english m3

Steps to Follow for Writing a Persuasive Editorial

1. Define your audience. When you plan to write a persuasive editorial, you need to know your audience.

2. Create a working thesis. Your thesis should express an informed opinion based on a knowledge of the facts and reflect logical thinking.

3. Brainstorm for supporting information. You need to find facts, details, examples, and reasons that support your opinion.

4. Think about opposing arguments. Your editorial will be especially persuasive if you pay attention to opposing arguments- opinions that are different from the one you are expressing. It is a good idea to mention such arguments and then answer them in support of your own opinion.

5. Decide how to organize your writing. Persuasive editorials may be organized in a number of different ways. Here are three effective methods of organization:

• Order of importance. List three or four major reasons for supporting your opinion, and then support and develop each of these reasons, going from the least significant reason to the most important one.

• Process of elimination. Lead the reader step by step through several possible interpretations. Show why each interpretation is not valid or does not fit the facts as well as your approach does.

• Contrast. If you are focusing on just two alternative viewpoints, you could contrast them, hoping to persuade your audience that one is more valid than the other.

1. Introduce your thesis. Draft an introductory paragraph that sets up the issue you will be writing about. State your opinion on the matter and the main reasons that support your opinion. Support your thesis with examples and details. Use your notes to write paragraphs supporting your opinion with facts and reasons. The more specific and concrete your supporting details are, the more convincing your essay will be.

2. Use a persuasive tone. As you write your draft, keep in mind that you are addressing an audience that does not necessarily agree with you. Present your ideas tactfully. Acknowledge but do not insult opposing opinions. Write a strong conclusion. In your final paragraph, restate your opinion as forcefully as you can.