essays

Being Persuasive

First, realize that essays writers test ideas. Like lawyers in a courtroom, writers present and try to prove their claims. The word “essay” comes from the French word “essai” which means trial. The formula is simple. An idea is presented early in the essay and is then defended using evidence chosen to lead the reader to conclude that the idea is correct. 

Good essays have two main characteristics. They use confident sounding language and easily followed logic. 

To learn more about logic, click the link above to go to the logic page.

A confident style adds a lot to the persuasiveness of an argument. An assertive tone can create an air of authority that inclines readers to accept an essay’s conclusion. Depending on the circumstances, a self-assured tone can be nearly as important as logic in proving an essay’s thesis.

One easy way to increase the confident attitude of an essay is to avoid using phrases that chip away a text’s sense of authority.

Contrary to what people are often taught, it is not good practice to advertise your ideas as opinions, or views. Do not ever say, “in my opinion” or “in my view” or similar phrases. They have the immediate effect of casting your ideas as opinions, not as facts. This may seem like a minor difference in expression. But you are writing an essay. The purpose of an essay is to demonstrate the truth of an idea, so evidence must be presented as fact, not as opinion. Even things which are obviously subjective opinions can sound like facts when presented as facts. 

Despite the obvious harm done to an argument by saying “I think” or, worst of all, “in my humble opinion”, many people, including politicians and other public figures have not learned the simple rhetorical truth that if you believe in what you are saying, you should express yourself confidently without backtracking and devaluing your ideas by saying your thoughts are mere opinions.

In the examples below, notice how the opinions sound less authoritative than the statements stated as facts:

Stated as an opinion: I think cats are better than dogs.

Stated as a fact: Cats are better than dogs.

Stated as an opinion: In my humble opinion, pizza is better with pineapple.

Stated as a fact: Pizza is better with pineapple.

Stated as an opinion: In my view, this city needs more parks with swimming pools.

Stated as a fact: This city needs more parks with swimming pools.

Stated as an opinion: In my opinion, the senator has achieved many things in the past four years.

Stated as a fact: The senator has achieved many things in the past four years.

Stated as an opinion: It seems to me that more people should study languages.

Stated as a fact: More people should study languages.

Stated as an opinion: From my viewpoint, it’s more fun to travel by train than by plane.

Stated as a fact: It’s more fun to travel by train than by plane.

Stated as an opinion: I find it’s more persuasive to present ideas as facts than as opinions.

Stated as a fact: It’s more persuasive to present ideas as facts than as opinions.

The lesson linked below is an example of one way to raise awareness of the need to avoid these phrases. Writing teachers and people studying on their own will find it useful. 

Click here to buy a full lesson on this topic is available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store:

Prolepsis
Why wait for people to disagree with your essay’s thesis? Disagree with it yourself. Do this to deprive anyone of having the first chance to object to your ideas.  By contradicting  objections before anyone has a chance to make them, you take a lot of energy out of opposing arguments, decreasing or even eliminating their effectiveness.
This rhetorical technique is called prolepsis. The word “prolepsis” comes from the Greek προλαμβάνω, (prolamváno), meaning “to anticipate”. Like tennis players who can anticipate the path of the ball and position themselves to send it back across the net, users of prolepsis take and then reject objections to their ideas. 
The process is simple. Take an objective look at your thesis and ask yourself what points an opponent could use to disagree with your ideas. Examine these points and build arguments against them.

Reminder: a thesis is a statement to be proved by an essay.

Here are two examples of how prolepsis works:

Thesis: Cats make better pets than dogs.

Anticipated Objection: Compared to dogs, cats are unfriendly, aloof creatures who show no signs of attachment to their human housemates.

Prolepsis: Cats are cuddly, animated, purring balls of warm fur who love to sit, purring, on human laps. Unlike dogs, they are low maintenance, self-sufficient creatures.

Thesis: Dogs make better pets than dogs.

Anticipated Objection: Dogs are the barking, jumping, undignified barbarians of the pet universe. They are a constant source of work, having to be walked, bathed, trained, groomed and constantly reassured.

Prolepsis: Dogs make faithful, affectionate, good-natured companions. There is great joy and daily exercise found in joining them on their twice daily walks. Would a cat join you on a walk? Don’t be ridiculous. Cats are cold, silent observers waiting for a chance to jump from closets and bookshelves to drag their nails on curtains and terrify passersby. Dogs may occasionally chew aromatic footwear, but will never show the malice of a cat.

Here is link to buy a full lesson in writing an essay using prolepsis with step by step instructions and an organizing template.

To purchase twenty-five writing exercises on topics including descriptive writing, poetry, narrative voice, active voice, avoiding redundancy, and more, click on the link below.

For more lessons in vocabulary and lessons in fiction writing, poetry, grammar, rhetoric and logic, click on the link below to go to my Teachers Pay Teachers store.