3 Steps to a Powerful Persuasive Essay

We all have a passion that drives us. Everyone has something that motivates them that they feel strongly about. Politics, Religion, Romance, Education, Music, Drugs, Child Abuse… Whether you are trying to impress on people of the importance of sorting their recyclables, speaking out against school violence, or bringing terrorism to an end, a good persuasive argument is needed. But the argument is only as strong as the technique behind it. Here are several tips on what common pitfalls to avoid, and on how to successfully sway people over to your side.

1. The first and most common mistake made is “I.”
When writing a persuasive essay, never use the word “I.” Even if you are giving a firsthand account of something you have experienced, using “I” will harm your case. "I" should rarely ever be used in an essay, especially a persuasive or informative one. The reason a persuasive piece loses potency with the addition of that word is because the reader is no longer looking at facts and how the issue relates to them anymore. Instead the reader begins to think, "well of course this subject is important to THIS person, seeing as they are a victim of it themselves, but why should it matter/how should it relate to me?" In other words, don't make it personal. Make it global.

2. Use and Cite Resources.
Never use Wikipedia for any essay or article. Wikipedia is easily edited and manipulated by the public. Anyone can edit it to say that Santa Claus is a Vulcan that currently lives on the Planet Endor. Stay away from Wiki. When citing a resource, make sure you are using one that is liable for the information they are giving. Meaning they are responsible if the information is false. This protects you AND your readers. It is VERY important that you only cite supporting FACTS that are known to be true.

Supporting opinions are the only grey area on this matter, and are tricky. It’s best to stay away from most “opinions,” but in some cases giving a view of a philosopher or psychiatrist could be a critical piece of information to relay. And yes, Opinions CAN be cited. The rule of thumb to follow when considering including a third parties opinion in your piece is ask to yourself, “is it a FACT that this is this person’s Opinion?” If the answer is yes, and you can back that up with evidence, (including personal first hand interview) you may use the information.

Citing sources means that you show where the information came from. And who was responsible for the information before you. If I quote an article from a psychology book,

2010