persuasive essay writing structure

persuasive essay writing structure

The Importance of Persuasive Essay Writing

1. Introduction

The persuasive essay concentrates on one point of view in an attempt to persuade readers. It always takes a definite position and viewpoint on the issue at hand; this is known as the thesis statement. The essay presents reason and evidence in an attempt to change the viewer’s beliefs, to change their way of thinking. Logically, this should be the most convincing part of the essay because it is where the arguments are presented. Finally, the essay serves to conclude the essay in a summary which explains the essay in a nutshell, reiterating the thesis statement, using different wording and wrapping the essay up with a logical conclusion. In summary, the persuasive essay is the attempt to convince someone of something. It is the writer’s opportunity to create a strong and lasting impression upon the reader. Often times, this is the writer’s chance to get out what they want to say, expressed in a roundabout sort of way. This essay is almost like an offshoot of the expository essay with a slight difference in the intention it seems.

2. Understanding the Purpose of Persuasive Essays

Persuasive writing is a delicate endeavor. There are two components to consider when writing a persuasive essay. Your point is to persuade your reader to take your side on the specific issue and assist your proposition with strong evidence. It is fundamental to understand the various purposes of the different varieties of persuasive writing. Those who have concluded that they are supportive, professional, extra-curricular activity such as sports, clubs, arts, or work will need to write a persuasive essay. This type of essay is fundamentally designed to show a person’s belief, values, or views on a specific issue and then persuade the reader to expand the idea with the writer most often taking their side on the issue. At times, it may involve a call to some form of action. A further type of persuasive essay is one which is looking to implement a change in the school or community. This essay will identify a problem and offer a solution, with the writer taking and supporting the ideal solution a stance. Both types of these persuasive essays strive to do the same thing: persuade the reader to the writer’s point of view.

3. Structuring Your Persuasive Essay

Once you have the evidence, it is but a next step along the way to creating a strong essay which will be the ideal organised essay relates to the best marks one! The structure refers to the way in which the content is put together. It has an introduction, body and conclusion. Each one serves a specific function! Step 1: Construct a creative, interesting introduction to the issue. This is your opportunity to grab the reader’s attention. Involve an anecdote, question, startling statement, etc. that will immediately get the reader and encourage him/her to keep reading. Then, set the stage by defining the issue and giving any necessary background information. End the introduction with a thesis statement that tells the reader your position with respect to the issue. Step 2: You will decide the order in which you will address the 3 appeals although you will want to give each equal time, it may be most effective to lead with the strongest and most convincing appeal. Step 3: In your first paragraph after the introduction, you will build on the point that embodies the appeal you have chosen to go first. You will do this in two parts: a) Present Topic sentence introducing one of the conduct and the appeal b) Discuss the concretely citing examples and establishing facts. Step 4: Repeat step three for the other two paragraphs, cementing each appeal individually. Step 5: Next, you will construct a paragraph wherein you will play devil’s advocate. It is important to consider other viewpoints on the issue whether you agree with them or not and disproving them will make your argument stronger. Finally, you will conclude this paragraph reiterating your position on the issue. Step 6: The next 2-3 paragraphs should be reserved for the opposition. This is a space for you to use all of your persuasive skills to defend your issue. You want your reader to agree with you so much at the end of this section, that he/she will actually switch positions on the issue and you must provide ample reason for that to happen. Always remember it is not a slur against anyone who might hold an opposite view, but simply a sound and solid argument that is intended to show why one viewpoint is superior. Step 7: Construct the conclusion to your essay. In 1-3 paragraphs, reiterate your position on the issue and conclude whether you think that the points you have made in your essay prove that it is the superior position. Finish by restating the issue at hand and your belief on the best course of action.

4. Effective Techniques for Persuasive Writing

Employ assertive and problem-centered language. A persuasive essay isn’t a place to be shy. While it is certainly okay to use a question or brief statement to attract attention to your topic, the meat of your essay is where your argument is explained and your conclusions are reached. It is OK to use “I think that” or “In my opinion” a couple of times, but certainly not in every paragraph as this is your work’s thesis and conclusion are the places where personal opinion is most appropriate. The body of your writing provides the audience with an explanation of your argument. This is perhaps the biggest of the persuasive techniques, we have already learned about a few others, notably those concerning evidence, such as setting a case, appealing to emotions, and using logic and reason. Choose a position and be unwavering in it. “Throughout the world there are many starving children.” is certainly a problem and lets readers know what to expect, however without a proposed solution, this essay may as well have described the problem in a journal entry. A more effective thesis statement to that same effect would be “The world today is wrought with many an unsolvable problem. Some are easily fixed, others are very difficult, but the most egregious of problems are those that have been allowed to fester and were never solved. These problems are the very bane of humanity and must be addressed.” With this statement, it is clear that the author will say till the last he is right, and because of the strong language used, the audience is likely to agree or disagree with him weighted by the strength of their own beliefs. In addressing a problem with such language and maintaining a strong position, you will have to explore the extent and causes of the problem to form a type of ‘proving the problem’. While it may seem redundant to explain a problem when one can simply look outside and see its effects, consideration of a problem’s symptoms and its effects on today is important to set the course for a proposed solution. This step is important in developing the logical appeal in the argument later and is necessary when too little is known about the problem by the reader. Explanation will serve as a proof to the argument that the problem is a problem which necessitates change.

5. Conclusion

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and the same is true when trying to persuade your audience to accept or believe in your view. The persuasive essay is all about changing someone’s mind, and this is not a light task. But through the power of words, you can be anything you want to be and can change whatever you want to believe. If you set out to convince, then you have come to the right place. A great persuasive essay can change your life. A persuasive essay is much like an argument essay, the only difference is that you try to change readers’ minds with your point of view. This type of writing assignment is quite common in high school and college students. Usually, it’s the groundwork of dialectics and debate courses, as well as other topics where you get to the final answer; the truth is, the final answer is subjective. Teachers assign this sort of writing to get the students ready to take on the world after school left them out in the rain. Whenever you are trying to change the mind of someone, you are using directives to figure out who your argument or belief to present to them. Your first act is to figure out the best possible case for a change of belief, but on an open forum, you will not know what that person’s beliefs actually are, since they may not be open about the topic and could be tough to figure out. So what you need to do is target the common case scenarios and then the cases that have high believability for both positive and negative aspects of their belief. With this information presented, you can take a first step to possible research, further clarifying the person’s belief. At this point, you may change your future thesis to a similar point of view as the person you are trying to persuade, and then proceed with similar evidence and refutation, although your strategy will remain on targeting the specific belief to change the evidence and case. With all this information gathered, proceed with writing a rough draft. This will be a complex argument, simply a presentation from many angles benefits your own case. A persuasive essay, in essence, is a blueprint of how to change the reader’s view on the given material.