How to Write a Persuasive Essay Outline? 6 steps

Guide for writing influential Persuasive Essay Outline with 6 steps and 9 helpful tips. This article will help writers and students to understand the purpose of the persuasive essay outline and how to go about preparing one.

What is a Persuasive Essay Outline?

A persuasive essay outline helps a writer to plot out how they will present their paper. It is a series of short points that will ensure a smooth flow of information that supports the basic premise being put forward. It is like a map that gives an essay and its writer direction. In coming up with a persuasive essay, it is vital that the information being relayed will make sense to the reader. As they move from the introduction, into the body and conclusion, the argument set out at the very beginning should be consistently evident through out and each key point structured to support the overall argument.

A persuasive essay outline can be put on paper as a kind of form. It gives the arrangement of the essay, provides the key information and points that will appear in each paragraph. When the writer finally gets round to writing the actual essay, he or she simply need to follow the outline and fill out the already indicated information that is to appear in each paragraph. Some aspects of the essay can be written in full in the outline, such as the thesis statement, while others need only a small point to be noted that will be added on to in the actual essay.

Instructions (6 steps)

How to Create a Useful Persuasive Essay Outline

1. Identify the Topic

Clearly state in a concise manner what you are intending to argue about in favour. The topic should be one you are very familiar with or at least intend to do sufficient research on. Remember that you will have to come up with several key points that will support your case

2. Come up with a Thesis Statement

This should be a single sentence statement that is clear and concise. It should show the main argument you are going for. This statement is usually used as the final sentence in the introduction section. It gives a clear understanding of what the essay is going to cover.

3. List your key points

Your key points are the foundation that holds up your argument. Try to have at least three strong key points on which you will expound on to make your argument more convincing. As you put down your key point in the outline, put down some smaller points that will help to further support them.

With each argument be sure to indicate the source material. Whether it is from a government report or a magazine article, be sure to note it down so you can refer back to it when writing out the essay and reference it appropriately.

4. Formulate your Chain of Arguments

This concerns how you will arrange your key points. They need to flow well so that as the reader moves from point to point they are becoming more deeply convinced. Doing this in the outline makes it a straightforward matter when you finally get round to writing the essay.

5. Give voice to the opposition

Identify at least a couple of arguments against your hypothesis. They should be well known arguments that even the reader will have been aware off before reading the essay. This is an important part of a persuasive essay, giving a fair audience to an opposing argument. List the two major arguments against your position and indicate any good counter response that still helps to prop up your overall premise. In a persuasive essay, your thesis should still always come out on top in any argument, even if it is against yourself.

6. Run through Your Outline

Go over the flow of your outline. Each point should build on the other and a stable flow of reasoning should accompany it. If the arrangement and points to the outline are persuasive then the essay will also be persuasive.

With the persuasive essay outline, a writer is creating a skeleton or a framework that he or she will fill out when it comes to writing the actual essay. It is a good idea to create it using a numbered sequence and also making use of bullet points. This helps create a good layout that can be easily followed. The persuasive essay outline is an excellent tool for organizing one’s thoughts and ideas. Once you find a persuasive essay outline that works well for you, you can adapt it to use when building other essays.

Tips

1. Create a Form

Create a form that will work as your persuasive essay outline. This makes it easier to follow and you can quickly come up with the headings, sub-headings and key points.

2. Do not worry

Do not worry about spell check or language issues. The persuasive essay outline is a private tool that only the writer will use so it does not matter how grammatically correct the phrasing is. The writer can even use acronyms as long as he or she is able to follow and understand it.

3. Concentrate on the main body

The bulk of the details for the outline should be concentrated on the main body. Do not however forget to sketch out how the introduction and conclusion should appear.

4. Create your Outline

Create your persuasive essay outline online rather than writing it on paper. This will allow you to more easily make corrections and adjustments. You can also leave spaces and print out the outline to take to the library and jot down information gleaned from books, journals and magazines.

5. Adjustments

Allow yourself to make adjustments as you go along. The earlier you start on your outline, the more time you have to consider the information and research collected. You can choose to add to the outline or even delete some sections. If the outline in its entirety is not proving satisfactory then you can even leave off the topic all together and pick a new one to start over with.

6. Copy and Paste

If inspiration strikes you and you are able to create just the right thesis statement, introduction and conclusion, then by all means put them down in the outline. This allows you to simply copy and paste them directly on to the actual essay document.

7. List Resources

Be sure to list resources you will look into to beef up your essay. Think of books, newspaper and magazine articles you can refer to and get information to support your arguments. Do not rely on your own understanding or unsubstantiated suppositions to make your case.

8. More than one Point

Be sure to have more than just one point to support your main points. Using several smaller points to support the main one makes your case more compelling.

9. Keep your outline concise

Remember to keep your outline concise. It is not a different version of the actual essay. It is only meant to give it direction and draw out the main points.

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