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Persuasive Essay Outline – Examples, Templates & Structure

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Writing a good persuasive essay can help convince others of a point that means a lot to you. It can be anything from an environmental crisis to something as simple as the importance of ebooks to the modern reader. But how do you write a persuasive essay? Where do you even start? Right here! I’ll explain everything you need to know and even show you an example of a persuasive essay.

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

Persuasive essays are meant to convince someone or a group of people to agree with you on a certain topic or point of view. As the writer, you’ll use definitive evidence, simple reasoning, and even examples to support your argument and persuade them to understand the point of the essay.

Why Write a Persuasive Essay?

Believe it or not, you’ll have to form convincing arguments throughout real life. This could be in the form of college essays or academic essays, speeches for debate club that requires a valid argument, or even presenting an idea for change to your town council.

Argumentative vs. Persuasive Essay

An argumentative essay presents an argument on a specific topic and tries to persuade people to accept that argument as valid. It uses evidence, logic, and sometimes counterarguments to support the main point.

A persuasive essay is similar but presents an argument and focuses more on appealing to the reader’s emotions and values to convince them of your point of view. Think of it as convincing vs. persuading. And, yes, persuasive essays can also use evidence, but they often rely more on personal anecdotes and moral appeals to plead their case.

Let me give you an example. I’m a content writer, but I’m also a published author. If I were going to write an argumentative essay, I’d probably choose a topic like “Do you think authors should self-edit their work?”

But if I were doing a persuasive essay with a similar angle, the topic would look more like “The benefits of self-editing for authors.” Make sense?

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Basically, the main difference between argumentative and persuasive essays is all in the emphasis placed on logic and emotion.

How Many Paragraphs in a Persuasive Essay?

A decent persuasive essay should be around five or six paragraphs with double line spacing, depending on the topic, and can range from 500-2000 words in length. This includes your introduction and conclusion.

Introduction of a Persuasive Essay Example

Our world is facing a crisis, and that crisis is plastic pollution! Every day, a disgusting amount of plastic waste is just dumped into our oceans, killing and harming innocent marine life and ultimately affecting the entire food chain, including us.

Even though there is a clear and present danger that plastic presents, there are still a lot of people and corporations that continue to use single-use plastics with zero regards for their impact on our environment. It’s time for people to really look around and take some responsibility.

We can make a change by learning and using environmentally friendly alternatives in our everyday lives. So, in this essay, I’ll argue that using reusable bags, water bottles, and containers is not only necessary for the health of our precious planet but also a simple and effective way to make a real difference.

A Persuasive Essay Structure

As persuasive essay writers, you can write it however you like, but to follow a traditional persuasive essay structure, use this basic layout to get an effective paper:

• An Introduction: You need a good hook to grab the reader’s attention, a thesis statement presenting the main argument, and a roadmap of the essay, so they know what to expect.
• The Body Paragraphs: 2-3 paragraphs should suffice to provide strong evidence, examples, and any reasoning to support the thesis statement. Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea. 
• The Counterargument: This section acknowledges and refutes the opposing viewpoint, strengthening your argument but still without being as forward as an argumentative essay.
• A Conclusion or Closing Statement: Here is where you would summarize the main points of the essay and a restatement of the thesis, including a call to action for the reader and/or a final thought.

In the end, a persuasive essay usually consists of 5-6 paragraphs and needs to be clear, concise, and logically structured to really persuade the reader on the point.

Tips for Persuasive Writing

• Choose a strong, clear thesis statement that presents your argument well.
• Know your audience and tailor your language and arguments to them. You’ll need a different approach if you’re speaking to a group of teenagers versus a team of adults.
• Use credible and reliable sources to support your argument so no one can second guess your point.
• Expect that people will have counterarguments and prepare a few talking points to address them.
• Use strong pieces of evidence and back them up with facts, statistics, examples, and personal anecdotes. Putting a personal touch on it helps ground the essay and lets people know you’re serious about the topic.
• Use an emotional appeal to engage the reader and make a personal connection to your argument. Basically, tug at their heartstrings and play into their guilt.
• Use clear and concise wordage. Try and avoid confusing technical jargon that might confuse people, and maintain a consistent tone throughout the essay.
• Make sure you’re confident and use an assertive tone but avoid being overly aggressive or confrontational. That will just spark a fight.
• Finish up with a powerful call to action or a final thought that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or listener.
• Use the same font throughout your essay, even for headings and titles. Go with easy-to-read fonts like Calibri, Times New Roman, or Garamond.
• Proofread and edit your essay for clarity, grammar, and style. I cannot stress this one enough. If you’re not confident, use programs like Grammarly to help spot typos and inconsistencies.

