How to start a persuasive essay

Question

I struggle with beginning essays, since the task seems so huge. What do you advise in order to help someone start a persuasive essay?

Answer 1

Start by asking the question that you'd like to answer -- or simply consider.

For instance, you might try the following as an opening sentence:

"What is it about cultural proverbs that make them such a compelling storytelling device, as they are in works as diverse as the Nigerian-born author Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" and the Ukrainian-Jewish author Sholem Aleichem's collection of short tales "Tevye the Dairyman and the Railroad Stories"?

Answer 2

One of the greatest essay-tackling tips I swore by in college was outlining! Starting the essay process with no direction as to where your words might take you is a set-up for failure. In order to write a cohesive, persuasive/argumentative essay, I would start with this outline:

Introductory paragraph (3-5 sentences)

-start with a topic sentence which introduces your topic

-end this paragraph with your thesis statement and be sure that your thesis is specific/makes a claim

Body paragraph 1 (about 5 sentences)

-support the argument your thesis asserts with supporting evidence

Body paragraph 2 (about 5 sentences)

-support the argument your thesis asserts with other supporting evidence

Body paragraph 3 (about 5 sentences)

-support the argument your thesis asserts with a third source of supporting evidence

Conclusion (3-5 sentences)

-summarize the main points presented in your body paragraphs

-be sure to use your supporting evidence to drive your thesis home

Here is a simple/abbreviated example for clarification purposes:

Introductory paragraph:

Topic sentence- Cats are the most popular house pet worldwide.

Transition into your thesis- More people own cats than dogs for several reasons, but an important one has to do with the difference in care that each require.

Thesis- Cats are lower maintenance house pets than dogs

Body 1: discuss cats not needing to be walked (supports point that they're lower maintenance than dogs)

Body 2: discuss cats requiring less emotional support from humans (supports point that they're lower maintenance than dogs)

Body 3: discuss cats not needing bathing/grooming since they groom themselves (supports point that they're lower maintenance than dogs)

Conclusion:

-Summarize main point of each body paragraph.

-Use supporting evidence to drive thesis home: Since cats do not require the walks, emotional support, and grooming that dogs do, they are lower maintenance house pets.

Answer 3

Think about the important points of the data on a subject that you have learned about. Then think about how you would relate that info by telling a story to a friend. That should lubricate the verbiage in a comfortable environment where you feel safe from judgments. Subsequently, you can observe your creation, and how you could reword and improve the text should come to you easily.