Jane Dewhurst Persuasive or Argumentative Essays Writing 1 ...

Jane Dewhurst
Persuasive or Argumentative Essays Writing 1
Persuasive essays present and defend an opinion. In writing persuasive essays, the main point is not
to inform readers, as with expository or discursive writing, but to present your position on an issue
and to try to persuade readers to agree with you, or at least understand your point of view. To be
convincing, you must prove you have a solid grasp on the issue and appeal to the reader’s logic by
clearly presenting a well-reasoned argument based on solid evidence.
General characteristics of persuasive writing:
➢ It addresses a well-defined issue. Consider your audience; if your readers will not likely be familiar
with the issue you are discussing, explain it clearly. (Part of your argumentative essay, then, could
be more expository, but the overall purpose of the essay must clearly be arguing and not
explaining.)
➢ It presents a clear position. Do not be vague or indecisive, but state your position clearly. Saying
that there are arguments for or against something is NOT sufficient – you need to state which
side you support and why.
➢ It offers a convincing argument. Back up your opinion with sound reasoning and solid evidence. It helps
if you can also anticipate possible opposing arguments so that you can address those issues too.
➢ It is written in an appropriate tone. You may feel passionate about the topic, but do not get
carried away with emotional language or insult your opponents.
Useful writing strategies include:
➢ definitions: be sure your readers understand all the terms you need to use in discussing your topic
➢ description and narration: the point of an argumentative essay is not to tell a story, but these
methods can help you provide vivid illustrations which can make your argument clearer and
more convincing
➢ examples make clear what you are talking about and can provide evidence for your point of view
➢ comparison and contrast: how is your stance different from others?
➢ cause and effect: what is the result if people follow your line of reasoning?
Most important in persuasive writing:
➢ You will never be able to convince every reader to agree with you, but you want to make sure
readers understand your point of view and your reasoning. Use sound reasoning and solid
evidence, logically presented.
➢ Sound Reasoning:
➢ Make sure your argumentation is clear and easy to follow.
➢ Make sure the main points supporting your claim are not just stated clearly but also
explained and fully developed.
➢ Solid Evidence
:
➢ Examples include:
➢ anecdotes to illustrate your argument and provide the reader with a vivid and memorable
picture
➢ facts (something generally accepted as true and/or something that can be measured
or verified by objective means)
➢ testimony from authorities (quotes from articles, books, interviews, etc.) to enhance the
credibility of your argument – be sure to establish the authority’s credentials
➢ statistics can be useful, but readers know how easily statistics can be manipulated –
choose your statistics well, explain them clearly and provide exact documentation

Jane Dewhurst
Persuasive or Argumentative Essays Writing 1
➢ textual evidence (especially when writing about a literary work or your argument or the
issue is about a particular publication)
➢ In formal writing, do not present your own experience as evidence, unless you are
referring to academic studies or research you have carried out.
➢ Use specific and detailed evidence.
➢ Always indicate the exact source of your information.
➢ When looking for evidence, use a fair representation of samples. Do not only read
sources which support your position.
➢ Be sure your information is reliable, and not overly biased. If you are writing about a
political movement, for example, do not only use sources written by members of the
movement.
➢ For information on common logical fallacies (mistakes):
→http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/argument_logic.htm
Examples of argumentative writing assignments:
➢ in a political science course: Should Germany reform its immigration laws to allow people to
have dual citizenship?
➢ in an economics course: David M. Gordon claims in “Class and the Economics of Crime” that
“ghetto crime is committed by people responding quite reasonably to the structure of economic
opportunities available to them.” Write an essay agreeing or disagreeing with this statement.
➢ in a health sciences course: Summarize the debate over using chemical spraying to control the
Mediterranean fruit fly and take a position, arguing for or against it. Make clear your reason for
taking one side or the other.
➢ in a teaching methods course: Should elementary schools require English starting in the first grade?
Sample persuasive essay:
→http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/crywolf3.htm (with commentary
pointing out important aspects of argumentative writing)
Your assignment (only compulsory for those who require a Leistungsschein):
➢ Write an persuasive essay of at least two pages.
➢ The topic is up to you. Be careful not to choose a topic that is too broad for an essay of this length!
➢ The essay should have:
➢ an interesting title
➢ an introduction that draws the reader into the essay, announces the topic and has a clear
thesis statement
➢ a thesis statement that makes clear what your opinion on the topic is and what you will be
arguing in the essay
➢ NOTE: “There are pros and cons to…” or “There are advantages and disadvantages
to this controversial topic…” are acceptable thesis statements for an expository
essay which INTRODUCES the reader to a controversial topic or a discursive essay,
which presents both sides in a balanced manner. However, they are NOT
acceptable thesis statements for a persuasive essay.
➢ supporting paragraphs which clearly and logically develop your argument
➢ a conclusion that draws everything together and gives the reader a feeling the essay has
ended and not that the last page is missing.
From : R. B. Axelrod and C. R. Cooper. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing, 4th edition. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1994.