Persuasive Essay Elements

Writing a persuasive essay is like being a lawyer arguing a case before a jury.
The writer takes a stand on an issue—either “for” or “against”—and builds the
strongest possible argument to win over the reader.
In a persuasive essay, it’s the writer’s job to convince the reader to accept a
particular point of view or take a specific action. Persuasive essays require good
research, awareness of the reader’s biases, and a solid understanding of both sides
of the issue. A good persuasive essay demonstrates not only why the writer’s
opinion is correct, but also why the opposing view is incorrect.
Persuasive writing is a fixture of modern life—found in advertising, newspaper
editorials, blogs, and political speeches. Often persuasive writing assignments and
test prompts concern contemporary issues, for example: “The school board is
debating on whether or not to ban cell phone use in school. Write an essay
convincing the board to adopt your position.” As shown in this persuasive writing
prompt, the main purpose is not to inform, but to “persuade” or “convince” an
audience (the school board) to think or act a certain way.
The Five-Step Writing Process for Persuasive Essays
At Time for Writing, we believe the five-step writing process is the best approach
to learning how to write a persuasive essay. Here are persuasive essay tips for each
phase of the writing process.
1. Prewriting for the Persuasive Essay
The prewriting phase of writing a persuasive essay is extremely important. During
this phase, students should plan every aspect of the essay:

• Choose a position. Students should think about the issue and pick the side
they wish to advocate.
• Understand the audience. In order to write an effective persuasive essay,
the writer must understand the reader’s perspective. Is the reader undecided
or inclined to favor one side or the other?
• Do the research. A persuasive essay depends upon solid, convincing
evidence. Don’t rely on a single source. Pull information from multiple
websites and reference materials. Speak with community experts and
teachers. Read and take notes. There is no substitute for knowledge of both
sides of the issue.
• Identify the most convincing evidence, as well as the key points for the
opposing view.
Organizing the Persuasive Essay: Outline and Structure
Next, create an outline. Organize the evidence to build the strongest possible
argument. If the teacher has specified an essay structure, incorporate it into the
outline. Typically, the persuasive essay comprises five or six paragraphs:
Persuasive Essay Outline
Introductory Paragraph

• Grab the reader’s attention by using a “hook.”

• Give an overview of the argument.
• Close with a thesis statement that reveals the position to be argued.

Body Paragraphs

• Each body paragraph should focus on one piece of evidence or reason

• Within each paragraph, provide sufficient supporting details. (facts,
statistics, data…)

Opposing View Paragraph

• Describe the other opinion and then refute the key points of the opposing
view.

Concluding Paragraph

• Restate and reinforce the thesis and supporting evidence.

2. Drafting the Persuasive Essay

When writing the initial draft of a persuasive essay, consider the following
suggestions:

• The introductory paragraph should have a strong “hook” that grabs the
reader’s attention. Open with an unusual fact or statistic, a question or
quotation, or an emphatic statement. For example: “Driving while talking
on a cell phone, even hands-free, is the equivalent of driving drunk.”
• The thesis statement should leave no doubts about the writer’s position.
 • Each body paragraph should cover a separate point, and the sentences of
each paragraph should offer strong evidence in the form of facts, statistics,
quotes from experts, and real-life examples.

The Secret to Good Paragraph Writing

• Consider various ways to make the argument, including using an analogy,

drawing comparisons, or illustrating with hypothetical situation (e.g., what
if, suppose that…).
• Don’t assume the audience has in-depth knowledge of the issue. Define
terms and give background information.
• The concluding paragraph should summarize the most important evidence
and encourage the reader to adopt the position or take action. The closing
sentence can be a dramatic plea, a prediction that implies urgent action is
needed, a question that provokes readers to think seriously about the issue,
or a recommendation that gives readers specific ideas on what they can do.

3. Revising the Persuasive Essay

In the revision phase, students review, modify, and reorganize their work with the
goal of making it the best it can be. Keep these considerations in mind:

• Does the essay present a firm position on the issue, supported by relevant
facts, statistics, quotes, and examples?
• Does the essay open with an effective “hook” that intrigues readers and
keeps them reading?
• Does each paragraph offer compelling evidence focused on a single
supporting point?
• Is the opposing point of view presented and convincingly refuted?
• Is the sentence structure varied? Is the word choice precise? Do the
transitions between sentences and paragraphs help the reader’s
understanding?
• Does the concluding paragraph convey the value of the writer’s position and
urge the reader to think and act?

If the essay is still missing the mark, take another look the thesis. Does it present
the strongest argument? Test it by writing a thesis statement for the opposing
viewpoint. In comparison, does the original thesis need strengthening? Once the
thesis presents a well-built argument with a clear adversarial viewpoint, the rest of
the essay should fall into place more easily.
 4. Editing the Persuasive Essay
Next, proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics, and edit to improve
style and clarity. Having a friend read the essay helps writers edit with a fresh
perspective.
5. Publishing the Persuasive Essay
Sharing a persuasive essay with the rest of the class or with family and friends can
be both exciting and intimidating. Learn from the experience and use the feedback
to make the next essay even better.
Elements of an Argumentative essay

-Inviting introduction

A compelling and interesting first section of your paper that tells about the issue
and has an attention getting hook

-Background information

The section of your paper that provides any information your reader needs to
know to understand your claim such as the history, key terms and explanation of
the topic

-Thesis

A short statement that summarizes the main claim or point of an essay, article or
research paper and is supported by reasons and evidence

-Claim

An argument based on facts and reasoning

-Evidence

Personal experiences, definitions, facts, research, data, quotes from an authority

in the field, or statistical graphs which tend to support or prove something

-Reason

A logical statement presented in justification or explanation of something

 -Refutation

An opposing argument that seeks to prove your opinion or claim is false

-Purposeful Conclusion

The final section of your paper that clearly summarizes the points made and is
supported by evidence
MODEL

ARGUMENT: SCORE 4

Selfies and You: Superficial Image Culture is

Hurtful for Teens

Smile, Snap, Edit, Post—Repeat!That’s the selfie life, and it’s The introduction is
everywhere. A million selfies are posted every day. But this tsunami engaging, and the writer’s
of self-portraits is not as harmless as it appears. Selfies promote a claim is clearly stated at
superficial image culture that is hurtful and dangerous for teens. the end of the paragraph.

