Persuasive Essay

"A word after a word after a word is power."¹ This sentiment, attributed to Margaret Atwood, uses simple language to express a bit of common knowledge. Speechwriters, advertisers, and the media know that persuasive words are necessary to sway their audience. A persuasive essay uses a combination of emotion, credibility, and logic to defend, challenge, or qualify a claim.

Persuasive Essay: Definition

When you write an essay to convince the reader about your opinion on a subject, it is formally known as a persuasive essay. Sometimes this can also be called an argumentative essay, but there are technically some stylistic differences between them.

Fig. 1 - Arguments have an ancient history.

To write an effective persuasive essay, you must first construct a solid argument. So, how do we structure a solid argument? Aristotle to the rescue! Aristotle developed the three interlocking parts of an essay (or Elements of Rhetoric) that work together to persuade an audience.

These three parts are:

• Ethos (or "character"): The audience must feel like your opinion is credible, or they will never listen to what you have to say. Make sure you use reliable sources to back the claim in your persuasive essay.

• Pathos (or "experience" or "emotion"): The reader has to care about your topic to be influenced, so write your persuasive essay in a way that appeals to their experiences or emotions.

• Logos (or "reason"): Use logic when writing your essay. Effective persuasive essays are a balance between solid facts and rational feelings.

Standard Terms in Persuasive Writing

Your thesis statement may be referred to as a claim. Claims are written in different styles:

• Definitional claim: argues whether the topic "is" or "is not" something.
• Factual claim: argues whether something is true or false.
• Policy claim: defines an issue and its best solution.
• Passive agreement claim: seeks audience agreement without expecting action on their part.
• Immediate action claim: also seeks audience agreement but expects them to do something.
• Value claim: judges whether something is right or wrong.

In a persuasive essay, you can:

• Defend a position: Provide proof that supports your claim and refute the opponent's claim without saying they're wrong.

• Challenge a claim: Use evidence to show how an opposing view is invalid.

• Qualify a claim: If no compelling information is available to completely refute the opposing idea, admit some parts of the claim are true. Then, point out the parts of the opposing idea that are not true because this weakens the opposing argument. The valid part of the opposing argument is called a concession.

A Persuasive essay follows the standard essay format with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction

You should begin by reeling your audience in with an interesting quote, a shocking statistic, or an anecdote that catches their attention. Introduce your subject, then state your argument in the form of a claim that defends, challenges, or qualifies a claim. You can also outline the persuasive essay's main points.

Body Paragraphs

Defend your claim in the body paragraphs. You can also challenge or qualify the opposing viewpoint using verifiable sources. Take the time to investigate the opposite opinion to add depth to your subject knowledge. Then, separate each of your main points into their own paragraphs, and devote a section of your essay to disproving the rival belief.

Conclusion

The conclusion is your space to bring the message home to the reader and is your final opportunity to persuade them that your belief is correct. After restating the claim and reinforcing the main points, appeal to your audience with a call to action, a brief discussion of questions your essay raises, or a real-world consequence.

Persuasive Essay: Outline

Once you've picked a topic, done the research, and brainstormed, you're about ready to start writing your persuasive essay. But wait, there's more! An outline will organize your main points and sources, giving your persuasive essay a roadmap to follow. Here's the main structure:

I. Introduction

A. Hook

B. Introduction to the topic

C. Thesis statementII. Body paragraph (the number of body paragraphs you include will vary)

A. Main point B. Source and discussion of source C. Transition to next point/opposing belief

III. Body paragraph

A. State opposing belief

B. Evidence against opposing belief

C. Transition to conclusion

IV. Conclusion

A. Summarize main points

B. Restate thesis

C. Call to action/questions raised/consequences

Persuasive Essay: Example

While you read the following example of a persuasive essay, find the immediate action claim in the introduction and see how the writer defends their position by using reputable sources. Further, what does the writer say in the conclusion to make a final attempt at persuading the audience?

Fig. 2 - Bite into the heart of persuasion.