persuasive essay definition literary

Literary Terms

Persuasive Essay

I. what is a persuasive essay.

A persuasive essay takes a point of view on an issue and tries to convince the audience to agree with the stated point of view. The contents of the essay include evidence and arguments ; it also may try to reach the audience’s emotions in order to make them think with their heart as well as their mind.

II. Examples of persuasive essays

Dogs are better pets than cats
Why the school day should start later
Why you should support a political candidate
People should not eat meat
Soccer is better than basketball
Don’t eat junk food

III. Types of persuasive essays with topics

No matter what type of persuasive essay you choose to write, the goal is always to convince your audience to agree with your opinion. Opinions come in one of three types:

a. One side is better than another

In this type of essay, there are several points of view about a topic. The writer’s goal is to persuade the audience to choose one side over the other(s).

Example: “Basketball is better than baseball.”

In this essay, the writer is choosing the side of ‘basketball’ over ‘baseball’. The essay would persuade the audience to agree by introducing evidence to support their side. For instance, the writer could talk about the higher scoring and faster pace of basketball, and the fact that baseball is affected by the weather while basketball is not.

b. People should support, believe, or do something

In this type of persuasive essay, the writer wants the audience to say ‘yes’ or agree to something – an idea, opinion, or action.

Example: “The school day should start later.”

The author of this essay wants the audience to support the idea of a later start to the school day. The essay would include evidence like a study that shows that teenagers need to sleep longer than adults to persuade people to agree. It may also bring up the emotions of the students (who would be glad to be allowed to sleep later) in order to convince the audience to support a later start to the school day.

c. People should oppose, reject, or avoid something

This type of persuasive essay is used when the writer wants the audience to say ‘no’ or disagree with something – and idea, opinion, or action.

Example : “Vote ‘no’ on the proposal for a new highway”

The author of this essay opposes the town’s plans to allow a new highway to be built nearby. In order to get the audience to also oppose the plan, the author would present evidence about why the highway is a bad idea. For instance, a highway would increase noise and pollution, as well as damage to the local wildlife. This essay might also bring up fears of increased taxes to pay for the highway in order to emotionally persuade people to oppose the highway proposal.

IV. Parts of a persuasive essay

a. Topic: A persuasive essay must state the topic clearly so that the audience knows what the focus is. The author should also express the importance of the topic to show why the audience should care.

Which animal makes the best pet
Whether or not to support plans for the new highway
Should people ride bicycles without a helmet
How should we raise money for our project

b. Stance: The stance of a persuasive essay is the side of the issue that the author supports. The stance should be stated strongly and clearly so that there is no doubt what the author’s stance is.

Dogs make the best pets
The new highway is a terrible idea
Helmet laws are unnecessary
A bake sale is our best way to raise money

c. Claim : A claim is a statement that the author believes. Most persuasive essays include between two and four claims.

Dogs are easier to train than a cat or bird
Highway construction will damage our wetlands
It is hard to enforce a helmet law
Everyone loves homemade brownies

d. Support : Support is the evidence used to prove the author’s claim. The support should be based on solid facts, but may also include emotional factors to convince the readers to accept the claim. Each claim made in the essay must be accompanied by its own support.

The average dog knows between six and ten commands. The average cat knows only one.
How sad it would be if our ducks and herons have nowhere to build their nests
The cost of making five dozen baked goods is around $12. If we sell them for 50₵ each, we can make $18 profit.

e. Conclusion : Persuasive essays should end with a powerful conclusion. The conclusion should summarize the author’s claims, and also encourage the audience to agree with the opinions that the essay presents.

It is clear that dogs are cleaner, friendlier, and easier to train than any other pet. By now you must agree with me that dogs make the best pets.
The proposal for a new highway must be opposed. Otherwise we will face higher taxes, too much noise, and the loss of our beautiful wildlife. Join me in voting ‘no’ on the proposal.

V. How to write a persuasive essay

1. choose a topic you care about.

If you are not passionate about the topic, you will have a very difficult time getting your audience to care about it.

2. Take a clear stance

A persuasive essay is not about being ‘fair’ or giving every point of view equal time.

If you want to argue that dogs are the best pets, you do not have to give any reasons why cats can also be good pets.

3. Do your research

Every claim you make must be supported. Read about your chosen topic so that you can find the most useful facts.

