Persuasive Essay Guide: How to Write a Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is a type of essay that presents logical arguments with emotional appeal in order to sway readers to a particular point of view. Persuasive essays can be both a form of academic writing and personal writing. They typically begin with a question that the writer spends the essay arguing in favor of or in opposition to. A personal essay writer will make a firm statement that is backed up with a combination of data, research, and anecdotal experience. The writer will often explore opposing positions and counterarguments as a means to discredit them. A good persuasive essay should feature three essential components known as modes of persuasion. These elements, coined by philosopher Aristotle himself, work together to make a compelling and effective argument that attempts to persuade others’ points of view. 1. __Ethos__: [Ethos](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-ethos-definition-of-ethos-with-examples) is an element of argument and persuasion through which a speaker establishes their credibility and knowledge, as well as their good moral character. Readers are more likely to trust someone with credible knowledge, personal experience, or standing within a community. Including ethos—or ethics—in your persuasive writing can help sell your point of view. 2. __Pathos__: [Pathos](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-pathos-definition-of-pathos-with-examples) is an appeal made to an audience’s emotions in order to evoke feelings. Triggering particular emotions in your audience can help them connect with you as a narrator. This provides a layer of interest to your readers as well, making your writing more compelling and stickier. 3. __Logos__: [Logos](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-logos-definition-and-examples-of-logos-in-literature) is a rhetorical or persuasive appeal to the audience’s logic and rationality. Good persuasive writing outlines a series of logical reasons that the reader should believe the writer’s argument. Many writers approach the persuasive essay writing process differently, but there are a few general guidelines to follow when [persuading](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/persuasive-writing-tips-and-techniques) your audience with your words. Here is how to write an effective personal essay. 1. __Pick a topic you’re passionate about__. You’ll do your best persuading when you’re arguing for something you truly believe in. If you have the option to pick a topic, choose one that appeals to your own sensibilities. There will be research to do regardless, but already having a strong opinion about your subject will make its defense a bit easier. 2. __Know your audience__. If you want to convince readers to believe and agree with you, know who you’re talking to first. For example, if you’re writing a persuasive letter about why standardized testing should be removed from school systems, your audience will likely be parents: Keep that in mind when writing to your targeted demographic. 3. __Research both sides__. In order to convince the reader to agree with you, you also have to know what you’re trying to get them to disagree with. Your audience may be completely stuck in their ways, so knowing both sides of your argument—and how to effectively counter the opposition—will assuage any follow-up questions a reader may have that can cast doubt on your position. 4. __Outline your argument__. Outlining your entire essay before you get to writing it can help you organize your thoughts, research, and lay out your essay structure. Detail all your main points and pair them with all of the relevant, supporting evidence from your sources cited. 5. __Write your introduction__. Every good persuasive essay begins with a strong [introduction](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-an-introduction), which is the first paragraph of a paper. Its main purpose is to present the general premise of the paper, provide any necessary background information, appeal to the reader’s sensibilities, and capture their attention. You can do this with a personal anecdote from your own life, or information from your research. Your introductory paragraph should also present the thesis statement for your essay. A good [thesis statement](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-strong-thesis-statement) functions as a road map for the piece of writing that lies ahead. It articulates a paper's main point in one or two sentences, and the rest of the paper serves to reinforce that point. 6. __Include your body paragraphs__. This is where the “meat” of your persuasive essay will appear, using data and evidence to back up your thesis and present your counterarguments. A good [body paragraph](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-body-paragraph-for-an-essay) contains three main sections: a topic sentence (or key sentence), relevant supporting sentences, and a closing (or transition) sentence. This structure keeps your paragraph focused on the main idea, providing clear, concise information. The body is where you will also discuss any opposing opinions and why they should be discredited, so make sure any claims you make in your essay can be supported with credible or relevant information. 7. __Wrap it up with a strong conclusion__. A conclusion is the final piece of writing in a research paper, essay, or article that summarizes the entire work. The [conclusion](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-conclusion) paragraph should restate your thesis, summarize the key supporting ideas you discussed throughout the work, and offer your final impression on the central idea. It should also be where you include your [call-to-action](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-an-effective-call-to-action), if you are trying to urgently persuade your readers to quickly take action over a particular issue. 8. __Proofread__. Always proofread your writing a few times before submitting or presenting. A few missed words, grammatical errors, or sentence structure problems can impact your credibility in the reader’s eyes. Become a better writer with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Roxane Gay, Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more. The last time you wrote a persuasive essay may have been in high school or college, but the skill of writing a strong persuasive argument is always a useful one to have. Persuasive writing begins with a writer forming their own opinion on a topic, which they then attempt to convince their reader of this opinion by walking them through a number of logical and ethical arguments.