The Ultimate Guide To Writing The Perfect Persuasive Essay

You're in school, maybe even high school, and your teacher assigns you the task of writing a persuasive essay. You sit down at your desk, scratching your head and thinking, "What in the world am I going to write about?" 

Don't worry! We've all been there. And luckily for you, we are here to help. 

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of writing a successful essay. By the time you're done reading this post, you'll be a pro at crafting persuasive essays!

So without further ado, let's begin!

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

According to the persuasive essay definition, they are a type of writing that attempts to convince the reader or opponent that your argument or claim is correct. 

Your essay could be based on anything about which you have an opinion—whether it's a current event, your favorite hobby, or a political issue.

So, now that you understand what persuasive writing is, why would someone want to write one? 

Let's explore that!

What Is the Purpose of a Persuasive Essay?

The primary purpose of writing a persuasive essay is to persuade or convince the reader to believe in something. 

For example, an essay could be about how supporting disaster victims can significantly help and make a difference for them. It would also explain how donating items or money instead of throwing them away would make you feel good too. 

Therefore, the overall point is that you should donate rather than throw things away.

The Elements of a Persuasive Essay

This section will show you how to use the key elements of a persuasive essay to create an effective and convincing piece.

Ethos

Ethos is all about your credibility—in other words, why should your reader believe what you’re saying? There are a few ways you can establish ethos:

• By sharing personal experiences
• Citing your qualifications
• Including quotes from other experts

For example, say you're writing a paper on why people should eat more kale. You could start off your paper by saying something like, "As a registered dietitian, I am qualified to speak on the topic of food and nutrition." 

By using your credentials, you are establishing yourself as an expert on the subject matter and, therefore, someone that your reader should trust.

Pathos

Pathos is all about connecting with your reader on an emotional level. In order to do this, you need to choose language that will evoke an emotional response in your reader.

For example, if you were trying to evoke empathy from your reader for refugees, you could compare them to birds migrating for the winter.

Logos

The last piece of the puzzle is logos—appealing to your reader’s sense of reasonableness. In order to do this, you need to present a well-reasoned argument using facts and evidence.

The goal here is to make it clear to your reader that there is a logical basis for your argument.

For example, suppose you were trying to convince your reader that global warming is caused by human activity. In that case, you could include statistics about rising temperatures worldwide or melting icecaps in Antarctica.

Now that we know how to tap into ethos, pathos, and logos in order to persuade our readers, let's move on to writing a persuasive essay.

How to Write a Persuasive Essay?

Persuasive writing makes the reader believe in your idea or at least give it some thought. Whether you're fighting for healthier school lunches or asking for a raise at work, the ability to persuade others is an important tool to have in your arsenal. 

Read on to find out how to write a perfect persuasive essay, with tips and examples included. 

How to Start a Persuasive Essay?

Now that you understand the basics of writing a compelling essay, it's time to learn how to start one.

Brainstorming

To start a persuasive essay, the first step is to brainstorm and take a position on the issue. You will have to choose which side of the argument you want to stand on.

Once you have chosen your side, it is important to list the pros and cons of your position. This will help you know what points you will need to refute later in your paper. 

Topic Selection

Once you have brainstormed and come up with ideas for your essay, it is time to narrow down your choices.

Make sure you choose something that you feel strongly about, and that can be argued logically. Make sure you have gathered enough evidence to argue your case efficiently.

Outline

After selecting your topic, it is time to begin planning your paper. Create an outline and start drafting your essay. 

Struggling to construct a persuasive essay outline that's flawless? Check out this link for tips and tricks on how to create the ideal structure.

Steps to Write a Persuasive Essay

Follow these simple steps to write a convincing essay.

Step 1 Introduction: Your introduction is your opportunity to make a great first impression on your reader. 

Make sure to start with a hook that will grab their attention, and follow it up with a clear thesis statement.

Step 2 Body Paragraph 1: Present the first point supporting your thesis using evidence. The body paragraphs should provide sound and convincing evidence to back up the main thesis.

Step 3 Body Paragraph 2: Present the second point supporting the thesis using evidence. 

Step 4 Body Paragraph 3: Present the third point supporting the thesis using evidence. 

Remember to use evidence from only the most reliable sources, like peer-reviewed journals or well-respected news outlets.

How to End a Persuasive Essay?

The final step in writing an effective persuasive essay is the conclusion. In this section, you will summarize all of the main points made throughout the body of your paper.

Furthermore, restate your thesis using different words than those found in your introduction paragraph. Make sure to proofread your work and make edits before calling it finished.

By following these steps, you can write a clear essay that will persuade readers to see things from your perspective!

Check out this video on how to write a persuasive essay for a better understanding. 

How To Develop a Perfect Persuasive Essay Format? 

When formatting your essay, you need to consider several things. 

Here, we will go over some basic rules you should follow when formatting your essay.

• Your essay should be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Your essay should include an introductory paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.
• Your introductory paragraph should introduce the main topic of your essay and present your thesis statement.

Please keep in mind that your teacher’s instructions take priority over any general rules we mention here. However, as a whole, persuasive essays usually adhere to the above basic guidelines.

Engaging Persuasive Essay Examples

Below are a few examples that you can use for reference. 

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Good Persuasive Essay Topics

The following are some examples of potential topics for a persuasive essay.

• Why kids should get paid for good grades?
• Why should students have less homework?
• Why is country life better than city life? Discuss
• Vaccinations can be a cause of Autism.
• Discuss whether we should reduce our carbon footprints.
• Why should you vote in every election? Discuss.
• War does not only bring negative outcomes.
• Cafeterias that sell soda to kids should be banned.
• Discuss the role of social media in promoting free speech
• Video games can help children develop social skills.

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Tips to Write a Compelling Persuasive Essay

Check out these tips to make your persuasive essay stand out from the crowd!

1. Tip number is to choose a thesis statement that is powerful. A strong opening will make your whole argument more impactful.

2. You can never go wrong by taking your time to do some research. Find solid sources that will help you make a strong argument and prove your point of view.

3. The third tip is to back up your arguments with evidence. This will make your essay stronger and more convincing.

4. Use descriptive and powerful language to engage your reader from the start.

5. Always check for holes in your logic and fix them before submitting your essay.

The goal of a persuasive essay is to persuade or change the viewpoint of the reader on an issue. 

In order to be truly persuasive, your essay must do more than make a strong argument; it must also be well-written and well-researched.

We hope that you have found this guide helpful and that it has given you a better understanding of how to write a persuasive essay.

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