How to Write a Persuasive Text: Techniques and Examples

Want to write more convincing essays for English? In this article, we’ll break down how to write a persuasive text that’s clear, convincing and gets you high marks in your English assessments.

Persuasive writing is all about getting your audience to embrace a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. But, many students struggle with persuasive writing because they either use weak evidence, forget who they’re writing to, or don’t know how to structure their ideas well.

To do well in high school English, you need to take a clear stance, back it up with solid evidence, and use the right techniques.  Here’s our guide on how to write a persuasive text.

Table of contents:

• What’s persuasive writing?
• Persuasive writing structure
  • Key terms you need to know
• Methods of persuasion: Showing authority
• Persuasive writing techniques
  • The Three Rhetorical Appeals 
• Using rhetorical language in persuasive writing
• Persuasive techniques you must use

What is persuasive writing?

Persuasive writing is a form of writing used to convince someone to agree with your opinion or to take a specific action. You’ll see it in speeches, essays, ads, opinion pieces, and even marketing materials.

In high school English, your goal is to persuade your reader by using clear reasons and strong evidence.

To do this well, you need to think about your audience: What matters to them? What could change their mind? The most effective persuasive writing is clear, logical, and appeals to BOTH emotion and reason.

Key features of persuasive writing:

• Clear position: Your stance should be obvious from the start and stay consistent.
• Audience awareness: Write with your audience in mind. Use examples or language that speak to what they care about.
• Logical structure: Start with a strong introduction, build your argument in clear paragraphs, and finish with a powerful conclusion.

Persuasive writing structure

A clear persuasive writing structure helps your ideas flow and makes your argument easier to understand. Most persuasive texts follow this simple structure:

Introduction

• Clearly state your opinion or thesis (what you’re arguing for).

Body paragraphs

• Each paragraph should focus on one main point (usually aim for 3-4 points in total).
• Include evidence or examples to support each point.
• Add a counterargument (the other side) to show you’ve thought it through, and explain why your argument is stronger.

Conclusion

• Restate your thesis clearly.
• End with a strong final message that leaves an impact.

Try it yourself with our free Persuasive Writing Toolkit!

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Key terms you need to know

Methods of persuasion: Showing authority

Authority in persuasive writing comes from sounding credible and knowledgeable. When your audience trusts you, they’re more likely to believe what you’re saying.

Authority: A composer or a trustworthy, reliable, and accurate text.

You can show authority in your writing by:

• Making your message clear and deliberate
• Choosing your words and tone to suit the topic and audience
• Thinking carefully about how your reader will respond.

Sometimes a writer already has authority because of their reputation. But even if you’re not an expert, you can build authority in your writing by showing a strong understanding of the topic and using a confident tone.

Your text can also have authority if it uses evidence that:

• Is published by a trusted source
• From reliable experts or organisations
• Is well-researched and draws on trustworthy references.

In short, if you want your reader to take you seriously, your writing needs to sound informed, thoughtful, and trustworthy.

Persuasive writing techniques

The three rhetorical appeals 

The ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle identified three key ways to persuade an audience. These are called rhetorical appeals, and you’ll use one or more of them in almost every persuasive text.

When writing a persuasive text, you should use at least one or a combination of rhetorical appeals to convince your audience.

Let’s look at how we would use each of these in the example below. 

Ethos – Appeal to credibility

Ethos is when you try to earn your audience’s trust. You do this by showing that you know what you’re talking about or by using reliable sources.

For example, a scientist giving a speech about the dangers of microplastics might mention her research or qualifications to show she’s an expert.

NOTE:  Having credibility is not the same as having authority, and it can depend on the context.

Logos – Appeal to logic

Logos is when you use facts, data or logical reasoning to make your point. This works well for topics that need scientific proof or hard evidence. For instance, if you need to prove that something exists (like climate change or the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes), it would help to point to scientific evidence, data and statistics to prove this definitively. 

Example thesis: The government should ban cigarettes.
Logos appeal: Research shows that smoking increases the risk of serious diseases and lowers overall health.

Pathos – Appeal to emotion

Pathos tries to make your audience feel something (like empathy, anger or fear). While this method doesn’t rely on evidence, it can be very powerful, especially in moral or ethical debates. When you evoke strong feelings, you can use these emotions to effectively persuade an audience to do something. 

For example, sharing a story about a family losing someone to a smoking-related illness can really hit home, and make readers more likely to support a cigarette ban.

You don’t have to use all three in every piece, but combining them can make your writing more convincing. The best persuasive texts use a thoughtful mix of ethos, logos, and pathos to connect with the reader and drive the message home.

Three rhetorical appeals summary table:

Using rhetorical language in persuasive writing

When writing persuasively, don’t forget to use other literary techniques you see in English. Similes, metaphors, and imagery can make your arguments more powerful and memorable.

Let’s take a look at an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech as an example: 

“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”

Throughout his speech, the speaker aims to persuade his audience to believe in the vision of a fairer, more equitable society transformed by racial justice. He uses a metaphor to describe social injustice as something physical and uncomfortable: heat. 

For example, he describes Mississippi as “sweltering” with the “heat of injustice” and the “heat of oppression”, helping the audience feel the suffocating experience of racial discrimination. The speaker then contrasts that with an image of “an oasis of freedom and justice”. This creates a strong emotional impact and powerfully expresses hope for an equitable future for Black Americans. 

We study examples of effective persuasive texts like this so that we understand how to use rhetorical appeals. By using vivid language like this, persuasive writing becomes more than just convincing; it becomes moving.

Try using similar techniques in your writing to express your ideas more deeply and leave a lasting impression.

Persuasive techniques you must use

Here’s a toolkit of techniques you must use if you want to make a convincing argument (and score top marks):

• Rhetorical questions

  “Do we really want future generations to suffer from our mistakes?”

• Inclusive language

  “We all have a responsibility…”

• Repetition

  Reinforces a key message: “We must act. We must change. We must care.”

• Emotive language

  Words like “devastating,” “injustice,” and “unforgivable” stir emotions.

• Metaphors and analogies

  Helps visualise complex ideas: “Social media is a ticking time bomb.”

For more information on what English markers are looking for in your persuasive texts, read our Year 9 Guide to Persuasive Writing.

Want to master persuasive writing?

Matrix students learn how to write persuasive texts in structured lessons with expert English teachers. You’ll even get valuable, personalised feedback to help you refine your essays and find your voice.