Purpose of writing a persuasive essay

Choose an Issue
The first step for writing a persuasive essay is to decide what you are trying to persuade someone to believe. Is there a compelling social issue you'd like to correct, a situation within your school that you'd like to change, an issue from history that you'd like to address, or maybe even a political condition you'd like to explore—the possibilities are endless!

Here's a list of possible topics:

Education

• School Uniforms
• School Choice
• Bilingual Education
• LockerSearches
• Homework

History

• Women's Rights
• Civil Rights
• Vietnam War

Social and Political Issues

• The Death Penalty
• Cruelty to Animals
• Gun Control
• Cloning

Once you've decided on an issue, it's time to begin your research!

Research It!

Good research is critical to a successful persuasive essay. You must have content to back up your claims. Your claims must in turn be well documented and elaborated. Be careful to take detailed notes as you record information that documents both sides of your issue. You will be referring to these notes as you begin to draft your paper.

You can find facts from a variety of different resources: encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, online interviews, public documents, and face-to-face interviews.

Once your research is complete, you'll want to begin thinking through your process of persuasion.

You've gathered all the facts, now it's time to list the arguments both for and against your issue and begin planning the structure of your writing.

List the Arguments

It's impossible to persuade someone to believe your viewpoint without also considering the viewpoint of those who may disagree with you. Review your research and create a list of arguments for and arguments against your issue. Brainstorm as many examples as possible. Ultimately you will be choosing the three best arguments to include in the writing.

Plan Your Structure

Your paper will need to contain the following elements.

• Opening/Introduction: In this area you will introduce your readers to the topic and give a little background information. It works well to state your topic in the form of a question—Is the Iditarod an example of cruelty to animals sporting event? Be sure to state your position on the issue within the last sentence of the paragraph. In the opening, you want to pull the reader in and give them a reason to keep reading.
• Body: The body of your essay should contain at least three paragraphs. Each paragraph must state a different viewpoint on your topic, examine the opposition to that viewpoint and provide a defense of that viewpoint. Many of the best examples of persuasive writing save the most compelling viewpoint for third body paragraph leaving the reader with the strongest point before closing. The defense must be supported with evidence documented through your research. Don't forget the reason for examining an opposing viewpoint—you're trying to prove, through the use of factual information, why your opinion is better.

  Within each paragraph you need to be sure to use powerful transitional words and phrases as you compare each point.

• Closing/Conclusion: The conclusion should always restate the issue and then quickly tie in the three viewpoints examined in the body paragraphs. You should never introduce new information in the closing. Simply summarize the arguments and then close with a powerful statement relating to your originally stated issue.

Draft

Before you start writing:

• Using the plans created in the last step, decide on a good beginning or "hook" that will grab the reader's attention. State your topic and give a little background information.
• Make a list of specific points you want to be sure and include in your final product. These points will serve as the main ideas for each of your three paragraphs within the body of your paper. Highlight quotes and content that support the ideas you choose.
• Decide on an effective ending for your report. Ask yourself what thought you want to leave the reader with or a thought that summarizes the overall viewpoint.

• Focus on information and allow your ideas to flow freely.
• Don't worry about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You will correct your work later on.

A good persuasive essay draft includes:

• all your thoughts
• as many details as possible
• complete thoughts and ideas
• facts to support your argument

Edit

Capitalization

• Each sentence starts with a capital letter.
• All names of people and places begin with a capital letter.
• Titles in a person's name begin with a capital letter.
• Each important word in a title (that doesn't refer to people) begins with a capital letter.

• Handwriting is neat or the paper is printed from a computer.
• Story starts at the beginning, or with the most exciting event.
• Beginning and ending make sense.

• Quotation marks surround all words that are part of a direct quote.
• Commas separate items in a list, appear within sentences that have direct quotes.
• All sentences end with a period or other appropriate ending punctuation.

• Words are spelled correctly. If you are using a computer, remember to use the spell check function.
• All sentences are complete and include a subject and a verb.
• All subjects and verbs agree.

Review

Check your work.

• Read through your work from start to finish. Make any last minute changes you feel are necessary.
• Go to a quiet place and read the entire paper out loud. You'll be amazed at the number of changes you make once you hear it out loud.
• Meet with your teacher.

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