It all starts with the unrealistic: When teens look at selfies they
automatically make comparisons with the idealized images they have
in their minds. This can cause them to feel inadequate and sad about
themselves, their bodies, and their lives. According to Common Sense
Media, more than half of girls and one third of boys ages 6-8 feel their
ideal body is thinner than their current body weight. Negative body
image can result in serious physical and mental health problems such The writer has included a
as anorexia and other eating disorders. variety of sentence transitions.

To make matter worse, many or even most selfies have been edited.
A recent study carried out by the Renfrew Center Foundation The sources of evidence are
concluded that about 50% of people edit their own images before specific and contain relative
posting. They use image-editing software to take away blemishes, information.
change skin tone, maybe even make themselves look thinner. And why
not? Even the photos of models and celebrities are heavily edited.

Some say that selfies are a harmless and enjoyable way to The writer clearly
communicate: posting a selfie is like sending a postcard to your acknowledges
friends and family, inviting them to share in your fun. But that is not counterclaims.
howselfies are used: teens post selfies to get feedback, to compare
themselves with others, and to present an (often false) image to
the world.
It’s true that posting a selfie on social media can generate ‘likes’ and
positive comments that can make a person feel good.

However, the boost one gets from feeling pretty for five minutes is like
junk food: it tastes good but it is not nourishing.

The selfie culture that is the norm today is out of control.

The superficial image culture promoted by selfies is probably behind The conclusion offers
the recent 20 percent increase in plastic surgery—something with its fresh insights into
own dangers and drawbacks. Let’s hope the fad will fade, and look the claim.
forward to a future where people are too busy enjoying life to spend so
much time taking, editing, and posting pictures of themselves.

PERSUASIVE ESSAY SAMPLES

Essay 1

Why Students Should Eat Breakfast Every Day

A lot of people, especially young people, go through the day without having
breakfast. Many people believe that it is not necessary, or they say that they don’t
have time for that, and begin their day with no meal. I believe that everyone should
eat breakfast before going to their activities. The purpose of this paper is to show
the importance of breakfast, especially for students. THESIS STATEMENT The
first reason why you should eat breakfast before going to school is for your health.
When you skip breakfast and go to school, you are looking for a disease because
it’s not healthy to have an empty stomach all day long. It’s very important to have
a meal and not let your stomach work empty. All you are going to get is gastritis
and a lot of problems with your health if you don’t eat breakfast. Another reason
for eating breakfast is because you need food for to do well in your classes. You
body and your brain are not going to function as good as they could because you
have no energy and no strength. When you try to learn something and have nothing
in your stomach, you are going to have a lot of trouble succeeding. A lot of people
think that they should not eat because they are going to feel tired, but that’s not
true. Breakfast is not a very big meal, and on the contrary, you’re going to feel
tired if you don’t have breakfast because you have spent the entire previous night
without food. The last reason to have breakfast every day is because you can avoid
diseases if you eat some breakfast in the morning. If you don’t eat, you are going
to get sick, and these diseases will have a stronger effect on you because you’re
going to get sick easier than people who have breakfast every day. You have to
realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and you cannot skip it
without consequences for your health, your school and your defense mechanism. It
is better to wake up earlier and have a good breakfast that run to school 2 without
eating anything. It is time for you to do something for your health, and eating
breakfast is the better way to start your day. (384 words) 3

Essay 2

The Importance of Reading and Writing (1)

Today science and technology has come to pervade every aspect of our lives.
Computer, television and radio have almost replaced the newspaper and letter once
dominated our lives. Accordingly, the issue about whether the ability to read and
write is more important today may attract our attentions. It is clear that classified
views have converged into two: some think reading and writing ability is more
important today than in the past, while others deny its importance. As I see it, I
agree with the former view without any hesitation and my choice is based on a
careful consideration of the following reasons. THESIS STATEMENT The main
reason which may win most of people's support is that if lack the reading and
writing ability, one would be considered as illiterate who has been deprived of the
most basic right of human beings in the 21st century. It will be hard for us to
imagine how somebody who can't read and write communicates with other people.
A case in point is that one of my neighbors who is an old man and cannot read and
write may only talk with others face to face. As for making friends by email and
search information in newspaper, it is absolutely impossible. The second reason I
would like to point out is that people today who cannot read and write cannot even
make a living. Good jobs are difficult to find because of economic depression.
Nearly all the jobs require people who can read and write very well. Even if one
just plans to be a driver, he must read the road sign and know where he is and
where he will go. Furthermore, the ability to read and write could bring us lots of
advantages. Suppose that people who have tired out with a hard week's sweat and
effort may get lots of benefits and relief from reading a short novel and broaden his
horizon by appreciating a nice poem. Many friends around me would believe
reading and writing some effective ways to relax themselves. People today
especially those children may find it easier for them to manipulate the mouse of the
computer than to write things down by hand. Watching TV instead of reading may
still occupy someone's most leisure time. Yet if all the factors I discussed 4 above
are contemplated and we are to minimize the losses and maximize the gains, it will
not be hard for us to realize that the ability to read and write is more important
today than in the past. (421 words)