Tips on Writing a Persuasive Essay for Kids
At some point in your schooling, you are going to have to write a persuasive essay, so it's best to be prepared. This will help you get good grades and impress your teachers. But more importantly, getting others to see your point of view is a crucial life skill, and writing persuasive essays gives you the chance to practice it. If you're stuck when it comes to this exercise, following a few simple tips will help get you started.
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Preparation
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Good persuasive essays begin before you ever set pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. You should start in the library, online, or by interviewing experts on the topic you're writing about. This research will help you gather the information you need to write a solid essay. Decide what you want to write about, the points you wish to make, and gather as many facts as you need to support your argument adequately.
Provide Evidence
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Persuasive essays don't just state opinions, they also provide facts. When you are making an assertion (definitive statement), give examples as to why you are right. These examples should be from reliable sources. Government studies, licensed experts, and those with years of experience in their fields are all good sources for such evidence. If you cannot explain -- with facts -- why a statement is correct, do not include it in your essay.
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Avoid Emotions
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Persuasive essays should not rely on emotional pleas to make their cases. Avoid trying to convince others of your position simply because you feel a certain way about it. Your readers (primarily, your teacher, but possibly fellow students as well) need to make decisions about your argument based on logical and verifiable facts, not feelings. Although you are free to say that the topic makes you feel a certain way, do not make this your primary argument for why it is true.
Presentation
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Present your information in an appropriate format. Persuasive essays should start with an introduction, in which you explain the topic you will be talking about. Next, move into the arguments that you wish to make and the facts that back them up. Finally finish your piece with a conclusion that reiterates your most important points, as well as your reasons for making them. Presenting your information in this simple, easy-to-understand format will go a long way in helping your reader process the information, and hopefully, agree with your persuasive essay in the end.
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References
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