Persuasive Essay Topic Ideas

If you’re stuck on some ideas of what to form your essay around, here’s a list of some popular topics to inspire you.

• Importance of recycling and reducing waste in today’s climate.
• The need for stricter gun control laws all over the world.
• A paper on abortion rights in today’s age.
• Benefits of alternative energy sources over fossil fuels and how we can be using them.
• How social media has negative impacts on mental health in kids.
• Key benefits of a vegetarian or vegan diet and how it can help the planet.
• The value of a college education.
• Rise of plastic pollution on the environment and sea life and how it is affecting us.
• Why physical exercise and leading an active lifestyle are important.
• The dangers of texting while driving.
• How our public schools need better funding.
• Benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace both online and in-person.

Any of these could be used as logical arguments. Still, to make a persuasive argument from either of them, just follow the basic persuasive essay outline examples I’ve given you.

Example of a Persuasive Essay

Introduction.

In today’s age of ever-changing technology, the way we consume and experience books have changed dramatically in just a short time. While physical books were once the only option, ebooks have grown increasingly popular in recent years. In my essay, I’ll argue that, while we all still love paperbacks and hardcovers, ebooks offer so many benefits over physical books, making them the number one choice for most readers today.

Body Paragraph 1: Convenience

Ebooks are convenient; there’s just no denying it. They’re easily accessible through devices like smartphones, tablets, and e-readers, and they allow readers to carry hundreds of books with them at all times. This makes them perfect for traveling or heading to work, or even going to the gym. Readers can now have an entire library with them without the added weight of physical books. Plus, ebooks are easily bought online with just the click of a button, further adding to their convenience.

Body Paragraph 2: Customization

Ebooks offer a level of customization that physical books just can’t match. For one, the font size can be adjusted for easier reading, which is great for those who have eyesight problems. The background color can also be changed from light to dark to reduce eye strain. Personally, as someone who suffers from Meniere’s disease, this is a great feature. All of these options make ebooks a great choice for people with visual impairments, neurological disorders, or reading difficulties.

Body Paragraph 3: Affordability

Ebooks are often far cheaper than physical books, especially when purchased in bulk. You can get an entire series for a fraction of the cost of one paperback. This makes them a more accessible option for budget-conscious readers and people who simply don’t have the disposable funds for books. Also, tons of ebooks are available for free, which is a great option for readers that are looking for ways to save money but keep up with their reading habits.

Body Paragraph 4: Environmentally Friendly

626,000 tons of paper is used to produce all the books we see published every year. That’s a scary number when you consider the rate of deforestation and the state of our world in terms of global warming. We simply can’t afford to move ahead at a rate like that. Ebooks help tackle the issue because they require zero trees to produce.

In conclusion, ebooks offer endless benefits over physical books, including convenience, customization, and affordability. While physical books will always hold a special place in our hearts, you have to admit that the benefits of ebooks just can’t be ignored. For modern, busy, on-the-go readers, ebooks are the preferred choice. It’s time to embrace the digital age and make the switch to ebooks.

Now Write Your Persuasive Essay!

I hope this guide has helped you figure out persuasive essay writing and how to put together powerful arguments. Just stick to the facts and ease the reader into your point with gentle arguments that continue to prove your point. Don’t be afraid to get personal if it can help the essay and convince the reader.

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20 FREE Persuasive Essay Examples

It is not easy to influence another person’s opinion on a given issue or convince them that you are right, especially if it is a matter they feel strongly about. Nonetheless, this task is precisely what Persuasive Essay Examples exist to accomplish. These pieces use emotive language, imagery, and supporting evidence to sway a reader’s opinion about something. They create a coherent and logical point of view that forces the reader to question their stand and adopt yours. In this post, we review everything you need to know to write them.

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay, or argumentative essay, is a type of written academic document through which a writer uses logic, reason, and facts to convince a reader to adopt the writer’s opinion on a given issue. It usually covers one topic and highlights what the writer believes about it, backing up their views with supporting evidence.

