Pers u a s ive

Writing
Kit
 Persuasive Writing
AN EXCELLENT PERSUASIVE ESSAY . . .

H
 as an introduction with a clearly stated thesis or claim

Supports claim with at least two convincing reasons

Supports each reason with a variety of relevant evidence, such as

facts, statistics, examples, quotations, and anecdotes

Arranges reasons and evidence in a logical order, such as order

of importance

Uses emotional appeals appropriately and sparingly

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Uses transitional words and phrases to link ideas

Fairly presents a counterargument and response to counterargument

Uses persuasive techniques, such as rhetorical questions,

and repetition

Uses a formal style and resonable tone throughout essay

Has a strong conclusion

Follows the conventions of standard English

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 Persuasive Essay

Every day you encounter persuasive arguments. Bloggers may argue their viewpoints
online. Friends may try to convince you to watch a movie they enjoyed. A commercial on
TV may urge you to buy a new product. Persuasive writing attempts to convince readers
to share the author’s opinion or to take a particular action.

When you write a persuasive essay, you try to convince readers to share your opinion or
to take a particular action. There are many kinds of persuasive writing.

Book Reviews Reviewer argues that a book is good or bad.

Editorials Writer presents and defends an opinion.

Persuasive Letters Sender presents opinion and calls for action.

Speeches Speaker presents and defends an opinion.

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To try and make your readers agree with your opinion, you build an argument based on
the logical appeals of reason and evidence. You may also add emotional appeals to
persuade your readers and support claims. An emotional appeal tries to use a reader’s
fears, hopes, wishes, or sense of fairness to sway their opinion.

In your persuasive essay, include the features below:

KEY
FEATURES

• precise claim, or thesis • discussion of opposing claims

• logical reasons and relevant evidence as • formal style
support
• conclusion that follows from
• words and phrases that clarify the the argument presented
relationships among your claims, reasons,
and evidence

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 Writing Introductions and Conclusions for
Persuasive Text
INTRODUC TIONS
The introduction paragraph presents your topic to readers and includes a clear thesis
statement, or claim. A thesis statement is one or two sentences that state your main idea.

A strong introduction also needs to capture your readers’ attention.

Begin your introductory paragraph with a question, unusual fact,
vivid description, or a quotation.

BE BOLD Opinions are everywhere—on television, on the Internet, and in our

everyday conversations. But not all opinions are equal. In your thesis
statement, or claim, make sure to include an opinion that is clear and well supported.
Avoid thesis statements that don’t say much or simply present a fact.

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WEAK There are lots of problems with our community’s recreation center.

STRONG 
Due to its lack of resources, our recreation center does not provide
the kinds of kid-friendly services our community needs.

WEAK Our recreation center was built in 1965.

STRONG 
Because our recreation center is over forty years old, it lacks many
facilities our community needs. It’s time to renovate the Oakwood
Recreation Center.

CONCLUSIONS
A good conclusion sums up your main point and restates the thesis statement in
a new way. Wrap up a persuasive essay by leaving your audience with more to think
about or include a call to action, in which you urge the reader to do something.

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 Reason 2
Reason 1

Reason 3

Conclusion
Thesis/Claim

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Details/Evidence
Details/Evidence
Details/Evidence
Persuasive Writing Graphic Organizer

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 Hints and Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay
There are several ideas to keep in mind when writing a persuasive essay. Below you will find helpful hints
and tips for incorporating these key ideas into your persuasive writing.

THREE MAIN EXPLAIN YOUR REASONS

COMPONENTS
Provide at least two strong reasons that support
• Introduction your position.

• Body • Facts • Examples • Quotations • Anecdotes

• Conclusion NOTE: The strongest reason should be listed first.

USE PERSUASIVE

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TECHNIQUES GRAMMAR
REMINDER
• Maintain a formal style and a reasonable tone.
• Rhetorical questions
Pronouns must always
• Questions asked for reader’s effect (Don’t we agree in numbers with
all care about our students?) their antecedents.
• Repetition of key words or phrases

REFLECT ON
AVOID LOGICAL
YOUR WRITING
FALLACIES
• Hasty generalization are broad statements •Which of your reasons is the
that are based on few facts and use such strongest? Why?
words as all, every, and never. • Which part of your essay did you
• Circular reasoning includes arguments in have the most trouble writing?
which the evidence and the conclusion Why?
are the same. (i.e. Students’ schedules
are packed because they are filled with
many activities.)

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 Addressing Counterclaims
In a persuasive essay its important to acknowledge opposing viewpoints, or counterclaims (counterarguments).
Give valid reasons—along with relevant evidence—to disprove these counterclaims.

DEFEND YOURSELF Try to anticipate counterarguments, or the arguments that

could be used against you. Present the counterargument fairly,
and use a reasonable, polite tone in your response to it.

HARSH It’s dumb to ignore the renovations the center needs.

REASONABLE 
The renovations the center needs are crutial. Ignoring them
would be a huge mistake.

EX AMPLE

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Counterargument

Response to
counterargument

Reasonable tone

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 Writing Effective Persuasive Paragraphs
The purpose of a persuasive paragraph is to convince readers to agree with your opinion or to take a
certain course of action. Use these tips to write an effective persuasive paragraph.
Express your point of view clearly in a thesis, or claim.

To support your opinion, give clear reasons and evidence, such as examples, facts, and statistics.

Organize your supporting details in order of importance. Begin with the least important and
end with the most important, or do the reverse, moving from most to least important.

Explain what you want the reader to do in a clear call to action, often at the end of the paragraph.

EXERCISE—Writing a Persuasive Paragraph

Write a persuasive paragraph of at least six sentences on a topic of your choice. Your audience is students
at your school, and your purpose is to convince readers to agree with your opinion. You may use one of
the questions below.
• Which is better—watching a movie at home or watching it in a movie theatre? Why?
• Should your school begin at an earlier or later time, or is the starting time fine as it is now? Why?

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 writing

ull your audience in with an interesting hook

in your introduction.

xplain your point of view.

easons will help your audience be

persuaded.

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way your audience.

se convincing language.

ddress possible alternative points of view,

with reasons to counteract them.

eliver a strong message that is

repeated in the conclusion.

ntice your readers with proper word choice

and sentence structure.
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