How to Write a Persuasive Essay That Wins Over Readers

The ancient art of rhetoric dates back to the Classical period of ancient Greece, when rhetoricians used this persuasive form of public speaking to address their fellow citizens in the Greek republics. As time went on, rhetoric remained at the center of education in the western world for nearly 2,000 years. In our modern world, rhetoric is still an integral part of human discourse, utilized by world leaders and students alike to argue their points of view.

The definition of rhetoric is the “art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing,” where language is used to have a convincing or impressive effect on the audience being addressed.

At some point in every student’s academic career, instructors will deliver the assignment to write a persuasive essay that argues for or against a certain topic. Whether or not you’ve taken a course in rhetoric, students can apply the principles of rhetoric to write an effective persuasive essay that convinces the audience to accept a certain viewpoint.

To be as convincing as Aristotle on the stand, your persuasive essay must be based on sound logic and factual evidence that support the overall argument. As you begin to think about writing a persuasive essay, here are several tips that will help you argue your topic like a true rhetorician.

Persuasive essays aim to convince readers to agree with a certain viewpoint or take a specific action Unlike an argumentative essay where you can argue both sides of an issue, a persuasive essay requires you to take a clear position and support it strongly

Crafting a compelling persuasive essay is an art form that takes practice. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the key steps for writing a persuasive essay that sways opinions and leaves a lasting impact.

Step 1: Pick Your Position

The first step is deciding what specific position opinion, or action you want readers to agree with. Brainstorm potential topics that you have strong feelings about.

For example, you may want to persuade readers to:

Adopt a shelter pet
Vote for a particular candidate
Donate to a charity
Change their lifestyle habits
Purchase a certain product

The position you take should always be:

Specific – focus on a precise stance, not a broad issue
Arguable – a point that can be reasonably debated
Supported – ample evidence exists to back your view

A strong, defined argument gives your essay direction. It prevents aimless meandering in your writing.

Step 2: Analyze Your Audience

Now consider: who needs convincing? The audience you are writing for directly impacts the content and style of your persuasive essay.

Identify key characteristics of your target readers

Age, gender, location, culture
Prior knowledge or experience with the topic
Potential concerns, objections, or counterarguments
Values, motivations, and priorities

This analysis helps you understand your readers’ mindset so you can tailor your arguments accordingly. Adapt your tone, reasons, evidence, and examples to resonate with the specific audience.

Step 3: Research Extensively

Conduct thorough research from credible sources on all sides of the argument. This serves two purposes:

Builds your knowledge so you can argue your position strongly
Helps you identify possible opposing views to address in your essay

Look for facts, statistics, real-world examples, expert perspectives, and logical reasoning that support your stance. Take detailed notes as you research to easily reference back to key points.

Solid research lends credibility and demonstrates you’ve investigated widely, not just cherry-picked convenient information.

Step 4: Craft Your Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement declares your position in 1-2 concise sentences. It should:

Directly state your specific argument
Capture the central claim you will make
Preview the main reasons/evidence that back your view

Here are thesis statement examples for persuasive essays:

Shorter school days would benefit students by improving focus, increasing creativity, and reducing stress.
The minimum wage should be raised to $15 per hour to sustain families, lower turnover for businesses, and stimulate the economy.
A later school start time would align better with teens’ natural circadian rhythms, enhancing health, attendance, and academic success.

Step 5: Outline Your Essay

An outline provides the roadmap for your essay. Structure your persuasive piece using these key elements:

Hook: Opening line that grabs attention
Background context to frame the issue
Thesis statement

Body Paragraphs

Topic sentence stating main reason/argument
Supporting evidence: facts, quotes, examples
Analysis explaining how evidence ties to thesis

Counterargument Paragraph

Acknowledge and briefly refute opposing views

Restate thesis in new words
Summarize main arguments
Call to action if appropriate

The standard persuasive essay follows a 5-paragraph structure. For longer essays, add more body paragraphs to expand on reasons and evidence.

Step 6: Write Your First Draft

With your outline as a guide, flesh out each section of your essay in draft form. Focus on getting your ideas on paper first. You can refine the wording and tighten the writing later.

