Introduction
Persuasive writing is one of the hardest types to master, but it’s also one of the most important types of writing in any academic or business career. Persuasive writing can help you convince someone that your point of view has merit or sway them in your direction on an issue that may be controversial within your company or industry. If you’re struggling with how to write an essay, try using these seven techniques for mastering the art of persuasive writing.
1) State your opinion
Stating your opinion or taking a position is where a writer starts with persuasive writing. It helps frame an argument and it creates direction for the reader as to what you are trying to convince them about. It’s not enough to just say that you think something, you have to state why, and present facts to support your opinion. With this in mind, let’s look at some other techniques that can help you write a strong essay
2) Give concrete evidence
In an academic paper that involves persuasion and argument, there must be evidence. A reader can only buy into your points if they are backed up by facts. For example, if you are arguing for gun control legislation, you should provide statistics about how guns contribute to violence in the United States. As a reminder, don’t forget to document the evidence you find using your formatting style such as APA or MLA.
3) Avoid absolutes
Absolute thinking will get you nowhere in academic writing. It should be avoided at all costs. For example, don’t write: The sky is always blue. Instead, write Some days, the sky is blue; other days it is gray. A more practical way of looking at this is to avoid words like “everyone,” “everything,” and “always.”
4) Offer a contrasting point of view
Acknowledging the other side is very important in persuasive writing. You don’t want your reader to be left wondering if there are any points that might weaken your argument. Offer a contrasting point of view and provide reasons why you disagree with it as well. This also helps you avoid alienating the reader/listener.
5) Consider all sides
Before trying to persuade others to see your point of view, it is best to consider all sides. You should take some time to research what others have said about the topic you are writing about and think critically about their arguments. You will find that not everyone agrees with you on everything, so make sure that you address those disagreements respectfully and give a compelling argument for why your opinion should be taken into consideration.
6) Relate your topic to something memorable
Relate your topic to something others might find to be familiar. For example, if you’re writing about how a certain restaurant doesn’t have any vegetarian options, you could mention how one time you were out with your friend who was vegan and they ended up having an allergic reaction because there was no dairy-free option. In addition, it’s also important to make sure that the reader can relate to what is being discussed as well as try not to use technical language so they don’t feel alienated.
7) Use quotes (and paraphrases) from influential sources
Using quotes and paraphrasing information from credible sources is important in supporting your argument. Remember to use a citation, or attribution, at the end of any sentence that includes a quote or paraphrase so readers know where you found this information. (Citation: Lewis, K., Four Techniques to Create an Effective Argument.)
Conclusion
Persuasive writing is a technique used in essays to convince readers that your argument is correct. So, when you are writing an essay, be sure to incorporate these 7 persuasive techniques into your essay and you will have mastered the art of persuasive writing!
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