Down and Dirty Tips: Persuasion Essay

Step 1: Choose a Two-Sided Topic Then Narrow it Down

There are many ways to approach a persuasive essay; however, if you follow these guidelines, you should be able to successfully complete the assignment.

If your instructor asks that you choose your own topic, consider something that has at least two valid sides. For example, no one will disagree that child abuse is bad, but a variety of viewpoints exist about how child abuse could be prevented or punished.

Be sure, also, that the topic is narrow enough to cover in-depth in an essay. Rather than trying to manage such a large topic as “gun control,” narrow down the topic to something like “requiring gun training certification for all Florida gun owners and purchasers.”

Ideas for Topics

• Should the US have a flat tax?
• Should college athletes be paid?
• Should travel in and out of countries experiencing flu or other epidemics be halted?
• Should junk food have additional taxes added on like alcohol and tobacco?
• Should SPC students be required to cover tattoos and piercings?
• Should Pinellas County allow people to use vacant land for growing food?
• Should college students with no reliable income be restricted from obtaining credit cards?
• Should electronics companies be required to take responsibility for disposing of the E-Waste their outdated products make?
• Should the use of biometrics be instituted nationally to prevent identity theft?
• Should offshore drilling be expanded in the Gulf?
• Should the US turn to nuclear energy to meet its energy needs?
• Should children be required to have an identity microchip injection at the same time they get their first vaccination?
• Should the legal system employ professional juries?
• Should military or other public service be required for US citizenship?
• Should SPC institute a dress code?

Step 2: Draft the Thesis Statement

The best way to ensure that your essay stays on a persuasive track is to include either “should” or “should not” in the thesis statement.

Example 1: “Current Florida gun owners and future gun purchasers should be required to complete gun training certification.” 

Example 2:  “The city of Dunedin should not allow homeowners to park boats in their front yards due to economic, aesthetic, and safety concerns.”

Step 3: Brainstorm for Main Points (Yours and Theirs)

Write down as many points you’d like to make about your topic. Then, group ideas into three main points. Keep the best ideas that fall into one of the three main points and drop the rest.

Also, write down as many points as you can that someone who disagrees with you might have (frequently time and money). Jot down a few notes about how you might address those points.