Persuasive Writing

persuade |pərˈswād|

verb [ with obj. and infinitive ]cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument It wasn't easy, but I persuaded him to do the right thing.

We have all tried persuading someone to do something at one time or another. Maybe you were trying to convince Mr. Burch to allow you to work in partners for your Africa project, telling him you will work harder. Or perhaps you persuaded your cousin to let you borrow her video game, by saying that you would, in return, let her use yours.

Persuasive speech is as simple as your mom trying to convince you to wear your hat in the winter, or a TV or radio commercial get you to buy a product, donate to a cause, or vote for a political candidate.

Writing a persuasive essay, or preparing a persuasive speech is like being a lawyer arguing a case before a jury, who are the readers or listeners. 

Persuasion is a skill we use in everyday life, so why not use it in writing?

To do a good job of convincing someone to do something you want, or to change their mind about a topic, it is helpful to have a plan or a  persuasive strategy.