New to the world of persuasive writing? Wondering how you can learn to write good persuasive essays in a short time? Look no further because we have got you covered. This article will walk you through all the writing techniques and help you understand what is persuasive writing.
The word persuasion has a Latin origin as it derived from the word “persuadere”, which means to convince. Persuasion at its very core is a technique used to influence people without any direct coercion. The use of this technique dates back to the 15th century and since then, the art of persuasion has been used in verbal and written forms to allow people to express their opinions in the hope to influence the opinion of others.
In case of persuasive writing, the writer, through logical and ethical arguments, makes an effort to direct the judgment of the readers in accordance with his own views.This is achieved through logical and ethical arguments rather than emotional inclinations.
Knowing how to write a persuasive essay is a skill that is necessary for youngsters and adults alike. Therefore, knowing what is persuasive writing, its components and strategies is an essential skill that everyone should make an effort to learn. And while perfecting it may take some time, starting from the basics takes you one step closer to becoming a compelling persuasive writer.
Just like any other form of writing, start with learning how this form of writing is different from any other. Read multiple persuasive essays so you have an idea about the style and structure of persuasive essays. Most importantly, do not forget to practice. When it comes to writing, practice makes a man perfect. Hence, rather than just reading on the topic,select an issue you are passionate about and start brainstorming logical arguments to convince your audience.
This article will showcase some of the best persuasive writing techniques used by authors worldwide along with helping you build an in-depth understanding of what is persuasive writing and why it matters.
What is persuasive writing?
Persuasive writing is a form of writing in which the writer through logical arguments sways the readers to a particular point of view. You are not required to simply inform the reader about a particular issue, but also convince them to think that your opinion presents the full truth and is correct. For this very reason, persuasive writing is technical. It requires you to adopt multiple strategies at the same time to make your work appealing and to shape their opinion of the reader without any arm-twisting.
Persuasive essays can be in the form of academic writing or a piece of personal writing. Either way, these essays start with a specific question. The writer then throughout the essay argues in favor or against the topic to influence the people to side with him. A skilled persuasive writer will make a firm statement which will be backed by a combination of research,data and anecdotal experiences.It is essential that the writer explores the opposing views on the same topic and builds counterarguments that are to be presented in the essay. This makes the persuasive essay seem credible with the help of valid arguments and counter arguments.
The persuasive form of writing is more closely related with argumentative essays as in both genres, the writer selects an issue, carries out a logical debate and makes conclusive resolutions. Nonetheless, an argumentative essay is different from a persuasive one. A persuasive essay focuses more on personal experiences and may appeal to emotions. However, argumentative essays stick strictly to the facts available on the topic
Furthermore, argumentative essays discuss both sides of an issue before reaching a conclusion. However, in the case of persuasive essays, the information is focused entirely on the author’s point of view. And lastly, persuasive writing requires you to employ a conversational tone. This allows the author to build a more personal relationship with the reader.
There are many words and phrases used in the world of persuasive writing that allow the writer to get their message across to the audience. Some of these phrases include:
- For example
- For instance
- Another reason
- On top of that
- In conclusion
- Finally
Why is persuasive writing important?
Persuasive writing is a part of many professions, especially those in the world of business. Be it website copywriting, advertising or general branding, all these forms of writing rely directly on persuasive messages to convince individuals to become customers of the company. Nonetheless, persuasive essays don’t necessarily have to be self-serving. Since the creation of printing presses, persuasive essays have helped turn the tide for many political and social movements worldwide.
Techniques used in persuasive writing work on challenging the existing beliefs of the reader. They provide guidance in framing arguments. In addition, these essays help boost your critical thinking skills, build your self-confidence and also allow you to become a good speaker who can convey a viewpoint in a conversational rather than an emotional tone
This essential form of writing style is also used to gain support for a new cause, incorporating a new policy and writing cover letters for a new job. Hence, if you’re looking to excel and stand out in your profession in comparison to your colleagues, knowing how to write a compelling persuasive essay is a necessity.
Modes of persuasive writing
Every writing style has a few elements that makes it unique and helps it stand out from other forms of writing. In this case, those elements are: ethos, logos and pathos. You might be confused how Greek mythology fits into the scope of persuasive writing, but the answer will surprise you. All three modes of persuasion usually come naturally to everyone. However, having a strong awareness about them is what shall differentiate you from others.
This part of the article will not only help you understand the three different modes of persuasion, but also help you learn how to employ these modes to help you write a powerful essay.
