Do you ever wonder why some people are so good at convincing others of their ideas, while others seem to struggle more when trying to do the same? Studying persuasive writing might just provide the answer you’re looking for. If you’re interested in becoming a better writer, then read on. We’ll discuss the importance of learning how to write persuasively and how to put your newfound skills to use.
What is Persuasive Writing?
Put yourself in the place of your audience for a moment. Imagine you’re reading an article about a new, cutting-edge technology, and you come across a quote like this:
“This technology will revolutionize education…”
You might think that this newfangled device will certainly change the way students learn. However, the writer of the article is trying to convince you that the new technology will ALSO transform the way teachers interact with students. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not to believe the quote. If you decide to trust the source, then you might want to read on.
The Importance of Learning to Write Persuasively
If you’ve ever wondered why most people are so bad at expressing themselves in writing, this is why: they haven’t been taught how to do it effectively. When you’re writing something, you want to ensure that it is well-reasoned and well-structured. That way, when someone reads it, they’ll have the opportunity to follow your train of thought, and you’ll be able to persuade them to agree with you. For this reason, it is crucial that you learn how to write persuasively. To start, take a look at the writing courses available to you.
The 3 Steps to Effective Writing
In order to write persuasively, you need to follow a precise process that will guide you through each step of the way. Remember: writing is much more than just filling up your sheets of paper. It’s an opportunity to convince someone to believe in your ideas. For this reason, it’s important that you learn how to write a convincing argument. Here are the steps:
1. Plan Your Outline
The very first thing you should do before starting to write is to plan your outline. This is important for two reasons. First, it will guide you in creating a well-thought-out argument. Second, it will allow you to easily find your thoughts during the process. When you’re writing a paper, you’re bound to become confused. Having an outline will help you keep your train of thought. The next step is to create a brief summary of the paper. This will be the hook that will grab the reader’s attention and make them want to continue reading.
2. Organize Your Materials
Once you’ve planned your outline, you should start gathering your materials. Get the references you’ll need and make sure you have everything else you need (such as a notebook, pens, highlighters, etc.). You want to make sure you have everything before starting to write. Once you have everything, take a break and come back to it later. Come back later in the day or the next day and you’ll be surprised at how much more you’ve forgotten. Writing is a process, and it’s easy to lose your place when you’re tired or distracted. When you return to it later, you’ll be thankful you did. This is why it’s important to make a to-do list and cross items off as you go. The more you do before starting to write, the less stress you’ll have when you’re in the middle of it. Plus, having everything written down will allow you to go back and check off the things you’ve done. This will make you feel proud that you’ve completed a section and ensure that you don’t miss a thing.
3. Start Writing
When you’re ready, it’s time to start writing. Start off simple and take it easy. Write one complete sentence then go back and edit it. Make sure you’re using proper English and that your spelling is correct. Once you’ve written this first sentence, you know you’re on the right track. Continue to write and edit as you go. Use your spelling and grammar checker to make sure you’ve used the correct words and that your sentences are well-formed. Once you’ve done all of this, take a break and come back later. Remember: this is not a race. You should not expect to complete your paper in one sitting. It should be a gradual process of adding content and editing as you go.
How Learning to Write Persuasively Changes the Way You Speak
Besides being able to write well-thought-out essays, knowing how to write persuasively also gives you the ability to converse with any writer or speaker. When you’re speaking, you are presenting your ideas to another person. For this reason, it’s important that your language is precise and formal. Learning to write persuasively will change the way you speak and how you write. Here are some examples:
“I believe that…”
“The main point I want to make is…”
“As a general rule, the more formal the language, the more convincing the argument.”
“Let’s examine the evidence and see where it leads us.”
“The strongest weapon against fear is action.”
“In order to be persuasive, your language needs to match the formal nature of the argument you are making.”
With these examples, you should be able to see how learning to write persuasively changes the way you speak. It might be difficult at first, but soon you’ll see the benefit of speaking precisely and using the correct grammar and spelling. Of course, you should edit what you’ve written and be careful about your word choice. However, in general, your paper will speak for itself. Learning to write persuasively will also give you the confidence to speak more quickly and confidently.
The Key Takeaways
Learning how to write well-reasoned, well-structured, and convincing articles is crucial for students. If you’re curious about why this is, it’s because this is how your professors will evaluate your work. Writing well is difficult, and it requires a lot of practice. However, once you learn this skill, it will be something that you can call on for the rest of your life. Knowing how to write persuasively will allow you to effectively communicate with anyone. Be sure to put this skill to use on your college applications and at other times in your life when you’re asked to write something. Below, we’ve listed a number of academic papers that you can use as inspiration for your own work.