A persuasive essay wants to convince the audience that dogs are better pets than cats. The essay makes the claim that “dogs are more friendly and sociable than cats.” This claim needs to be backed up with factual evidence.

4. Know your audience

Different people will be persuaded by different claims. Focus on claims and supports that your audience care about the most.

In the case of opposing the new highway proposal, a persuasive essay delivered to the local business owners would focus on different claims than an essay delivered to the local hikers or fishing club. Business owners would be persuaded by a claim that construction would shut down the roads and hurt local businesses. A claim that the highway would damage natural habitats would be successful with the hikers or fishing club.

5. Understand the power of emotion

Every persuasive essay must use facts to support its claims – if you have no facts to support your point of view, you won’t persuade anyone to agree with you. However, people also listen to their emotions, so use that fact to help persuade your audience. If you have an opportunity to show your audience how happy they will be if they agree with you – do it! If you can show them how disappointed they will be if they don’t side with you – then do it! A combination of facts and emotions makes for the strongest persuasive essay.

An essay against the new highway proposal may use emotional arguments such as:

Imagine how sad local business owners will be when they have so few customers.
Local birds will be terrified when machines come and destroy the trees holding their nests.
People who come to town to fish or hike will be very disappointed to see a bunch of asphalt instead of our beautiful natural environment.

List of Terms

Alliteration
Amplification
Anachronism
Anthropomorphism
Antonomasia
APA Citation
Aposiopesis
Autobiography
Bildungsroman
Characterization
Circumlocution
Cliffhanger
Comic Relief
Connotation
Deus ex machina
Deuteragonist
Doppelganger
Double Entendre
Dramatic irony
Equivocation
Extended Metaphor
Figures of Speech
Flash-forward
Foreshadowing
Intertextuality
Juxtaposition
Literary Device
Malapropism
Onomatopoeia
Parallelism
Pathetic Fallacy
Personification
Point of View
Polysyndeton
Protagonist
Red Herring
Rhetorical Device
Rhetorical Question
Science Fiction
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Synesthesia
Turning Point
Understatement
Urban Legend
Verisimilitude
Essay Guide
Cite This Website

Definition of Persuasion

Persuasion is a literary technique that writers use to present their ideas through reason and logic, in order to influence the audience . Persuasion may simply use an argument to persuade the readers, or sometimes may persuade readers to perform a certain action. Simply, it is an art of effective speaking and writing in which writers make their opinions believable to the audience through logic, by invoking emotions, and by proving their own credibility.

Types of Persuasion

Persuasion has three basic types:

It is linked with morality and ethics. In this method of persuasion, writers or speakers convince their audience of their goodwill and present themselves as trustworthy. In order to determine whether a writer is credible or not, the audience needs to understand his intention and his strong understanding of the subject .

Logos comes of logic, therefore writers use logic, reasoning, and rationality to convince audiences of their perspectives .

The third method is pathos , which invokes and appeals to the emotions of the audience. This is contrary to logos , as it presents arguments without using logic or reasoning. Many writers consider love, fear, empathy, and anger as strong factors to influence the emotions of their audiences.

Examples of Persuasion in Literature

Example #1: a modest proposal (by jonathan swift).

In, A Modest Proposal , Jonathan Swift uses ethos to prove that he is a credible source due to his conclusive research concerning infantile consumption, as he writes:

“ I am assured by our merchants that a boy or a girl before twelve years old is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds.”

Swift builds his credibility by assuring that, prior to creating this proposal, he had discussed the issue with merchants. Swift attempts to make clear his point that selling infants as food would be profitable, and would help financially impoverished parents.

Example #2: Of Studies (By Francis Bacon)

“STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse ; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business.”

In the above excerpt, Bacon employs logic to describe how we can use studies for various purposes. He gives logic that in aloofness and retirement, reading gives pleasure, and adorns a person’s conversation as an ornament. Hence, we can know the ability of a learned man through his judgment.

Example #3: Jane Eyre (By Charlotte Bronte)

In Jane Eyre , Charlotte Bronte brings pathos when Jane leaves Mr. Rochester as they were about to tie the knot . Jane, however, finds out that Mr. Rochester already has a wife, who is actually alive, though mentally disturbed living with a nurse in the attic. These circumstances arouse the emotions of readers, in that Jane had already faced a difficult and sad life with her aunt and her children, and now when she was about to finally find happiness, she feels dejected once again.

