Persuasive essays are aimed to persuade the reader about your point of view. For example, you can argue that drinking coffee is more harmful than drinking tea or that dogs are better pets than cats.

To persuade your readers, you will have to present them with verifiable proof and solid facts. You can start the essay, with an introduction that makes it very clear to the reader about your point of view. For example, if your essay is about “Dogs Vs. Cats as Pets” you can introduce your point of view thus –

I love dogs. Dogs have always been part of my life ever since I was a baby. My mother tells me that the first word that I spoke was “Banjo” who was our family pet for many years. Having been around dogs almost all my life, I think I do qualify to represent them as the best pets anybody can have.

Now that you have set the tone of your essay, you can go start outlining the main points of your argument. List out the main points of your essay and create a paragraph around each of your main point. Within this paragraph, you should create minor points illustrated with examples.

For example –

Dogs provide us with better security than any of the latest security stuff that you can purchase. There have been many instances, where dogs have detected the presence of a stranger or an intruder even before the alarm warns you. Dogs are also fiercely loyal and protective especially towards your young ones. I know this to be true, because my first babysitter happened to be my dog Banjo.

Most common mistake that most of us make while writing a persuasive essay is to totally ignore the counter arguments that are likely to crop up. If you are an ardent dog lover, there are also other people who would swear by their cats and argue that they make a better pet. Anticipate the arguments would come up with and try to argue your case around it. The counter arguments can be given in the last paragraph, just before you conclude the essay.

As it is the case with any essay that you write, make sure that any point that you make is backed up with enough evidence that can be verified. Adding quotes from reputed sources will enhance the credibility of your arguments and provide you with a very strong hand.

In your conclusion, reiterate the points that you have made so far by summarizing it. Your concluding sentence should strongly state your point of view and must reflect upon the arguments that you have put forth.

For example –

Dogs do not mind if you smell of sweat, they don’t cheat, lie or make your life miserable. They are there for you no matter what the circumstances are. In many ways, I feel that they are better than humans. They can sense when you are happy, sad or miserable and in their own way they try to cheer you up. Their love for you is equivocal. I might sound biased and I am sure there are many other pets that do the same for their masters but my personal experience makes me say this without any hesitation, that Dogs Are the Best Pets Ever!

Persuasive Essay Topics

Persuasive essays are basically essays written to present a particular point of view to the reader. While writing this type of essay, you will have to present valid arguments, evidence, facts and quotes to argue your case.

Selecting an interesting topic for persuasive essays is very important as is selecting your viewpoint for the same. First decide your point of view in the issue and list out facts and arguments that you wish to use persuade the reader. In the end, you should also be able to provide a solution and it must be persuasive enough to make the reader agree with you.

The topic that you select for this type of essay must be argumentative in nature and the issue must be complex enough for you to play the devil’s advocate. For example, in a topic like ‘How responsible was Marie Antoinette for the French Revolution?’ you can discuss whether the Queen was really responsible for the revolution or was she just a scapegoat. In this kind of essay, you will have to argue against traditional sources that do point accusing fingers towards the Queen. You can start off with a short biography of the queen and about her life in France during the early years and the mistakes that she made that were blown out of proportion by the French masses. And finally the pathos of the trial that she underwent in the end and her beheading. By putting forward her point of view, you will be able to persuade your readers about her innocence.

Here are some sample topics that you can use for a persuasive essay –

1. Should we experiment on animals just to further our medical research?
2. Would you undergo a cosmetic surgery just to look beautiful?
3. Do you think we should abolish the process of abortion?
4. Do you think Polygamy is a good idea given the rate population is exploding in our planet?
5. Do you agree with the fact that dieting makes people fat?
6. The art of old fashioned letter writing is vanishing thanks to email. Discuss.
7. War on terror has caused more causality than the terror acts. Discuss
8. Zoos are literal prisons for poor animals. Discuss.
9. Cigarettes should be banned as illegal substance. Discuss.
10. Television should be banned for young children. Discuss.
11. Single parents and gay couples cannot provide with good family values for their children.
12. Gay marriages are a slur on the institution of marriage. Discuss
13. Guns and rifles should not be easily available for the public to buy. Discuss
14. Kids should not be using cell phones. Discuss
15. Government should make it mandatory for one of the parents to work from home.
16. Child Abusers should be given capital punishment.
17. Priests and Clergymen who abuse children should be sent to prison and the church should compensate the victims.
18. Sex Education should be made mandatory in all schools.
19. Some kinds of junk food are actually healthy. Discuss
20. Children under the age of 15 years should not network through Facebook or Twitter.
21. Natural disaster plans and survival should be mandatorily taught to children in schools.
22. Parents should talk to children about drugs and sex at a young age
23. Schools should expel all the bullies who make the other children’s life miserable
24. Beauty Pageants should be banned.
25. Harry Potter has a bad influence on kids. Discuss.

About the author: Ashlee Swenson is a professional writer at homeworkpay.net. Besides, she is fond of Psychology. In this case, she takes part in different conferences and presentations to get more knowledge and obtain experience. She dreams of helping people cope with their problems. You can see more information here.