How to write a persuasive essay

A persuasive essay provides a convincing argument for one to believe something or do something. You use persuasive language to convince your parents, teachers, siblings, etc. to do things all the time!

Choosing a Topic:

Choose an issue that is important to you.
- Ex. School uniforms, year-round school, censorship
- What are some things that you find important that you wish more people did or didn’t do?

Prewriting:

Research your topic

To complete your persuasion map, you will need to find a goal, three main reasons, and three facts or
examples to support each main reason (nine facts/examples total).

What is a goal?

The goal, or thesis, will be what you are trying to convince your reader to do or say. You will use it in your introductory paragraph.
- Ex. Students should not be forced to wear school uniforms.
- The goal is for schools not to have uniforms.

What are reasons?

Your main reasons, or opinions, will serve as the meat of your essay. Your three main reasons will be used in the three body paragraphs.
 Ex. School uniforms infringe upon students’ needs for self-expression.
 Because this could not be proven, this is considered an opinion.

What are facts/examples?

Your facts and examples will provide the most convincing part of your essay. You need factual evidence in your body paragraphs to convince the reader.
 Ex. In a national study among students who wear school uniforms, the average student
feels stifled by wearing the same thing every day.
 Facts like this make your argument seem more reasonable, sound, and ultimately, convincing.

Drafting:

Now you are ready to begin writing your essay.
1) Introductory Paragraph
Hook- statistic, imagery, quotation, or rhetorical question (1-2 sentences)
Transition from hook to thesis- mention three reasons of argument (1-2 sentences)
Thesis- goal of your essay (1 sentence)

2) Body Paragraph 1
Topic sentence- state main reason 1 (the most convincing argument) Remember to make it interesting!
Facts and Examples (3-4 sentences)
Conclusion sentence- refer to main
reason 1 again (Restate your opinion in a new way!)

3) Body Paragraph 2
 Topic sentence- state main reason 2 (the second most convincing argument) Remember to make it interesting!
 Facts and Examples (3-4 sentences)
 Conclusion sentence- refer to main reason 2 again (Restate your opinion in a new way!).

4) Body Paragraph 3
 Topic sentence- state main reason 3 (the third most convincing argument) Remember to make it interesting!
 Facts and Examples (3-4 sentences)
 The Opposition- Mention the other side of the argument but then provide a fact or example to refute it. (2-3 sentences)
Ex. School uniforms may reduce conflicts over expensive fashions, but isn’t student individuality
more important?
 Conclusion sentence- refer to main reason 3 again (Restate your opinion in a new way!)

Persuasive Strategies
 Use the following strategies in your essay. 
 Anticipate and answer possible objections- What objections might your audience have to your goal or reasons?
 Ex. Objection- School uniforms have a one-time cost. Answer- Although students wear the same thing every day, students will still need clothes to wear on the weekends and after school.

Cite precedents- a precedent is an earlier example of the action you are suggesting.
Ex. Precedent- In previous generations, students have worn their own clothes to school without
being harmed.

Cite precedents- a precedent is an earlier example of the action you are suggesting.
Ex. Precedent- In previous generations, students have worn their own clothes to school without
being harmed.

5) Concluding Paragraph
Restate Thesis- Find a new way to say it though!
Restate main reasons- Find newways to say them!
Conclusion sentence- Finish your essay with a powerful sentence. Leave the reader thinking so that the argument stays with him/her for a long time.

Revising:

You will use a checklist to revise your own draft.
Revising will help you organize your thoughts clearly, strengthen your argument with persuasive words, and eliminate unnecessary details.