Example #4: Campaign Speech , November 3, 2008 (By Barack Obama)

Barack Obama made a public speech a night before his election campaign in Virginia on November 3, 2008, saying:

“This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work…This country is more generous than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment he’s worked on for twenty years and watch it shipped off to China… We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty ; that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes…”

This emotional speech plays on people’s sense of guilt, making it a good example of pathos. Although Obama employs snob appeal fallacy in his argument, it is a very influential and emotional appeal.

Function of Persuasion

Persuasion is the most common literary technique. We not only find it in literature, but also in political speeches, conferences, courtrooms, and advertisements. Through persuasive writing, writers express their own feelings and opinions by appealing to the audience emotionally and rationally. Hence, it is a very effective technique to win over the readers or audience. In addition, it helps students to unearth certain reasons in favor of their points of view, and gives them a chance to research facts linked to their views. While developing an understanding of how writing can change and influence their thoughts and actions, students can understand the nature of persuasive work.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

10.9 Persuasion

Learning objectives.

Determine the purpose and structure of persuasion in writing.
Identify bias in writing.
Assess various rhetorical devices.
Distinguish between fact and opinion.
Understand the importance of visuals to strengthen arguments.
Write a persuasive essay.

The Purpose of Persuasive Writing

The purpose of persuasion in writing is to convince, motivate, or move readers toward a certain point of view, or opinion. The act of trying to persuade automatically implies more than one opinion on the subject can be argued.

The idea of an argument often conjures up images of two people yelling and screaming in anger. In writing, however, an argument is very different. An argument is a reasoned opinion supported and explained by evidence. To argue in writing is to advance knowledge and ideas in a positive way. Written arguments often fail when they employ ranting rather than reasoning.

Most of us feel inclined to try to win the arguments we engage in. On some level, we all want to be right, and we want others to see the error of their ways. More times than not, however, arguments in which both sides try to win end up producing losers all around. The more productive approach is to persuade your audience to consider your opinion as a valid one, not simply the right one.

The Structure of a Persuasive Essay

The following five features make up the structure of a persuasive essay:

Introduction and thesis
Opposing and qualifying ideas
Strong evidence in support of claim
Style and tone of language
A compelling conclusion

Creating an Introduction and Thesis

The persuasive essay begins with an engaging introduction that presents the general topic. The thesis typically appears somewhere in the introduction and states the writer’s point of view.

Avoid forming a thesis based on a negative claim. For example, “The hourly minimum wage is not high enough for the average worker to live on.” This is probably a true statement, but persuasive arguments should make a positive case. That is, the thesis statement should focus on how the hourly minimum wage is low or insufficient.

Acknowledging Opposing Ideas and Limits to Your Argument

Because an argument implies differing points of view on the subject, you must be sure to acknowledge those opposing ideas. Avoiding ideas that conflict with your own gives the reader the impression that you may be uncertain, fearful, or unaware of opposing ideas. Thus it is essential that you not only address counterarguments but also do so respectfully.

Try to address opposing arguments earlier rather than later in your essay. Rhetorically speaking, ordering your positive arguments last allows you to better address ideas that conflict with your own, so you can spend the rest of the essay countering those arguments. This way, you leave your reader thinking about your argument rather than someone else’s. You have the last word.

Acknowledging points of view different from your own also has the effect of fostering more credibility between you and the audience. They know from the outset that you are aware of opposing ideas and that you are not afraid to give them space.

It is also helpful to establish the limits of your argument and what you are trying to accomplish. In effect, you are conceding early on that your argument is not the ultimate authority on a given topic. Such humility can go a long way toward earning credibility and trust with an audience. Audience members will know from the beginning that you are a reasonable writer, and audience members will trust your argument as a result. For example, in the following concessionary statement, the writer advocates for stricter gun control laws, but she admits it will not solve all of our problems with crime:

Although tougher gun control laws are a powerful first step in decreasing violence in our streets, such legislation alone cannot end these problems since guns are not the only problem we face.