Essential Elements of a Persuasive Essay

The primary goal of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader to adopt your opinion about a given topic or take some form of action on a given issue. For a piece of writing to do this feat, it must contain the following elements:

• Introduction and Thesis Statement – This is a broad explanation of the topic being discussed in the essay and your opinion about it.
• Support – These are the facts and evidence that support your thesis statement. They could be journal excerpts, statistics, research quotations, etc.
• Conclusion – This is a closing argument that explains your thesis statement. It answers the questions, ‘why are you writing this essay?’ and ‘why should the reader adopt your opinion?’

Choosing a Topic

Choosing a topic is the first step in writing a persuasive essay. The best topics for such pieces of writings are those you feel strongly about, are familiar with, and can argue for or against. If you can’t come up with such a subject on the spot, consider searching online for good options and choose the one that speaks to you. You also want a topic that has been highly researched, so you don’t get stuck on facts. Once you choose a topic, format it into a question and figure out your stand.

Creating the Outline of a Persuasive Essay

Like most writings, Persuasive Essay Examples have an introduction, body, and conclusion. The body could consist of one or more paragraphs, depending on how many arguments you have on the given topic. Here is the basic outline of a typical persuasive essay:

Introduction

The introduction should introduce the topic of the essay and give an overview of what you intend to cover in the piece. This can be done through the following four segments:

• Title: This is the topic of the essay and is usually expressed as a question. For example, in an article about energy, a good title would be ‘Oil Drilling or Solar Power? Note: Controversial issues make an excellent topic for a persuasive essay, mostly because of the strong opposing opinions surrounding them. That said, always consider the age and cultural beliefs of your students when assigning essay topics.
• Hook: This is where you capture the reader’s attention by using a joke, statistic, anecdote, or quotation related to the essay topic.
• Background: Here, you give the reader a broad overview of the essay topic, the arguments surrounding it, and why it is important.
• Thesis statement: The last part of the introduction should express your opinion on the matter and show the reader the direction your argument will take.

Younger writers may limit the body of their essay to one paragraph (one argument), while more proficient writers could produce more arguments. Either way, every section in the body should be structured using the TEEL acronym as follows:

• Topic Sentence: This sentence states the main point of the paragraph, usually in the form of an argument supporting your thesis statement.
• Explain: The next few sentences should build on the topic sentence and make it more specific.
• Evidence: The evidence sentences should provide facts, examples, or statistics that support the claim made in the topic sentence.
• Link: The last sentence should link back to the topic sentence and create a bridge into the next point or paragraph.

Lastly, the conclusion should weave all your main arguments together end tie them into your thesis statement. It should not introduce new evidence, facts, or arguments but review what you have already said and sum them up convincingly.

Persuasive Essay Examples & Templates

Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay

Writing an excellent persuasive essay is a powerful skill that takes time to nurture. If you are just starting out, here are some pointers to guide you:

• If you have discretion over the topic of your essay, choose something that interests you.
• Always start by listing down all the facts you know and your opinions about the topic before you begin your research.
• Use different research materials and sources to get a broad perspective of the topic.
• Write your persuasive essay in the present tense.
• Start every argument in a new paragraph.
• Find strong evidence for all your arguments.
• Be very clear about where you stand on the topic at hand.
• Quote some experts if their statements support your arguments.
• Use emotive language that stirs the reader’s thoughts but don’t be irrational.
• Cite your sources properly using the citation format given by your professor.
• Always proofread your work and clear it of any errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start a persuasive essay.

An argumentative essay format looks something like an inverted pyramid, so the introduction is usually very detailed. You start by writing broadly about the topic at hand and expressing your views (briefly). Then, you tell the reader the direction your argument will take and transition into the body.

How do you write a 3 paragraph persuasive essay?

As the name suggests, a 3-paragraph essay contains three parts: the introduction, one body paragraph, and a conclusion. The typical outline for such a piece would be:

• Introduction Paragraph: Starts with a hook, background points, and the thesis statement.
• Body Paragraph: Starts with a topic sentence followed by two supporting facts and a transition.
• Conclusion Paragraph: Restates the thesis, summarizes the main point and calls the reader to your side through a well-delivered challenge.

What makes good persuasive writing?

An effective persuasive essay is built upon extensive research, a comprehensive understanding of both sides of an argument, and an awareness of your audience’s business. Using these key tools, you can express why your opinion is right and why the flip side is not.

The power to influence how another person thinks about a given topic through Persuasive Essay Examples is a very useful and impressive skill. When using it, you want to use facts and ideas that strengthen your opinion about something without sounding pushy or stubborn about the facts. Generally, all you need to do is clearly state your opinion and reinforce it with external research, evidence, and facts. You must also close with a strong summary that wins the reader to your side.

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