A persuasive essay is a type of writing that attempts to convince the reader or opponent that your argument or position is valid. The main aim of a persuasive essay is to convince readers to consider your point of view. Remember that you are trying to persuade someone who may not necessarily agree with you.
Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays in that they both use evidence and reasoning to argue a point; however, persuasive essays differ from argumentative essays in that they are more emotional and often make use of personal experiences and anecdotes to make their point.
Characteristics of Persuasive Essays
Let’s take a look at five main characteristics of persuasive essays in academic writing that you should know before getting started:
- Bias control: We all have our own biases, so it is essential to try and keep these in check when writing a persuasive essay. This also means acknowledging the existence of different perspectives. You should reveal your own opinion (bias) to the reader, but ensure that it doesn’t hinder your clean and sound argumentation development.
- Facts and opinions: In a good persuasive essay, it is important to use both facts and opinions to support your position. Facts provide the foundation for your argument, while opinions offer support. Just make sure that the opinions you use are based on credible sources.
- Reasoning and logic: Using logical reasoning is the best way to persuade someone. This means that your arguments must be based on sound evidence and presented in a clear and concise manner.
- Emotional appeal: Although it is important to use logic and reasoning, it is also effective to appeal to the reader’s emotions. This can be done by using language that evokes certain emotions or by telling a story that the reader can relate to.
- Opposing views: For effective persuasive essay writing, it is important to consider and acknowledge the opposing argument. This shows that you are open-minded and willing to engage in a discussion. It also allows you to refute the opposing view, which strengthens your own argument.
If you want to read about essays in general, you can read our guide: Essay Definition and Characteristics
Persuasive Essay Structure
The structure of a persuasive essay is important because it determines how you will present your argument. A good structure will also ensure that the reader follows your argument easily.
Here is a basic essay structure that you can follow:
Introduction: This first paragraph of a persuasive essay should be used to grab the audience’s attention and give them an overview of the issue. It should also state your position on the issue, usually included in the thesis statement at the end.
Body paragraphs: These are where you present your arguments and evidence to support them. Each paragraph should focus on one main argument.
Conclusion: A strong conclusion should sum up your main arguments and restate your position on the issue. It is also a good idea to leave the reader with something to think about or call them to action.
4 Steps to Planning Your Persuasive Essay
Before sitting down and writing your persuasive essay, it’s important to plan out what you will say. You need to have a clear thesis statement and evidence to support your position.
Here are four steps that you can follow:
1. Decide on your stance
The first step is to choose the position you will argue for, which will develop into your thesis statement. You need to make sure that you can defend your position with evidence and logical reasons.
Let’s say the general topic of your persuasive essay is gun control, and the position is “Gun control should be stricter.”
2. Analyze your reader
The second step is to think about who your reader is. What are their beliefs and values? What will they agree with, and what will they disagree with? It’s important to consider these things when planning your persuasive essay.
We will assume that our readers are against gun control. So, we need to consider what logical arguments and evidence they will find convincing.
3. Gather evidence
Once you know what position you’re going to take, you need to gather solid evidence to support it. This can be done through a solid research process or by using your own experiences.
For our persuasive essay, the three supporting arguments could be:
- Too many people die from gun violence
- There are too many mass shootings
- Stricter gun control would make it harder for criminals to get guns
Now, you can form your thesis statement, which = your position + arguments (see the example below).
4. Outline your entire essay
The fourth step is to outline your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and make sure that you stay on track. A good outline will also ensure that the reader easily follows your argument.
If you have three main arguments, you will have three body paragraphs (one for each particular point). Make sure to make the most important argument (in your opinion) the last one to discuss.
Persuasive essay outline example
Taking into consideration the topic we chose, the position, and the arguments, our persuasive essay outline can look like this:
- I. Introduction
- A. Hook
- B. Background information
- C. Thesis statement: Stricter gun control is necessary because too many people die from gun violence, there are too many mass shootings, and stricter gun control would make it harder for criminals to get guns.
- II. Paragraph 1
- A. Argument: Too many people die from gun violence in the United States
- B. Evidence 1: In 2020, there have been over 43,000 gun violence deaths in the US
- C. Evidence 2: Over 100,000 people were injured by guns in 2020
- D. Counterargument: When compared to overall deaths, it’s not that many
- E. Rebuttal: But it’s still too many when compared to other developed countries
- F. Analysis: Gun violence is a major problem in the US, and stricter gun control is necessary to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries.
- III. Paragraph 2
- A. Argument: There are too many mass shootings
- B. Evidence 1: There have been over 1,500 mass shootings since 2013
- C. Evidence 2: Mass shootings are on the rise
- D. Counterargument: This problem must be tackled from the mental health perspective, not gun control
- E. Rebuttal: Mental health is important, but it’s not the only factor that contributes to mass shootings
- F. Analysis: Mass shootings are a major problem in the US, and stricter gun control is necessary to help prevent them.
