The power of persuasion comes naturally to some, especially for lawyers, account directors, and sales representatives. However, for others, sharpening this skill takes a lot of practice. Persuasive writing is used by writers to convince readers to adopt a new perspective. Writers make and support their claims or arguments with facts and evidence. Curious to learn more? Here are some tips to help you master the art of persuasion and write effective persuasive essays.

Tip #1: Brainstorm

When choosing a topic, it’s best to pick one that you’re passionate about. If you’re given one to write about, approach it from the angle that interests you. Even after brainstorming, make sure you’re noting counterarguments to give your readers all aspects. At this point, they’re trusting your judgment and will be more inclined to agree with your view.

Tip #2: Find your audience

Each piece of writing must have an intended target audience. As a result, make sure you are conveying a tone and style that resonates with your audience throughout your essay. Your audience may be a group of people who are undecided or might not initially agree with your stance.

Tip #3: Have a purpose

As mentioned before, the purpose of persuasive writing is to convince your readers to adopt a certain point of view or opinion. Here, there is the implication that there are two opinions that are argued. Most of the time, writers try to convince readers that their opinion is right, but essentially, it’s best to persuade your audience to consider your opinion as valid instead.

Tip #4: Develop a clear thesis

Your thesis should clearly and concisely present your position on the topic or issue at hand. Your thesis can be one that is open for debate and enables people to have opposing opinions. It may also recommend a call for action, which asks your audience to do something relating to an issue. Since your thesis will be specific, you will need to consider your knowledge on the topic as well as your audience’s knowledge. As always, facts and evidence are needed to support and strengthen your point of view.

Tip #5: Compose an attention-grabbing introduction

Like any piece of writing, your introduction is the bread and butter in capturing your audience’s attention. A persuasive essay will do the same via a concise thesis and supporting evidence. This will entice your audience to keep reading.

Tip #6: Write well-structured supportive paragraphs

Supportive paragraphs will align with your thesis. Make sure your arguments are well-presented and structured with key evidence as well as explanations (The PEE Technique). You might even have multiple ideas to support your thesis. If this is the case, make sure you tackle one idea at a time, summarize that point, and then transition to the next supporting idea.

Tip #7: Express objecting opinions

An objection paragraph will most likely have one or more opposing view(s) that will go against your thesis. Providing objecting perspectives will show your audience you have considered all views and are presenting a well-rounded and well-informed essay. Summarize these opposing views and provide some evidence before transitioning to your rebuttal paragraph.

Tip #8: Respond with a rebuttal

A rebuttal paragraph responds to your objection paragraph. Here, you’ll be able to provide evidence that refutes those opposing ideas, thus strengthening your argument and persuading your audience to view your opinion as being more valid.

Tip #9: Write a strong final plea

After all is done, your concluding paragraph should restate your claim and summarize the key evidence that support that claim. You also want to leave a strong convincing final plea to your readers that proves your arguments are the ones they should believe in.

So, there you have it! Dedicate time to brainstorm and organize the structure of your essay and arguments. Additionally, make sure your arguments are compelling and pertain to your targeted audience. Persuasive writing is a skill that takes a while to master for some, but it is worthwhile and can be beneficial in many aspects of your life.

REFERENCES

Tutorfair (2015, August 22). Taking the PEE…The Point, Evidence, Explanation method. Accessed on October 14^th, 2021 via https://www.tutorfair.com/resource/206/taking-the-pee…-the-point-evidence-explanation-method