How To Write A Persuasive Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide For Students
What is a Persuasive Essay?
A persuasive essay is a piece of academic writing whose purpose is to convince readers of a specific point. When writing one, you choose a side and try to persuade the reader of it using convincing evidence, logic, and emotional appeal. Every argument of your essay must be backed up by solid facts, not just opinions, and carefully structured so it’s easy to follow.
What Every Persuasive Essay Needs
Effective persuasive writing requires more than good arguments. When presenting your points to the reader, you need to find that sweet spot between logic and emotion so that neither overpowers the other. If finding balance doesn’t come that easily to you, you can always turn to our persuasive essay writing service to make sure everything’s in its right place. But before you do, let’s look at the most important elements of any persuasive essay.
Ethos
Ethos is what makes your reader trust you. You need to establish credibility in your writing by presenting yourself as someone who truly understands the topic. Otherwise, you won’t be taken seriously by the reader. This includes maintaining a steady, informed tone throughout the entire piece and using reliable sources to back up your arguments.
Pathos
Pathos is the part that makes your reader feel something, the one that gives your arguments emotional weight. A strong persuasive essay has to speak to things the reader cares about: the stories they relate to or the moments that will feel familiar. Your writing will stop feeling like an essay when it reflects human experiences and becomes something worth paying attention to.
Logos
Logos is the brain of your essay. It’s where your reasoning lives and takes shape through facts and logic. Each point you make in your essay must connect to the next, so the reader isn’t confused about where your train of thought is going at any point. When your ideas build on each other and facts support your claims, you’re using logos the way it’s meant to work: as proof that your position holds weight.
