Writing a Persuasive Essay
To write a successful persuasive, cause/effect, or definition essay, use the following tips:
1. Develop a strong thesis.
 Be sure to check if your thesis has all three Ps: preview, parallelism, three
prongs. This usually ends up at the end of your introduction. If you write a
persuasive essay, your thesis should be what you plan to persuade your
readers to think. If you are writing a cause/effect essay, your thesis should be
the cause while your arguments are the effects. When writing a definition
essay, your thesis should define the word you chose.
2. Stick to three or four examples/arguments.
 If you try to include more than three or four examples/arguments, your essay
may lose its focus. Give each argument justice instead of cutting them short.
Remember: each paragraph should be devoted to one example/argument. If
you are writing a cause/effect essay, your arguments should focus on the
effects. Your cause should be in the introduction.
3. Make it personal.
 In addition to historical and literary examples, use personal examples.
 Make sure you choose a specific audience and purpose.
4. Always remind your reader of your thesis.
 At the end of each paragraph, explain how your example/argument relates
back to your original thesis.
5. Leave your readers with a clincher.
 Make sure you have a signal word/phrase and your rephrased thesis.
 Besides recapping what you covered in your essay, leave your readers with
what they should have learned or got out of your essay. Come full circle!
Persuasive Essay and Cause/Effect Essay Rubric
Name ___________________________
Criteria
Topic
4
The essay is well-focused on the topic.
The author does not go on tangents.
Audience and Purpose
Development
Grammar and Formatting
The essay is powerfully organized and
developed for audience and purpose
chosen.
Each topic is well developed with
examples, illustrations, and/or descriptions
and supported with elaboration. The
student follows the TPEEA or TPEQEA
method. Arguments are well organized.
The essay is virtually free of surface errors
and is in proper MLA style. The student
follows the teacher-provided format for the
introduction and conclusion.
Name ___________________________
Criteria
Topic
Audience and Purpose
Development
Grammar and Formatting
4
The essay is well-focused on the topic.
The author does not go on tangents.
The essay is powerfully organized and
developed for audience and purpose
chosen.
Each topic is well developed with
examples, illustrations, and/or descriptions
and supported with elaboration. The
student follows the TPEEA or TPEQEA
method. Arguments are well organized.
The essay is virtually free of surface errors
and is in proper MLA style. The student
follows the teacher-provided format for the
introduction and conclusion.