3 Parts of a Formal Persuasive Essay
A formal persuasive essay is made of three parts: Issue; Side; Argument. This is the type of essay
you write for class. Many professional persuasive essays have these three parts, but they might be
mixed around or woven together more creatively.
1. Issue: What the topic of the essay is about (school uniforms, curfew for teenagers, cell phones
in school, etc.). The issue should easily be found in the title or first paragraph of the essay.
2. Side or Thesis: Which side of the issue (“for” or “against”) the essay wants you to believe
in (against school uniforms, against an earlier curfew for teenagers, for banning cell phones
in schools, etc.). The side should easily be found in the first and last paragraphs of the essay.
3. Argument or Persuasion: This is where the essay is arguing (trying to persuade/
convince you) that their side is right and the other sides are wrong. The argument uses any of
five ways to convince: 1) Evidence (facts/data that backs up what they say—has sources); 2)
Opinion (information that sounds like facts—no sources); 3) Example (stories that back up
what they say—has sources); 4) Tale (stories that sound true—no sources); 5) Reasoning
(using logic/common sense to show they are right; could include evidence or opinions). The
essay has a better chance of convincing the reader by using evidence and avoiding opinions.
The argument usually explains a benefit (good outcome) for believing the author. The
argument takes up most of the essay with at least one paragraph for each different argument.
There should be at least three arguments, with as much evidence as possible to convince the
reader that the author is correct. The author should tell where they got their facts (sources).
For the persuasive pieces we read, identify each of these parts on a separate piece of paper. Make a
chart like the following and fill it in with as much information as possible.
Issue
Side or Thesis
(be specific)
Argument
Evidence / Statement
Example / Tale
Reasoning
(list as many things as you can find that
the author tries to use to convince the
reader:
•
number each different argument
•
summarize the argument
•
label it as evidence; statement;
example; tale; or reasoning
Argument 1 summary)
evidence; statement; example; tale; or reasoning
Argument 2 summary)
evidence; statement; example; tale; or reasoning
Argument 3 summary)
evidence; statement; example; tale; or reasoning
Argument 4 summary)
evidence; statement; example; tale; or reasoning
etc.
Sources
(write the sources the author used)