Read along to find out more about the three elements of persuasive writing and their use in this form of writing
Ethos
The first mode of persuasion is Ethos. This is a way in which you convince your audience of your credibility as a writer. Your credibility can be strengthened if the college degree you pursued was in relation to the same topic or by sharing similar work you might have worked on.This is known as built-in ethos. Here’s an example to help you understand the concept of credibility in a better way. Let’s say if a physics professor writes an essay on quantum physics, he or she would have a strong built-in ethos. But if the same professor were to write on a topic related to psychology, his or her educational background will not provide any built-in ethos.
If you don’t have a built-in ethos, don’t worry because you can build your credibility by consistently following up on that topic or carrying out thorough research on it. You can also build your ethos by citing an expert’s opinion or research in your essay.
Pathos
The simplest way to understand pathos is as an appeal to a person’s human emotions. Humans are most likely to be moved by emotions than by common sense or logic. Hence, Pathos is a powerful mode of persuasion. When writing a persuasive essay, it is important to ensure that the readers feel connected to your topic. This is where pathos comes into play. There’s a broad spectrum of emotions that you can provoke to make your writing persuasive, these emotions include: anger,sympathy,humor,sadness and pity.Through pathos, you make the audience emotionally invested in your opinion.
Just like all that is powerful, you should be careful when using pathos as a means for persuasion. This is because this mode is the least respected out of the three modes of persuasion in the academic community. Many fields require you to put aside your emotion when writing or reading on a subject. Thus, pathos must be used carefully and modestly.
Logos
Lagos refers to methods used to appeal to the logical side of the reader. When employing this method,you should make use of facts and present your opinion in a logical manner. Having strong logos also helps you build credibility over time. In addition, more people are likely to read your essay if you aim to remain logical and less emotional.
In order to have a strong lagos, it is essential that you carry out thorough research and incorporate the facts you have found in an organized manner.Moreover,dont just add facts for the sake of it.Make sure that the information you are adding supports your ideas in some way.
All in all,all three forms of persuasion are interconnected and play a vital role when writing a compelling persuasive essay. It takes time and effort to master the art of using all three forms and in a correct manner. Practice does indeed make a man perfect, therefore, consistently practice the art of persuasive writing to become a well seasoned writer.
Step-by-step writing process for persuasive writing
There are 5 basic steps that every writer should follow when writing a persuasive essay. These steps are designed to help you learn the writing process faster and to ensure that you do not make any structural mistkaes.Here are the five steps that will help you become an excellent writer:
Prewriting for the essay
This part of the writing phase is extremely important and should not be missed out. It helps you plan out every aspect of your essay before you start writing. Some of the aspects you should not forget include:
1. Choosing a topic
It is important to not only choose a topic,but choose one you are passionate about.This will make it easier for you to write about it.
2. Choosing a position
Once you have decided upon a topic,pick a side. Unlike an argumentative essay, when writing a persuasive essay,you must stick to one perspective only. Don’t talk about both sides of the argument.
3. Do your research
The credibility of your research depends on the evidence you include in your work. Don’t rely on any single website,make use of different materials ranging from other essays,research papers to statistical data.
4. Research on the opponent’s side
It is always a good idea to do a little research on the arguments presented by writers who negate your opinion. Next, you should counter their arguments in your paper to make your essay more credible.
Outline and structure
The best thing you can do for your essay is to create an outline beforehand. Organize your evidence and carry out research according to the outline you have created. If you have been advised to follow a specific structural style go with that. Typically, all persuasive essays comprise five: to six paragraphs.
If you’re confused about how to build an outline, the following part of the article will teach you how to do exactly that.
- Introductory paragraph
- Grab the reader’s attention by writing a catchy first paragraph
- Give an overview of your argument
- This part is more like a thesis statement in which you will reveal your position
- Body Paragraph
- Each paragraph in your essay should focus on one piece of evidence
- Each paragraph should not only give an an argument but should be followed by sufficient supporting details
- Opposing view
- Save some of your paragraphs to present counter arguments for ideas that negate your opinion.
- Concluding paragraph
- Reinforce your arguments in this paragraph but do not present any new arguments in this section.
Drafting your persuasive essay
Here are few tips for drafting your persuasive essay effectively:
- Start your opening paragraph with an unusual question, fact, emphatic statement or quotation.
- The thesis statement should clearly reflect the writer’s position. There should be no ambiguity
- Make use of real life examples and statements given by experts to support your work
- Make your argument valid by illustrating hypothetical illustrations, analogy and drawing comparisons
- Don’t assume that your reader already has sufficient knowledge about the topic. Make sure you give background information and build your essay accordingly.
- The concluding paragraph should be focused on summarizing the most important evidence you presented in your essay. This is your last chance to persuade your reader so do your best.
Revising your e
ssay
In this part you can reevaluate the outline, structure and body of the essay. Here are a few considerations you should keep in mind when making adjustments:
- Does your essay clarify and present a firm position on the issue?
