Writing the Persuasive Essay

Objective Your purpose in writing an argumentative or persuasive essay is to convince your readers to share your viewpoint on a particular topic. Your purpose in writing an argumentative or persuasive essay is to convince your readers to share your viewpoint on a particular topic.

Audience Be especially mindful of your audience when writing a persuasive essay. Be especially mindful of your audience when writing a persuasive essay. Your audience’s beliefs and values will influence your ability to persuade them and influence the types of evidence you will choose to support your argument. Your audience’s beliefs and values will influence your ability to persuade them and influence the types of evidence you will choose to support your argument.

Choice of Topic Within the parameters of the assignment, choose a topic you feel strongly about. Within the parameters of the assignment, choose a topic you feel strongly about. In addition to persuading your audience, your goal is also to provide a clear and intelligent explanation of your position. Therefore, choose a topic you already have some knowledge about. In addition to persuading your audience, your goal is also to provide a clear and intelligent explanation of your position. Therefore, choose a topic you already have some knowledge about.

Structure of the Persuasive Essay You may structure your persuasive essay in one of two ways: You may begin with your position and then provide your support for your position, or you may present your evidence and conclude with your position You may structure your persuasive essay in one of two ways: You may begin with your position and then provide your support for your position, or you may present your evidence and conclude with your position

Logical Errors When providing evidence or support for your position, avoid the following errors in logic: When providing evidence or support for your position, avoid the following errors in logic: Ad hominem (to the person): criticizing a person’s position by criticizing that person’s character. Ad hominem (to the person): criticizing a person’s position by criticizing that person’s character. Ad populum argument (to the people): appealing to the bias of your audience instead of using facts. Ad populum argument (to the people): appealing to the bias of your audience instead of using facts. Utilizing the testimony of an unqualified authority to support your argument. Utilizing the testimony of an unqualified authority to support your argument. Oversimplification: suggesting a simple solution to a complex problem. Oversimplification: suggesting a simple solution to a complex problem.

Concluding Your Essay In order for a persuasive essay to be effective, the writer must end his or her paper decisively. In order for a persuasive essay to be effective, the writer must end his or her paper decisively. One possible way to conclude the essay is a call for action to resolve the issue being addressed in your essay. One possible way to conclude the essay is a call for action to resolve the issue being addressed in your essay. Another conclusion is a thought-provoking question. Another conclusion is a thought-provoking question. On the other hand, you might choose to end your essay by suggesting the necessary steps to resolve the issue you have identified. On the other hand, you might choose to end your essay by suggesting the necessary steps to resolve the issue you have identified.

Reference Miller, George, ed. The Prentice Hall Reader, Miller, George, ed. The Prentice Hall Reader, 5 th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 5 th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,