- IV. Paragraph 3
- A. Argument: Stricter gun control would make it harder for criminals to get guns
- B. Evidence1: In Australia, gun control was tightened after a mass shooting, and there hasn’t been a mass shooting since
- C. Evidence 2: In the UK, gun control is much stricter than in the US, and there are fewer gun-related crimes
- D. Counterargument: There will always be a way for criminals to get guns
- E. Rebuttal: But it would make it harder, and that’s a step in the right direction
- F. Analysis: Stricter gun control would make it harder for criminals to get guns, which would help reduce the number of gun-related crimes.
- V. Conclusion
- A. Rephrase thesis statement
- B. Establish the significance by answering the “So what?” question
- C. Call to action
5 Steps to Writing Your Persuasive Essay
Once you have your outline ready, you can start writing. Here are five steps you would need to take to write a persuasive essay:
1. Finish the introduction
During the planning stage, you should already form your thesis statement. Now, you only need to write the other two elements of the introductory paragraph: hook and context.
A hook will engage your reader and make them want to read more. It can be a rhetorical question, a surprising fact, or a personal experience.
The context is the background information your reader needs to know to understand your argument. This can be a brief history of the topic, an overview of the current situation, or something else.
Hook example:
Did you know that gun violence in the United States kills more people than terrorism, car accidents, and HIV/AIDS combined?
Context example:
In 2020, there will be over 38,000 gun-related deaths in the United States. That’s more than 100 deaths every day. Gun violence is a major problem in the United States, and something needs to be done to reduce the number of deaths and injuries.
2. Write the body paragraphs
Now it’s time to start writing your body paragraphs. Remember that each paragraph should have one main idea that supports your thesis.
Start with your second strongest argument and end with the strongest one. People tend to remember the first and the last thing they read better than the middle, which will help your persuasive essay have a more significant impact.
Each body paragraph will consist of a topic sentence, supporting evidence and analysis, and the last sentence that concludes the paragraph.
First body paragraph example:
Let’s face it, far too many people die from gun violence in the United States. You might ask, what’s too many? In 2020, there were over 43,000 gun violence deaths in the US, according to the Gun Violence Archive. That’s over 100 people dying from guns every day. And it’s not just deaths. Over 100,000 people were injured by guns in 2020. Some may say that compared to overall deaths, it’s not that many. But when you compare it to other causes of death, it’s quite a lot. For example, in 2019, there were only 19,393 deaths from car accidents, as stated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That means that gun violence kills over twice as many people as car accidents. All this indicates that stricter gun control is necessary to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries.
3. Write the conclusion section
The conclusion is where you tie everything together. Start by restating your thesis in a different way than you did in the introduction. Then, summarize your main points and explain why your reader should care about your argument.
Conclusion example:
It is evident that stricter gun control is necessary to help reduce gun violence, mass shootings, and gun-related crimes. Too many people die from gun violence, and something must be done to reduce the number of deaths. Stricter gun control would make it harder for criminals to get guns, which would help reduce the number of gun-related crimes. It’s time for stricter gun control in the United States. You can make a difference by contacting your representatives and telling them that you support stricter gun control measures.
4. Edit and proofread your essay
Once you’re finished writing your persuasive essay, it’s important to edit and proofread it. This will help you catch any mistakes and ensure that your essay is clear and concise. Editing and proofreading can be a daunting task, but there are a few tips that can help:
- Read your essay out loud. This will help you catch any errors or awkward phrases.
- Ask someone else to read your essay. Another set of eyes can help you catch anything you missed.
- Use spell check and grammar check. These can be helpful, but they don’t catch everything, so it’s still important to read over your essay carefully.
- Take a break before you start editing. It’s easier to spot mistakes when you’re not as close to the material.
If you want to learn more about writing essays in general, check out our guide: Steps to Essay Writing
Key Takeaways
- A persuasive essay is used to convince a reader about a particular idea or focus, usually one that you believe in.
- Your persuasive essay could be based on anything about which you have an opinion.
- To write a strong persuasive essay, you need to have a clear thesis statement and at least three main points to back up your thesis.
- Your body paragraphs should each have one main point that supports your thesis.
- Start with your second strongest argument and end with the strongest one.
- Your conclusion should tie everything together and explain why your reader should care about your argument.
- Once you’re finished writing, edit and proofread your essay carefully.
References
- Nova Southeastern University – Persuasive Essay
- OpenOKState – Writing a Persuasive Essay
- Butte College – Writing a Persuasive Essay