- Have you cited enough evidence to support your arguments?
- Have you presented sufficient arguments?
- Are there any counter arguments?
- How is your sentence structure?
- Are there any grammatical errors?
- Have you transitioned from one paragraph to another properly?
- Is your concluding paragraph convincing enough?
If you think that your persuasive essay is missing any of the details or if you’re unsure about the answer to any of the above-mentioned questions,it is best to review that part of your work.
Editing your essay
Proofreading your essay is irrefutably one of the most significant parts of writing a good essay. Start with reading your work carefully, focus on each sentence and make changes if required. It is recommended that you send your work for proofreading to your professor or anyone who has sufficient knowledge on the topic. Getting a second perspective on a piece of writing is always a good idea,thus don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Tips and techniques for persuasive writing
This part of the article will talk about the most frequently used tips to help you write an excellent persuasive essay. Every writer approaches the persuasive writing process differently, but it’s best to follow a few basic guidelines as to how you can persuade your audience with words. Read the tips below and make sure you make them a part of your writing.
1. Choose a topic you are passionate about
A writer can only truly persuade his audience if he or she truly believes in the topic they are writing about. Writing on something that doesn’t appeal to you or you just started researching on would be unwise.It is always recommended that you choose a topic that you believe matters, an idea that you can actively defend and one that resonates with who you are as a person.In short,pick a topic that appeals to your own sensibilities. While you will still be required to carry out thorough research,already having a strong opinion on that particular issue will make it easier for you to defend it.
2. Know your audience
This part of writing your essay is of utmost importance. The only way you truly convince your audience is by knowing who exactly you aim to target. If your essay is directed at standardized testing in the school system,your audience will be the parents. Similarly, if your essay is directed at a recent change in government policy, your audience is most likely the policy-makers. Knowing your audience helps you choose the correct writing style and helps you build an outline that will suit your audience. For example, in the case of standardized testing in schools,your aim will not only be to convince the audience i.e. parents,but also inform them. This is because most of the parents might not know what this means,why it matters and how it affects their children.Hence,your essay will first address these queries and then move towards persuasion.
3. State your claim clearly
There is nothing worse than a persuasive essay that is sending mixed signals to the reader.The main purpose of writing this essay is to convince your reader to be in favor of a particular opinion and unless you are clear about what idea or opinion is, your essay is a lost cause. Readers do not appreciate a writer who himself fails to make up his mind or fails to sell an idea to his audience. An essay without a clear stance is not a persuasive essay, it cannot be termed as one and nor will it be viewed as one by your audience either.Thus,the most significant part of writing this essay is to pick a side and stick by it no matter what. It brings credibility to your work as well.
4. Keep organized
Just like any other work, a persuasive essay requires you to be organized. Having your thoughts and ideas scattered is the worst possible way of structuring and writing a good persuasive essay. It may result in you forgetting to add some valid arguments or counterarguments. Your work will reflect your haphazardness and your essay might not have the right flow. When writing without being properly organized,your essay may not sound like it’s logically connected or there may not be any coherence between different paragrphs.It is suggested that you avoid this mistake at all costs by staying organized.
5. Use active language
The tone of your essay is crucial.It should convey confidence and certainty to the reader. One way to achieve this is by using active voice rather than passive voice.This is because active voice is usually more direct,assertive and purposeful. It will help you gain credibility. If you’re not sure how active and passive voice are different from each other and how to properly use them,it is recommended that you carry out some research and practice before you start writing your essay
6. Polish your essay
Make sure that you always proofread your essay before submitting or presenting it to the audience.Ask for a second opinion if necessary, it is always good to have a fresh set of eyes look at your work,this ensures that you don’t miss out on any mistakes, especially mistakes related to sentence structure,incorrect spellings or missed words. These mistakes may seem small and neglectable but they have a momentous impact on your image and credibility as a writer.Hence,always proofread your work.
Fun facts about persuasive writing
Here are a few fun facts that will further clarify your understanding about persuasive writing:
- Persuasive essays begin with an opinion statement
- Persuasive essays have no paragraph limits
- Depending on who you’re writing it for, the essay will have different word limits:
- High school essay: 300-1000 words
- College admission essay: 200-650 words
- Undergraduate college essay: 1500-5000 words
- Graduate school admission: 500-1000 words
- Graduate school essay: 2500-6000 words
Conclusion
In conclusion, writing a persuasive essay requires your undivided attention and commitment. The guide above has been devised to help make this task easier for you. If at any point during the writing process,you feel lost or unsure about a certain issue,refer back to this guide and clarify any doubt that you may have. Mastering the skill of persuasive essay may take some time and effort,but it isn’t impossible.With the right mindset and zeal,you will become a competent persuader in no time.
