This guide is designed to help students get started with writing a persuasive essay. It will provide you with tools and resources to get started with your planning and research.
Writing a persuasive essay can be broken down into a series of steps:
Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that you feel passionate about and that has clear arguments for and against it.
Writing Your Thesis and Outlining Your Essay: Develop your thesis statement, which clearly states your position on the issue, and create a clear outline that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Organize your arguments logically and provide supporting evidence for each point.
Conducting Research: Gather credible evidence, facts, statistics, and examples to support your argument. Use reputable sources to strengthen your position.
Writing Your Essay:
Start with an attention-grabbing introduction with background information on the topic and present your thesis statement
Develop your body paragraphs with each body paragraph should focus on a single point that supports your thesis
Address counterarguments by acknowledging opposing viewpoints and refute them with evidence and reasoning
Write a conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis in a compelling way
Remember: Throughout your essay use persuasive language (employ rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos) and use in-text citations and references to support your points along the way
While this guide introduces you to some of the tools you may need to write an essay, the CSM Writing Center is the place to go for hands-on help with writing your paper. The Writing Center is staff by CSM English faculty and they can work with you one-on-one at any point in your writing process.