Such a concession will be welcome by those who might disagree with this writer’s argument in the first place. To effectively persuade their readers, writers need to be modest in their goals and humble in their approach to get readers to listen to the ideas. See Table 10.5 “Phrases of Concession” for some useful phrases of concession.

Table 10.5 Phrases of Concession

Try to form a thesis for each of the following topics. Remember the more specific your thesis, the better.

Foreign policy
Television and advertising
Stereotypes and prejudice
Gender roles and the workplace
Driving and cell phones

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers. Choose the thesis statement that most interests you and discuss why.

Bias in Writing

Everyone has various biases on any number of topics. For example, you might have a bias toward wearing black instead of brightly colored clothes or wearing jeans rather than formal wear. You might have a bias toward working at night rather than in the morning, or working by deadlines rather than getting tasks done in advance. These examples identify minor biases, of course, but they still indicate preferences and opinions.

Handling bias in writing and in daily life can be a useful skill. It will allow you to articulate your own points of view while also defending yourself against unreasonable points of view. The ideal in persuasive writing is to let your reader know your bias, but do not let that bias blind you to the primary components of good argumentation: sound, thoughtful evidence and a respectful and reasonable address of opposing sides.

The strength of a personal bias is that it can motivate you to construct a strong argument. If you are invested in the topic, you are more likely to care about the piece of writing. Similarly, the more you care, the more time and effort you are apt to put forth and the better the final product will be.

The weakness of bias is when the bias begins to take over the essay—when, for example, you neglect opposing ideas, exaggerate your points, or repeatedly insert yourself ahead of the subject by using I too often. Being aware of all three of these pitfalls will help you avoid them.

The Use of I in Writing

The use of I in writing is often a topic of debate, and the acceptance of its usage varies from instructor to instructor. It is difficult to predict the preferences for all your present and future instructors, but consider the effects it can potentially have on your writing.

Be mindful of the use of I in your writing because it can make your argument sound overly biased. There are two primary reasons:

Excessive repetition of any word will eventually catch the reader’s attention—and usually not in a good way. The use of I is no different.
The insertion of I into a sentence alters not only the way a sentence might sound but also the composition of the sentence itself. I is often the subject of a sentence. If the subject of the essay is supposed to be, say, smoking, then by inserting yourself into the sentence, you are effectively displacing the subject of the essay into a secondary position. In the following example, the subject of the sentence is underlined:

Smoking is bad.

I think smoking is bad.

In the first sentence, the rightful subject, smoking , is in the subject position in the sentence. In the second sentence, the insertion of I and think replaces smoking as the subject, which draws attention to I and away from the topic that is supposed to be discussed. Remember to keep the message (the subject) and the messenger (the writer) separate.

Developing Sound Arguments

Does my essay contain the following elements?

An engaging introduction
A reasonable, specific thesis that is able to be supported by evidence
A varied range of evidence from credible sources
Respectful acknowledgement and explanation of opposing ideas
A style and tone of language that is appropriate for the subject and audience
Acknowledgement of the argument’s limits
A conclusion that will adequately summarize the essay and reinforce the thesis

Fact and Opinion

Facts are statements that can be definitely proven using objective data. The statement that is a fact is absolutely valid. In other words, the statement can be pronounced as true or false. For example, 2 + 2 = 4. This expression identifies a true statement, or a fact, because it can be proved with objective data.

Opinions are personal views, or judgments. An opinion is what an individual believes about a particular subject. However, an opinion in argumentation must have legitimate backing; adequate evidence and credibility should support the opinion. Consider the credibility of expert opinions. Experts in a given field have the knowledge and credentials to make their opinion meaningful to a larger audience.

For example, you seek the opinion of your dentist when it comes to the health of your gums, and you seek the opinion of your mechanic when it comes to the maintenance of your car. Both have knowledge and credentials in those respective fields, which is why their opinions matter to you. But the authority of your dentist may be greatly diminished should he or she offer an opinion about your car, and vice versa.

In writing, you want to strike a balance between credible facts and authoritative opinions. Relying on one or the other will likely lose more of your audience than it gains.

The word prove is frequently used in the discussion of persuasive writing. Writers may claim that one piece of evidence or another proves the argument, but proving an argument is often not possible. No evidence proves a debatable topic one way or the other; that is why the topic is debatable. Facts can be proved, but opinions can only be supported, explained, and persuaded.

