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How to Write a Persuasive Essay
What is Persuasive writing?
Persuasive writing attempts to convince the reader that the point of view or course of action recommended by the writer is valid. In
persuasive writing a writer takes a position FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to convince the reader to believe or do something
How do I write persuasively?
To accomplish this, the writer must develop a limited topic that is well defined and debatable, that is, it has more than one side to
it.
How much do I need to know about the other side of the topic?
It is important that the author understand other sides of the position so that the strongest information to counter the others can be
presented. In the essay, only one side of the issue is presented.
What is the format of a Persuasive essay?
The Persuasive essay is made up of multiple parts. First, the topic sentence / thesis statement is found in the introduction. The
body of the essay, which consists of multiple paragraphs, follows the introduction. Finally, the conclusion ends the essay. Here’s
another way to look at it:
I. Introduction:
1. Get the readers attention by using a "hook."
2. Give some background information if
necessary.
3. Thesis statement / topic sentence.
II. Body Paragraph One - First argument or reason
to support your position:
1. Topic sentence explaining your point.
2. Elaboration to back your point.
III. Body Paragraph Two - Second argument or
reason to support your position:
1. Topic sentence explaining your point.
2. Elaboration to back your point.
IV. Opposing Viewpoint:
1. Opposing point to your argument.
2. Your rebuttal to the opposing point.
3. Elaboration to back your rebuttal.
V. Body Paragraph Three - Third argument or
reason to support your position:
1. Topic sentence explaining your point.
2. Elaboration to back your point.
VI. Conclusion:
1. Summary of main points or reasons
2. Restate thesis statement.
3. Personal comments or a call to action.
How do I write a thesis statement / topic sentence
That’s part is easy. The topic sentence / thesis statement cannot be a fact as facts cannot be debated/argued. It should be a
statement of position. That position must be clear and direct. This statement directs the readers to follow along with your logic
towards the specific stated conclusion that you want them to support. Do not make it personal so do not use personal pronouns (I,
Me, We, She, Him, etc). Make it definitive.
A thesis tells the reader what the essay will be about, and what point you, the author, will be making. You know what the essay
will be about, that is your topic. Once you have your topic, decide what point you will be making. What are the main and
supporting ideas you have about the topic? What an opinion that you have about it? That is the second part of your thesis; what
you have to say about it (your opinion)
Ex.
Topic
1.
2.
3.
4.
Downloading music…
School uniforms…….
Batman………………
Dogs…………………
What I have to say about it
is worth the risk of viruses.
allow students to concentrate on academics instead of fashion
is the most powerful superhero in the DC Comic universe
are better than cats
While the examples above classify as thesis statements, you SHOULD NOT get used to writing thesis statements by taking a subject
and adding an opinion to it. Doing this will result in consistently weak thesis statements. To write STRONG thesis statements,
follow 1 – 4 below from Indiana University (http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml#assigned):
1. A strong thesis takes some sort of stand.
Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a
class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements:
There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.
This is a weak thesis. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase “negative and positive aspects” is vague.
Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean
body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.
This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand.
2. A strong thesis justifies discussion.
Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on families, using your own
family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statements:
My family is a large family.
This is a weak thesis because it states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and
will probably stop reading.
While most American families would view arranged marriage as a threat to the nuclear family, many Iranian
families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce family ties in an large extended family.
This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely accepted view. A good strategy for
creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay
to see how you support your point.
3. A strong thesis expresses one main idea.
Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis expresses more than one idea, then you
might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example:
Music companies should take advantage of the potential of ads on the Internet, and web pages can provide both
advertising and customer support.
This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about advertising on the Internet or
web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become clearer. One way to revise the
thesis would be to write:
Because the Internet is filled with tremendous advertising potential, companies should use this potential by
using web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.
This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis
statements contain words like “because,” “since,” “so,” “although,” “unless,” and “however.”
