What is the difference between an argumentative essay and a persuasive essay?

Question

They seem the same structurally. What makes them different?

Answer 1

On the surface, these two types of essays are very similar: They both argue a main point using external sources, and usually include a counterargument and a rebuttal to that. However, they are not the same thing.

An argumentative essay is meant to inform the reader on a topic with logical arguments for a specific point based on evidence. Its tone is usually that of a dry monologue, as it is not meant to bias the reader; its aim is to convince the reader using only facts and logic.

Although a persuasive essay ideally uses facts and figures from external sources as well, its rhetorical capacity is much greater, and there are many ways to insert your own bias as the author. It uses ethos (authoritative appeal), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (appeal to logic) to convince the reader of a specific point. You can compare a persuasive essay to a political speech, because it presses all the psychological buttons of the reader to get them to believe or do something.