Tips for the initial draft:

Begin with an attention-grabbing opening hook
Use transition phrases to connect paragraphs
Vary sentence structure to improve flow
Tap into emotions as well as logic
End by reinforcing your thesis statement

At this stage, the goal is to get your thoughts down without overthinking the writing. Following your outline keeps the structure clear as you draft.

Step 7: Strengthen Your Reasoning

Next, review your draft critically. Does your reasoning hold up to scrutiny? Fortify any weak spots by:

Adding more evidence and expanded analysis
Acknowledging then disproving counterarguments
Using persuasive writing techniques like repetition, rhetorical questions, and analogies
Drawing connections between supporting points
Making your language more emphatic

This step ensures your arguments are iron-clad. Delete any filler or fluff. Every sentence should serve your central thesis.

Step 8: Refine the Writing

Now refine the writing style to increase clarity and impact:

Vary sentence length and structure
Tighten verbose passages
Transition smoothly between ideas
Choose precise verbs and descriptive adjectives
Tap the power of literary devices like metaphor
Use natural language, not overly formal

During editing, verify you have defined key terms, provided sufficient context, and adhered to the target audience level.

The conclusion drives your argument home and prompts action:

Restate your thesis statement using new phrasing
Summarize your main reasons and evidence
Share a call to action if appropriate
Close with a lasting final sentence

Avoid simply rehashing points from earlier paragraphs. Instead, synthesize insights in a fresh, compelling way.

Step 10: Final Touches

Before submitting your persuasive essay, double check:

The thesis encapsulates your central claim
Body paragraphs support the thesis
Topic sentences introduce paragraph arguments
Transitions connect ideas smoothly
The conclusion provides a sense of closure

Additionally, verify you have adhered to proper essay structure, sentence form, spelling, and grammar throughout.

Following the Steps For Persuasive Essay Success

Writing persuasively takes passion and purpose. Following these 10 steps arms you with a systematic approach to craft compelling, convincing essays time and again.

Remember, precision in your thesis statement, well-structured paragraphs, rock-solid reasoning, and elegant writing are hallmarks of an essay that hits its mark. Leaving readers nodding their heads in agreement with your standpoint – that’s the mark of persuasive essay success!

So do your research, organize your thoughts, argue confidently, and polish your language. Soon your persuasive pieces will have readers rethinking long-held beliefs and springing into action. Wield your persuasive writing skills wisely and see the impact your words can make.

how to write persuasive essay

Thoroughly research both sides

Every argument has a counterargument—this is one of the staples of rhetoric. To convince your reader to agree with you, you must be knowledgeable of the opposing side. As important as it is to thoroughly research your topic, identifying and studying both sides of the argument will help you develop the strongest supporting evidence possible. During the research process, gather as much information as you can about the topic at hand. Use your school’s resources like the library, academic journals, and reference materials. With a full understanding of your topic, you’ll be able to readily counter the opposition and assuage any follow-up questions that might cast doubt on your claims.

Choose a position you’re passionate about

The first step in writing a persuasive essay is choosing a topic and picking a side. If the topic is something you believe in, it will make the entire experience of researching, writing, and arguing your perspective more personal. Choosing a topic that appeals to you on an emotional or sentimental level will make its defense easier. Plus, chances are you’ll already know a good deal of information about the topic, so you won’t be left scrambling when it’s time to start your research.

How to Write a Persuasive Essay

What is a persuasive essay?

A persuasive essay is one that attempts to get a reader to agree with your perspective. Ready for some tips on how to produce a well-written, well-rounded, well-structured persuasive essay? Just say yes. I don’t want to have to write another essay to convince you! How Do I Write a Persuasive Essay? What Are Some Good Topics for a Persuasive Essay?

How to write a persuasive essay like Aristotle?

What are examples of persuasive writing?

While persuasive essays are the most famous example of persuasive writing, the same style also applies to writing in advertising, journalistic op-ed pieces, public speeches, public service announcements, and critical reviews. Your writing, at its best.

What makes a good persuasive essay?

In persuasive essays, you generally have more freedom to make appeals to emotion (pathos), in addition to logic and data (logos) and credibility (ethos). X Trustworthy Source Read Write Think Online collection of reading and writing resources for teachers and students.