Persuasive essays are aimed to persuade the reader about your point of view. For example, you can argue that drinking coffee is more harmful than drinking tea or that dogs are better pets than cats.

To
persuade your readers, you will have to present them with verifiable
proof and solid facts. You can start the essay, with an introduction
that makes it very clear to the reader about your point of view. For
example, if your essay is about “Dogs Vs. Cats as Pets” you can
introduce your point of view thus –

I
love dogs. Dogs have always been part of my life ever since I was a
baby. My mother tells me that the first word that I spoke was “Banjo”
who was our family pet for many years. Having been around dogs almost
all my life, I think I do qualify to represent them as the best pets
anybody can have.

Now
that you have set the tone of your essay, you can go start outlining
the main points of your argument. List out the main points of your
essay and create a paragraph around each of your main point. Within
this paragraph, you should create minor points illustrated with
examples.

For
example
–

Dogs
provide us with better security than any of the latest security stuff
that you can purchase. There have been many instances, where dogs
have detected the presence of a stranger or an intruder even before
the alarm warns you. Dogs are also fiercely loyal and protective
especially towards your young ones. I know this to be true, because
my first babysitter happened to be my dog Banjo.

Most
common mistake that most of us make while writing a persuasive essay
is to totally ignore the counter arguments that are likely to crop
up. If you are an ardent dog lover, there are also other people who
would swear by their cats and argue that they make a better pet.
Anticipate the arguments would come up with and try to argue your
case around it. The counter arguments can be given in the last
paragraph, just before you conclude the essay.

As
it is the case with any essay that you write, make sure that any
point that you make is backed up with enough evidence that can be
verified. Adding quotes from reputed sources will enhance the
credibility of your arguments and provide you with a very strong
hand.

In
your conclusion, reiterate the points that you have made so far by
summarizing it. Your concluding sentence should strongly state your
point of view and must reflect upon the arguments that you have put
forth.

For
example –

Dogs
do not mind if you smell of sweat, they don’t cheat, lie or make
your life miserable. They are there for you no matter what the
circumstances are. In many ways, I feel that they are better than
humans. They can sense when you are happy, sad or miserable and in
their own way they try to cheer you up. Their love for you is
equivocal. I might sound biased and I am sure there are many other
pets that do the same for their masters but my personal experience
makes me say this without any hesitation, that Dogs
Are the Best Pets Ever!

Persuasive
Essay Topics

Persuasive
essays are basically essays written to present a particular point of
view to the reader. While writing this type of essay, you will have
to present valid arguments, evidence, facts and quotes to argue your
case.

Selecting
an interesting topic for persuasive essays is very important as is
selecting your viewpoint for the same. First decide your point of
view in the issue and list out facts and arguments that you wish to
use persuade the reader. In the end, you should also be able to
provide a solution and it must be persuasive enough to make the
reader agree with you.

The
topic that you select for this type of essay must be argumentative in
nature and the issue must be complex enough for you to play the
devil’s advocate. For example, in a topic like ‘How responsible
was Marie Antoinette for the French Revolution?’ you can discuss
whether the Queen was really responsible for the revolution or was
she just a scapegoat. In this kind of essay, you will have to argue
against traditional sources that do point accusing fingers towards
the Queen. You can start off with a short biography of the queen and
about her life in France during the early years and the mistakes that
she made that were blown out of proportion by the French masses. And
finally the pathos of the trial that she underwent in the end and her
beheading. By putting forward her point of view, you will be able to
persuade your readers about her innocence.

Here
are some sample topics that you can use for a persuasive essay
–

1. Should
   we experiment on animals just to further our medical research?
   
2. Would
   you undergo a cosmetic surgery just to look beautiful?
   
3. Do
   you think we should abolish the process of abortion?
   
4. Do
   you think Polygamy is a good idea given the rate population is
   exploding in our planet?
   
5. Do
   you agree with the fact that dieting makes people fat?
   
6. The
   art of old fashioned letter writing is vanishing thanks to email.
   Discuss.
   
7. War
   on terror has caused more causality than the terror acts. Discuss
   
8. Zoos
   are literal prisons for poor animals. Discuss.
   
9. Cigarettes
   should be banned as illegal substance. Discuss.
   
10. Television
    should be banned for young children. Discuss.
    
11. Single
    parents and gay couples cannot provide with good family values for
    their children.
    
12. Gay
    marriages are a slur on the institution of marriage. Discuss
    
13. Guns
    and rifles should not be easily available for the public to buy.
    Discuss
    
14. Kids
    should not be using cell phones. Discuss
    
15. Government
    should make it mandatory for one of the parents to work from home.
    
16. Child
    Abusers should be given capital punishment.
    
17. Priests
    and Clergymen who abuse children should be sent to prison and the
    church should compensate the victims.
    
18. Sex
    Education should be made mandatory in all schools.
    
19. Some
    kinds of junk food are actually healthy. Discuss
    
20. Children
    under the age of 15 years should not network through Facebook or
    Twitter.
    
21. Natural
    disaster plans and survival should be mandatorily taught to children
    in schools.
    
22. Parents
    should talk to children about drugs and sex at a young age
    
23. Schools
    should expel all the bullies who make the other children’s life
    miserable
    
24. Beauty
    Pageants should be banned.
    
25. Harry
    Potter has a bad influence on kids. Discuss.
    

About
the author:
Ashlee
Swenson is a professional writer at homeworkpay.net.
Besides, she is fond of Psychology. In this case, she takes part in
different conferences and presentations to get more knowledge and
obtain experience. She dreams of helping people cope with their
problems. You can see more information here.