A manual explaining how to write a short persuasive essay

Persuasive essays have become common assignments in all types of classes. It not just the language arts teachers who are assigning persuasive essays, but now, math teachers, science teachers, foreign language teachers, and even physical education teachers are assigning persuasive essays. Many teachers are looking at the content of the piece rather than the structure, but if you know how to write a short persuasive essay, you will be able to get these small pieces done quickly and successfully.

Formatting for Every Short Persuasive Essay

It does not matter what topic you need to argue, the format of every persuasive essay can be just like all the rest of the essays you write. Each persuasive essay needs four distinct parts. The first is the introduction, then the body which really has two parts - the actual argument and the counterargument. The final part is the conclusion.

Requirements for the Introduction

The introduction needs to have three distinct parts. The first is the hook, which should get the reader’s attention. The end of the introduction should be the thesis, or the claim that you are going to prove. Between the hook and the claim is a bridge that connects the two and builds some background on the topic.

Writing the Body Paragraphs

The body of the essay should include at least three paragraphs. Two of the paragraphs should show why your argument is correct. The body paragraphs need to have topic sentences that refer back to the claim and the supporting sentences need to have facts and explanations for those facts. The third paragraph in the body should include the counterargument to your claim and the supporting sentences should show why that counterargument is wrong.

Conclude the Essay with Style

When you are finished arguing your claim and proving the counterargument wrong, you build the conclusion. This paragraph should also have three distinct sections. The first sentence should refer back to the claim and restate it using fresh words. The middle of the conclusion includes the main points from your essay - you can even include the counterargument again. The final sentence should convince the read to take action on the topic. However, if a call-to-action conclusion does not seem appropriate, it is a good idea to refer back to the introduction to bring the essay full circle.