as a persuasive essay. A persuasive essay is an essay written with a view to arguing either ‘for’ or ‘against’ on a particular aspect of the subject matter to ultimately win over the argument the writer wants to claim. The purpose of writing a persuasive essay is to convince the reader to accept your argument by making the reader believe in what you present in your essay and how you present it.

Characteristics of a well-written persuasive essay

A number of distinct features are observed in a well-written persuasive essay.

Main characteristic – Persuasiveness -Just as the core of the word says it, a persuasive essay should be persuasive or convincing. The reader must be able to feel the writer’s confidence in presenting his/her opinion in the essay.

High language proficiency – a high skill of language proficiency and communication too is needed to convert your persuading into precise words.

Length of the essay – a persuasive essay should neither short nor too long as the length of an essay plays a considerable role in the reader’s decision to further read it or not.

Structure and format – a well-planned persuasive essay is equipped with facts and evidence and also it contains a paragraph presenting opposing views on the topic.

Perspective – writing the essay in a reader’s perspective could be another characteristic of a persuasive essay via which method the readers could be made more persuaded.

Powerful conclusion – a well-written persuasive essay presented with strong claims and arguments brings out a powerful and clear conclusion which is lasting in the reader’s mind.

How to write a persuasive essay?

Writing a persuasive essay should be done with extraordinary attention to every detail related as the writer’s job is not to just present ideas or information, but to convince the reader to agree with the argument presented in the essay.

Pre-writing – At first, you have to perform some pre-writing tasks including researching the topic, analyzing every possible aspect to the topic, and deciding on your stance and the most convincing evidence to support your argument.

Research – It is always better to do some research on your readership and understand them. Understanding your audience could help you determining the reader’s perspective, knowing which could come in handy when you start writing.

Organisation and structure – Organizing your ideas in an appropriate way should be done. Origination of your ideas is very important. To do that, write an outline or the structure of the essay. That is to say, determining a powerful thesis statement and consolidating your ideas wisely in separate paragraphs are another two key steps. The structure of the essay may include an introduction, body (supporting paragraphs), an opposing paragraph (counterargument) and a conclusion. Every point you make should be backed up with appropriate evidence. Throughout the process of writing, make sure you maintain the flow of the essay and make it interesting to read.

Proofread and edit – Final step is to proofread and edit the essay making necessary adjustments.

Congratulations, you are now ready to start writing YOUR persuasive essay!