Persuasive Writing

1. Persuasive Writing How to change the mind of your reader…we hope!

2. What Is Persuasive Writing Anyway? • Persuasive writing attempts to change the opinion of the reader. • Creating an intelligent and believable argument by stating provable facts and evidence. • You can also do this by refuting arguments from the opposition.

3. Why Should I Learn to Write Persuasive Essays? • College entrance exams and grant proposals require persuasive writing skills. • Many careers require persuasive writing skills. • Journalism • Corporate America • Fashion Design • And many many others!

4. A Strategy for Writing Persuasive Essays • D. A. R. E. • Develop a Thesis Statement • Add Supporting Ideas • Reject Arguments From the Other Side • End With a Conclusion

5. Develop a Thesis Statement • Take a stand on the issue. • This should be included in your introductory paragraph. • Humor can be used, but make sure you keep your tone consistent. • Keep the rest of your essay focused on this topic sentence.

6. Add Supporting Details • Discuss the opinions of both sides, but reserve your opinion. • Try to use at least four examples. • Make sure the odds are in your favor.

7. Reject Arguments From the Other Side • Now is the time to reject those ideas that do not match your opinion. • Give factual evidence that supports your opinion. • Don’t use the words “in my opinion”. • Organize you’re arguments in the same order that you discussed your ideas. • Remember to keep the tone consistent.

8. End With a Conclusion • Wrap up everything that you discussed. • Make sure that you keep your tone consistent. You should end with what you started with. • This should be a paragraph long. • “In conclusion” is very cliché. Try not to use it. • Congratulations! You have now written a persuasive essay.