On a separate sheet of paper, take three of the theses you formed in Note 10.94 “Exercise 1” , and list the types of evidence you might use in support of that thesis.

Using the evidence you provided in support of the three theses in Note 10.100 “Exercise 2” , come up with at least one counterargument to each. Then write a concession statement, expressing the limits to each of your three arguments.

Using Visual Elements to Strengthen Arguments

Adding visual elements to a persuasive argument can often strengthen its persuasive effect. There are two main types of visual elements: quantitative visuals and qualitative visuals.

Quantitative visuals present data graphically. They allow the audience to see statistics spatially. The purpose of using quantitative visuals is to make logical appeals to the audience. For example, sometimes it is easier to understand the disparity in certain statistics if you can see how the disparity looks graphically. Bar graphs, pie charts, Venn diagrams, histograms, and line graphs are all ways of presenting quantitative data in spatial dimensions.

Qualitative visuals present images that appeal to the audience’s emotions. Photographs and pictorial images are examples of qualitative visuals. Such images often try to convey a story, and seeing an actual example can carry more power than hearing or reading about the example. For example, one image of a child suffering from malnutrition will likely have more of an emotional impact than pages dedicated to describing that same condition in writing.

Writing at Work

When making a business presentation, you typically have limited time to get across your idea. Providing visual elements for your audience can be an effective timesaving tool. Quantitative visuals in business presentations serve the same purpose as they do in persuasive writing. They should make logical appeals by showing numerical data in a spatial design. Quantitative visuals should be pictures that might appeal to your audience’s emotions. You will find that many of the rhetorical devices used in writing are the same ones used in the workplace. For more information about visuals in presentations, see Chapter 14 “Creating Presentations: Sharing Your Ideas” .

Writing a Persuasive Essay

Choose a topic that you feel passionate about. If your instructor requires you to write about a specific topic, approach the subject from an angle that interests you. Begin your essay with an engaging introduction. Your thesis should typically appear somewhere in your introduction.

Start by acknowledging and explaining points of view that may conflict with your own to build credibility and trust with your audience. Also state the limits of your argument. This too helps you sound more reasonable and honest to those who may naturally be inclined to disagree with your view. By respectfully acknowledging opposing arguments and conceding limitations to your own view, you set a measured and responsible tone for the essay.

Make your appeals in support of your thesis by using sound, credible evidence. Use a balance of facts and opinions from a wide range of sources, such as scientific studies, expert testimony, statistics, and personal anecdotes. Each piece of evidence should be fully explained and clearly stated.

Make sure that your style and tone are appropriate for your subject and audience. Tailor your language and word choice to these two factors, while still being true to your own voice.

Finally, write a conclusion that effectively summarizes the main argument and reinforces your thesis. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample persuasive essay.

Choose one of the topics you have been working on throughout this section. Use the thesis, evidence, opposing argument, and concessionary statement as the basis for writing a full persuasive essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, clear explanations of all the evidence you present, and a strong conclusion.

Key Takeaways

The purpose of persuasion in writing is to convince or move readers toward a certain point of view, or opinion.
An argument is a reasoned opinion supported and explained by evidence. To argue, in writing, is to advance knowledge and ideas in a positive way.
A thesis that expresses the opinion of the writer in more specific terms is better than one that is vague.
It is essential that you not only address counterarguments but also do so respectfully.
It is also helpful to establish the limits of your argument and what you are trying to accomplish through a concession statement.
To persuade a skeptical audience, you will need to use a wide range of evidence. Scientific studies, opinions from experts, historical precedent, statistics, personal anecdotes, and current events are all types of evidence that you might use in explaining your point.
Make sure that your word choice and writing style is appropriate for both your subject and your audience.
You should let your reader know your bias, but do not let that bias blind you to the primary components of good argumentation: sound, thoughtful evidence and respectfully and reasonably addressing opposing ideas.
You should be mindful of the use of I in your writing because it can make your argument sound more biased than it needs to.
Facts are statements that can be proven using objective data.
Opinions are personal views, or judgments, that cannot be proven.
In writing, you want to strike a balance between credible facts and authoritative opinions.
Quantitative visuals present data graphically. The purpose of using quantitative visuals is to make logical appeals to the audience.
Qualitative visuals present images that appeal to the audience’s emotions.