4. A strong thesis statement is specific.
A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a
manageable topic. For example, if you write a paper on hunger, you might say:
World hunger has many causes and effects.
This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, “world hunger” can’t be discussed thoroughly in five or ten
pages. Second, "many causes and effects" is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised
thesis might look like this:
Hunger persists in Appalachia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil rarely makes money.
This is a strong thesis because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic and it also identifies the
specific causes for the existence of hunger.
How do I write my introduction?
Your introduction should include an interesting fact/statement about the subject, or a "hook or grabber" to catch the reader's
attention. Some "grabbers" include:
1. Opening with an unusual detail: (Manitoba, because of its cold climate, is not thought of as a great place to be a reptile.
Actually, it has the largest seasonal congregation of garter snakes in the world!)
2. Opening with a strong statement: (Cigarettes are the number one cause of lighter sales in Canada!)
3. Opening with a Quotation: (Elbert Hubbard once said, "Truth is stronger than fiction.")
4. Opening with an Anecdote: An anecdote can provide an amusing and attention-getting opening if it is short and to the
point.
5. Opening with a Statistic or Fact: Sometimes a statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest to your topic. It may be wise to
include the item's authoritative source.
6. Opening with a Question. (Have you ever considered how many books we'd read if it were not for television?)
7. Opening with an Exaggeration or Outrageous Statement. (The whole world watched as the comet flew overhead.)
After the interesting fact/statement/grabber, you need to include your thesis statement.
Example:
In the perfect situation, smoking policy would be set by bar or restaurant owners, and customers would patronize the
establishments with the policy they prefer. Customers would decide—without the government’s help—if they want to avoid smokefilled rooms or enter them. They might even choose to sit in an area sectioned off for smokers or non-smokers, but the ultimate
issue is choice. When the government starts telling restaurant owners what their customers can and cannot do, the government is
overstepping its boundaries.
What goes in my body paragraphs?
Body paragraphs support your thesis. Therefore, they should each be about an issue that is related and supports your thesis. The
main idea of each body paragraph supports the topic of your thesis. In a persuasive essay, body paragraphs support the thesis by
using specific evidence, examples, and statistics and not broad generalizations or personal opinions to persuade the reader that the
stated position is a valid one. Each topic sentence for the body paragraphs should be related to the thesis introduced in the
beginning paragraph. Each additional sentence must closely relate to the topic and the sentence that came before it. This way, the
logic of the argument is easy to follow.
To review:
1. A topic sentence, usually located at the beginning of the paragraph.
2. Supporting sentences that include facts, examples, incidents, reasons, analogies, and/or descriptions.
3. Transitional sentences, usually located at the end of a paragraph. These allow you to move from one paragraph to the
next without being abrupt or awkward.
4. Coherent structure ensures that each paragraph moves logically from beginning to end and that all supporting
paragraphs work together to support your thesis.
What is the Opposing Viewpoint?
The opposing viewpoint is essentially the point of view that is the opposite of the one presented in your thesis. Using a thesis from
earlier:
Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass,
it poses a potential danger to customers.
The opposing viewpoint to this thesis statement is that it DOES NOT pose a potential danger to customers. Therefore, you
need to address this viewpoint, then provided evidence why the opposing viewpoint is incorrect. The thesis above would address
the opposite viewpoint by stating:
While those in favor of using Banana Herb Tea Supplements lose tremendous amounts of weight, they do so at the risk of
muscle tissue. Those who use Banana Herb Tea Supplements lose equal amounts of fatty tissue and muscle, which has
been linked to deaths of 75% of those that use it.
What goes in the conclusion?
Create a conclusion that clinches your argument. In addition to restating the main points of your speech, try to broaden your
audience's awareness of the problem by offering solutions or calling for action. The audience should feel enlightened, thoroughly
satisfied that your thesis can withstand opposing arguments, and willing to reconsider or to act upon issues you have presented.
Although you may include quotations as you summarize, close the essay by reinforcing your arguments with your own memorable
words.