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Getting Started (Part 17):Let's Take Sides! Persuasive/Argumentative or Pro/Con EssaysBy Joanne D. Kiggins
Have you been in an argument lately? Did you find it easy to sway someone to your way of thinking? If so, some of your best arguments and writing may be in persuasive essays. Think about it! How many times have you discussed issues with friends and neighbors or on message boards and find each person has a different opinion? Plenty, I'm sure. No two people have the same thoughts on any particular subject, and even if thoughts are similar there may be varied arguments that may persuade another to think differently. Use those discussions to write a persuasive/argumentative or pro/con essay.
Here we'll explain persuasive writing and give examples how you can make your essays stand out from others and convince others to think differently than they have ever thought before.
Persuasive/Argumentative or Pro/Con Essays should convince an audience to accept the writer's opinion by presenting reasons and/or facts to sway their thoughts about a particular subject. In these types of essays, the writer supports his or her opinions with facts, examples, and reasons by trying to convince the reader to agree with his or her point of view. Whether it is on a personal, social, political, or intellectual issue, nearly every subject can be argued to show opinions forcefully and with a reasonable tone.
The writer's opinion on the subject is argued by either presenting objections against the subject (con/argumentative) or supporting the subject (pro/persuasive) by presenting points supporting his or her position by reasoning and understanding.
The first step in writing a persuasive or argumentative essay is to find an issue with two or more sides. Next, you need to decide which side you will take.
Part of any persuasive or argumentative essay is explaining what the issue is, describing the situation, outlining the problem, and presenting and supporting the writer's judgment and his views for settling the argument or solving the problem. The best topic for this type of essay is one that will offer you a real problem and enable you to offer a reasonable solution.
There have been countless questions debated for decades and centuries-- evolution, politics, government, UFOs, war, the list goes on-- and at some point in one's life there will be a discussion about these and other matters. Try to stay clear of broad topics and choose to narrow your topic to be more specific and develop your topic from your own experience or observations. By doing this, you can use emotional and dramatic appeals to your readers' concerns, opinions, and beliefs by way of persuasion.
The persuasive essay is subjective but it should contain reasoning and factual information to defend your opinion. Your essay should make readers see something differently, persuade them to do something or commit themselves to a course of action, and your goal is to convince the reader to accept your opinion in the most reasonable and compelling fashion. In other words, persuade them that you are right!
Remember when choosing a topic for any persuasive essay, your main concern is that you see an issue or argument in it. The subject should be something you feel is beneficial or harmful, wise or unwise, desirable or undesirable.
Let's talk about how to do that. You should be familiar with parts of an essay by now; if not, my previous column, Understanding Essays, should refresh your memory. Here we'll discuss how you should present your information in a persuasive essay. The thesis statement should reveal the purpose of the essay and state the opinion, belief or conviction or course of action you plan to defend. It should include a controversial statement that can be argued. Test your idea to be positive it will be a good topic for argument. A good topic: · States a matter of concern or opinion-- a conclusion is drawn from evidence. · Can be argued or disputed: others might have different opinion or position. · Will be disputed: It is controversial. · Is something you know or care about and want to research. Notice the difference between the statements below. The first statement is debatable and shows the writer has formed an opinion on the subject and uses evidence for the debate. The second statement simply makes a statement of fact, which leaves no room for argument and is not appropriate for a persuasive essay. Controversial statement: The rise in burglaries indicates that our local police department should take steps to upgrade protection for your residents. Factual statement: There has been a number of burglaries in our town.
The body of a persuasive essay should contain the writer's supporting information by providing evidence to argue the purpose of the thesis statement. That evidence can be formed by logical reason, examples, facts, and details. It should always contain information that supports the argument with solid, authoritative, and substantial proof. Never should the body of the essay contain unsubstantiated opinions. The argument should show the reader that the writer is well informed on the subject and has considered various viewpoints.
To do this you might try listing the arguments of opposition to the thesis statement and then counter each point by point. Acknowledge valid points by showing an opposing detail. This is known as conceding the point and lets the reader know that you are informed and open-minded enough to recognize the opposite side of the argument. However, if you do concede a point, immediately follow with your own argument by presenting evidence to the opposing view.
A good persuasive essay is written with a list of related propositions, which lead back to the main point or the thesis statement that the writer is trying to support, and includes proof that will reasonably and forcefully sway the reader's opinion.
Analyze your idea to make certain it fits the purpose you intend for the audience.
Your purpose of persuasion should: 1. Strengthen the commitment of existing supporters 2. Win new support from those undecided 3. Get the opposing readers to reconsider 4. Inspire readers to act on the situation
In concluding the persuasive essay, the writer should rephrase the main point and end with a confident fact that will clinch the writer's side of the argument.
The tone of a persuasive essay can vary. Consider your audience and adjust the tone to suit the purpose and points you are arguing. You might feel that the subject requires a more serious tone, or you could consider a lighthearted or humorous approach. Whichever tone you decide to use, your essay should always make the reader think and agree to something he might never have considered.
Overview of Persuasive/Argumentative or Pro/Con Essays
Some of my best writing has been in persuasive essays. No one can convince me otherwise. Now that you know what a persuasive essay is, pick a subject, argue your point, and persuade the reader to your side. If a persuasive essay is written effectively, the writer always feels he is right! Convince me I'm wrong. Joanne will accept questions by e-mail about writing from readers and answer those questions in her column. E-mail Joanne: joanne.kiggins@gmail.com Visit her site at http://joannedkiggins.home.comcast.net/ Joanne Kiggins has published more than 2,500 articles. She was award recipient of the 1990 Woman of the Year for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, for her accomplishments in her community and excellence in journalism. She was on the staff of Slippery Rock University teaching her copyrighted writing course "Sell What You Write" and Creative and Freelance writing. She has appeared on television and radio, hosted several writers' conferences, and spoke at many conferences and writers' organizations. Her most recent articles were published in ByLine Magazine, Writer's Digest, Absolute Write, Moondance, the Compulsive Reader, BlogCritics, Cleveland.com, nola.com, nj.com, pennlive.com, mlive.com, masslive.com, Alabama Everything, and the Plain Dealer.
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