How to Write a Persuasive Essay

Brief Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide on how to write a persuasive essay. It covers the essential elements such as forming a claim, supporting it with reasons and evidence, structuring the essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, and refining the essay through editing and revision. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience, choosing a relevant topic, and presenting arguments in a clear and convincing manner to leave a lasting impression on the readers.

• Key elements of a persuasive essay: claim, reasons, and evidence.
• Structure: introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion.
• Importance of editing and revision.

Introduction to Persuasive Writing

The video introduces persuasive writing as a means to express opinions effectively. It highlights the importance of clearly stating an opinion, providing reasons, and backing those reasons with evidence to create a convincing essay. The goal is to equip viewers with the tools to produce essays that leave a lasting impression on their readers.

Framework of a Persuasive Essay

The structure of a persuasive essay includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should include the claim. The body paragraphs should present reasons supporting the claim, each backed by evidence. Subsequent paragraphs can follow the same pattern with new reasons and examples. The conclusion restates the claim, summarizes the reasons, and calls for action.

Pre-Writing Stage: Crafting a Claim

The first step in writing a persuasive essay is to craft a claim. This involves identifying the audience, choosing a topic they might disagree with, and stating a clear position on that topic. For example, the topic could be convincing a mom to travel. A claim should clearly state the position, such as "Traveling can offer numerous benefits, and I strongly suggest that we plan a trip soon."

Supporting Claims with Reasons and Evidence

After stating the claim, the next step is to support it with reasons and evidence. Reasons should justify the position, such as "Traveling offers opportunities for learning and personal growth," "Traveling can improve our relationship," and "Traveling has positive effects on our mental health." Each reason should be backed with evidence like facts or expert opinions. For instance, James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, suggests that traveling can broaden one's imagination and creativity.

Writing the First Draft: Introduction and Body Paragraphs

The second stage involves writing the first draft, using a graphic organizer with claims, reasons, and evidence. The introduction should begin with a hook to grab the reader's attention, such as a rhetorical question like, "Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed with daily routines and responsibilities? How about taking a trip to relax and recharge?" Following the hook, the claim should be stated. Each body paragraph should present a reason, explain it further, and provide evidence to support it.

Structuring Evidence and Using Transitions

Evidence can be presented by citing references or highlighting evidence presented by others. Transitions can connect ideas between paragraphs. A counter-argument paragraph can strengthen the position by addressing potential opposing views and responding to each concern.

Conclusion: Restating Claim and Calling for Action

The conclusion should restate the claim, summarize the major reasons supporting the argument, and call the audience to take action. Transition words can be used to start the conclusion.

Editing, Revision, and Publication

After completing the initial draft, it is crucial to edit the work using a checklist or other editing techniques to improve the quality of the content. Once the revision process is complete, the final step is to publish the work and share it. The key to writing a persuasive essay is to be confident in the arguments and present them clearly and convincingly.