An Introduction to Persuasive Essays

An Introduction to Persuasive EssaysAs an English professor, I occasionally receive emails asking me to recommend interesting persuasive essay topics. The only question is whether I am to recommend topics for personal or professional use. Personal use would be a recommendation for a student writing for their class; professional would be a recommendation for someone writing for a client.When I have seen questions such as these in my inbox, I give different advice to the different readers in both cases. Whether they are students or college professors, students should select essay topics that resonate with them.Students should not allow themselves to be influenced by outside forces to suggest topics that are not appealing to them. Most students who pursue a political career eventually find out they hate the subject of politics. The same holds true for writing for your classes. The easiest way to avoid this pitfall is to select essay topics that appeal to you personally and don't have an ything to do with your course.Personal use: If the person to whom you're writing has asked you to recommend interesting persuasive essay topics, make sure you know their interests and why they may benefit from a particular topic. Do you have any friends or family members who are interested in a particular subject? If so, you may be able to suggest a topic that is a personal favorite.College professors who need persuasive essays in their syllabi also tend to be interested in topics that are personally interesting. In some cases, they have a problem. Sometimes, a new concept on a topic they have been teaching will be 'new' and may not be well known by many in their field. This is why a professor can frequently recommend to their students on a topic of his or her own choosing.Regardless, of what the situation, it is important to keep in mind that no matter what the person's personal opinion on a topic, no matter how interesting it may be, if it has not been presented in an interesting and appealing manner, the professor cannot recommend it. While it is okay to make personal recommendations, don't get too carried away because some professors have a reputation for doing that. If the professor feels strongly about a topic, then he or she may tell you exactly why.Another important aspect of selecting essays is whether they are a fair reflection of your own views. When you submit your paper, you should be sure to tell the editor the aspects of your essay that are most reflective of your own views. If you do this, you will be sure to get an excellent grade even if the editor has different views than you. It's the editor's job to select a topic that is not at all controversial and that a wide variety of people would be interested in reading.The purpose of essays is to create an argument and to persuade, not to use academic qualifications or references. Write in a way that best reflects your own thoughts and add your own unique flavor to your topic.