Writing A Persuasive Essay

By Jon Ginsburg

Regardless of where you are in your studies – high school, undergraduate or graduate school, you will have to write essays, many of them. And while the general idea is the same, to write a paper about a specific topic, following the same general outline of topic sentence, supportive evidence and conclusion, there is much variation when it comes to types and styles of essays, and navigating between some of those styles can be confusing. It helps to have a good sense of what is expected for a given type of essay right from the outset.

Many students get confused by the similarities and differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay. While both essays are designed to inform the reader about a topic that has two well defined, and often divisive points, with the goal of swaying the reader to a particular viewpoint, only the argumentative essay offers both sides of the point. The persuasive essay focuses solely on the writer’s standpoint.

Using a didactic, informative tone, and a passive style, when you write a persuasive essay you are trying to sway your readers to your position based only on the merits of your side of the argument. You don’t explore or mention the opposing view, neither its own merits nor its flaws, nor do you draw comparisons or highlight contrasts.

Be very clear and precise in your thesis statement, outlining both the topic and your stance on it from the outset. Be sure that you have enough supporting material to back up your thesis.

When writing a persuasive essay, if you are able to select your own topic, it is obviously much easier if you are able to choose one that you can personally stand behind, though you do need to take care to not become overly emotional in your persuasion, and that you maintain an informative tone. If you can offer your evidence in a positive manner that does not overly criticise or even draw much attention to the opposing view, it will serve to keep the audience focused primarily on your topic, not on the topic you are trying to sway them from.

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