It’s important to see your argumentative piece as dialogue with the reader, not a monologue of conventional wisdom. As Gerald Graff writes, “the goal of writing like this is NOT to “play it safe.” Good persuasive writing is not about repeating the truths that are already accepted by your audience; instead, persuasive writing can only have a purpose if it challenges some belief your readers hold.” Some of the best ways you can do this include:
naysayers.
using the evidence in the prompt as something to argue against.
concrete, specific examples that provide reasons to support your claims.
excellent, interesting language that makes your piece unique.
Use concrete detail to give your piece power and context. Include references to popular culture, non-fiction books, your own experience, and anything else that adds color to the piece. Remember, you want to keep these references brief and focused, but use them.
Use the prompt to your advantage. Respond to it; challenge it; use it as support for your claims. All of that information is useful to you.
Introductions have to be more engaging. Take out the “some people say this, some people say that” filler and jump to the specific anecdote/story/stat you want to engage the reader with. Three parts to an effective intro: STAMPY ELEMENT, BRIDGE TO THE TOPIC, THESIS.
Take some risks. Make the reader remember your piece. In a sea of similar essays, you want to stand out.
Learn the grammar and usage issues. Don’t just make changes without internalizing the rules.
