Writing to influence others The Persuasive Essay Writing to influence others

The art of persuasion

The Intent The intention of Persuasive Writing is to influence the reader to change the way he or she thinks or acts. In persuasive writing, the author states and supports an opinion and then tries to get the reader to agree or take an action.

Step 1: Choose an issue An issue is something about which people have opposing opinions. Often times the issue is chosen for you (such as a class essay) but remember that persuasive writing goes far beyond class essays. When you feel strongly about an issue, you may choose to write to persuade the school administration, the city council, or the state or federal government.

Step 2: State your position No fence sitting allowed! You must make your position, or opinion, on the issue absolutely clear by writing a focused opinion statement (this is essentially the thesis statement in a persuasive paper). Example: Schools should enact new food guidelines to ensure that students get proper nutrition in their lunches.

Step 3: Consider your audience You need to concern yourself with persuading those who disagree with you or who have no opinion on the matter at all. Ask yourself: What are my audience’s concerns? Think about biases your reader may have and be prepared to include counterarguments. What are my audience’s expectations? Your paper will be well-received if it includes solid reasoning and evidence.

Step 4: Support your opinion with reasons & evidence Your reasons are the foundation of your persuasive argument and should include rhetorical appeals: Logos – appeal to your reader’s sense of logic Pathos – appeal to your reader’s emotions Ethos – present yourself as credible by honestly and fairly presenting your argument (keep biases and unsubstantiated claims out of your paper)

Step 4, continued Provide valid evidence to support your reasons Use facts, statistics, examples, expert opinions, case studies, and anecdotes to support your opinion.

Step 4, continued Remember the “3 R’s” of evidence: Relevant – tied closely to your issue Reliable – from trustworthy sources Representative – use multiple sources

Step 5: Organize your Essay Introduction: Grab your reader’s attention by relating an anecdote or a startling statistic Give background information so readers understand the issue Give an opinion statement that clearly states your position on the issue

Step 5: Organize your Essay Body: Give at least three reasons that support your opinion statement Acknowledge the counterargument Make sure your reasons reflect all of the rhetorical appeals: logos, pathos, and ethos Organize the reasons in an effective way to reach your audience Provide evidence for each reason

Step 5: Organize your Essay Conclusion: Restate, but do not repeat, your opinion (Optional: briefly summarize the reasons for your opinion – avoid unnecessary repetition) Include a call to action that tells the readers what they can do to help change a situation