1 You want an Xbox, a computer, a raise in your allowance, or permission to attend a concert with your friends. What do you do? You might try whining, wheedling, or begging, but that conduct rarely does more than annoy people. You might employ tantrums, threats, or sarcasm, but that sorry behavior won't win you any awards either. If you use the art of persuasion, you stand the best chance of being heard, respected, and perhaps rewarded with the desired response. Surely by this stage of life you have already picked up on the persuasive argument.
2 Let's take what you know about the art of persuasion and apply it to the written word. Your assignment is to write a persuasive essay. We'll take it step-by-step.
3 First you need to choose a topic. It must be something debatable. It can't be a fact. If you were to choose as your topic, "Vipers are dangerous," you wouldn't have to persuade anyone of that. However, if your topic was, "Vipers should be eliminated from the animal kingdom," then you would have presented an opinion that could be debated. That's not to say that your argument would win, but you could give it your best effort!
4 Your persuasive essay will focus on only one side–your chosen side–of the argument. This will not be a pros-and-cons essay. Also, it won't be a personal opinion essay. You must be prepared to back up your logic with evidence collected in research that supports your position.
