When writing an argumentative or persuasive essay, the writer tries to share their values, convince readers to accept or agree with the facts they have presented, agree with the arguments and conclusions they have reached, and to get readers to adopt their thought process.
Rewrite the assignment’s question(s) in words of your own choosing.
Consider the question(s) the assignment is asking.
While reading and undertaking any necessary research, consider and determine the following:
Recognize and make a list of any possible emotional responses the topic may generate and put these aside in case you need to use them later.
Begin writing your first draft! (You can refer to our other article “The Basics of Essay Writing” for more help with this element).
Begin as closely as you possibly can with the materials you have read and/or researched.
There is no need to be concerned about spelling and grammar at this stage.
Edit your first or opening paragraph and rewrite (all or part) if necessary in order to better develop your essay and arrive at a conclusion.
Then, when your mind is fresh, go back and reread what you have written. Ask these questions of yourself:
If it is the case you are not accustomed to communicating your thoughts, particularly on paper, you may experience fear on a number of levels. You will need to find ways to overcome these fears. Writing differs from informal or undocumented speech in that it is a long-lasting record of what you say for everyone to see. Therefore, context is less important than it is in speech where words can be colored by “context.” Here is an example: Readers cannot see you, they just see the words you have written. They know nothing of your appearance, who you really are, or where you come from.
It is to be hoped that school, college, and the classroom provides a safe haven in which students can practice the arts of both writing and persuading. Then in later life, when that student is in their community -whether this is in their family, neighborhood, church or workplace - this early practice should bear fruit.
Persuasion is built on facts, which leads to conclusions. This, of course, means a writer needs to know what they are writing about and should not be sloppy with their facts or they will not successfully persuade anyone. This can create another type of fear, which is the worry of making mistakes that will render your attempt at persuasion or argument meaningless. Because you are using the written word, and your words are visible to all on paper (or on the web!) it is necessary to make a real effort to ensure your facts are correct and in good order.