staar persuasive essay examples

Writing a Persuasive Essay | Overview & Examples

Jeremy taught elementary school for 18 years in in the United States and in Switzerland. He has a Masters in Education from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He's taught grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8. His strength is in educational content writing and technology in the classroom

Amy has taught college and law school writing courses. She holds a master's degree in English and a law degree.

What are the steps to write a persuasive essay?

Start by picking a good topic that can easily be argued. Write the title and the hook sentence to grab the reader's attention. Jot down the main arguments you want to cover and research the arguments. Outline the essay using the researched main points. Write the body of the essay by fleshing out each main point as an argument. Write the introduction and conclusion. Have someone act as the opposition to your opinion, which will help test the arguments. Finally, proof the essay for all errors in spelling, grammar, and factual content.

What is an example of persuasive writing?

An example of persuasive writing is when the author takes a side of a particular topic and argues that side. An example of this could be a student writing to the local school board against a newly adopted school uniform mandate. Another example would be a local citizen writing their town council in strong opposition to a recently passed law allowing the sale of a recreational substance in their town.

Table of Contents

What is a persuasive essay, persuasive essay examples, how to write a persuasive essay, lesson summary.

Everyone knows that annoying commercial on the radio or TV show explaining why their product is the best and why the competitors' product is inferior. But what purpose do those commercials serve besides being annoying? Their aim is quite simple. They are trying to persuade people to purchase their product. To persuade is to get someone to do something or think something using arguments and reasoning.

A persuasive essay is a written essay that attempts to get the reader to do or think something. The essay acts in the same way that the commercial does. It gives reasons and examples why someone should do something or think something.

Persuasive essays contain the same basic structure as informative and expository essays do. The following table shows the construction of a persuasive essay.

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• 0:05 Persuasive Essay…
• 0:46 Researching and…
• 3:08 Outlining Your Points
• 4:36 Incorporating Your Sources
• 8:35 Lesson Summary

There are lots of persuasive paper examples and many persuasive arguments. It's important to remember that there is a clear difference between expository writing and persuasive writing. Expository writing presents information using a thesis, but the author remains unbiased. In a persuasive essay, the author attempts to convince the reader to take a side or take action. The following are some examples of common persuasive essay topics.

• Should schools allow girls to play on boys' teams?
• Should the government mandate that people get vaccines?
• Is abortion murder?
• Should the death penalty still be used?
• Should a parent be charged with a crime if they fail to get medical help for their sick child?
• Is health care a human right or a privilege?
• Should politicians be allowed to make false statements without punishment?

The following is an example of a persuasive essay introduction about screen time and children's learning.

So, your child has been in front of a screen for eight hours! (1) Is it time to panic? (2) Many people think it's important to monitor and enforce children's time in front of a screen. (3) While kids shouldn't spend too much time consuming mindless media, there are times when screen time simply doesn't matter. (4) First off, calculating screen time as a fixed number can cause kids to ditch good content for bad. (5) Secondly, there are several instances where being in front of a screen shouldn't count as screen time. (6) Finally, if a child is learning valuable content, the easing of screen time restrictions is correct because it's the world we live in currently. (7) Screen time is a very subjective topic, and I believe it shouldn't be calculated for everything involving a screen. (8)

The Hook - Sentences (1) and (2)

Background - Sentence (3)

Thesis - Sentence (4)

Main Arguments 1, 2, and 3 - Sentences (5), (6), and (7)

Writing a persuasive essay can be done step by step methodically to get the best results. Persuasion is an art, but it also follows specific rules and structure. The following steps will help build the skeleton of a good persuasive essay.

• Choose the topic - Pick a topic that has good arguments.
• Research the topic - Find good sources and information so that the arguments are valid and strong.
• Write the title - A well-written title can begin to get the reader in the right frame of mind. It's important not to reveal too much, or a reader may choose not to read at all.
• Hook - The hook is where you get the reader interested in the essay.
• Outline the points - This is arguably the most important step. Many persuasive topics have tons of points that could be argued, so it's essential to pick the right arguments to use. It's important to note that if the goal is to persuade the reader to do something that doesn't benefit them directly, the writer should include one argument for why it could be suitable for the reader.
• Write the Body - It's always easier to write a concise, persuasive essay by first writing the body and the arguments.
• Write the introduction and concluding paragraphs
• Devil's advocate - When an essay is done, it's still important to make sure the arguments hold up.
• Revise and edit the essay - Make sure punctuation, spelling, and grammar are all good to go.

How to Start a Persuasive Essay

You can't persuade if you don't have a good topic, so choosing a great topic is so important.

Depending on the audience and the writer, the more controversial and polarizing a topic, the better the persuasion can be. The following are some tips about picking good topics for a persuasive essay.

• Don't pick a topic that most people already agree on - For example, Dogfighting is a Bad Sport is something almost everyone agrees on, so most people don't need to be convinced.
• Sometimes, the best topics are the ones that have two opposing sides. A topic with two opposite sides is easier to tackle than one with multiple viewpoints.
• Know the audience - Topic choices vary depending on the intended audience and the essay's author. Topics like abortion and religion are volatile and should transpire when the audience is appropriate.
• Be passionate - If the topic choice is the writer's, then the writer should have a passion for the argument they are presenting. It also helps if the topic is familiar.

Once the topic is chosen, it's vital to lay out the argument points before diving into research. If the topic is significant, like climate change, the research will be easier once the main arguments are written. Once the main points are somewhat set, it gives an easier path to finding sources.

Researching and Finding Sources

If the writer is passionate about the topic, they should already know some basic information about the arguments they will present in the essay. Finding sources is critical to a valid argument. There are times that research may not be needed, such as when someone is arguing why they should have a sleepover. But most arguments need research to back them up.

Finding good sources during research is one of the hardest things to do. Sorting out the relevant sources from the irrelevant sources is challenging; this is especially true for politically charged topics like climate change. Here are some tips for finding appropriate sources and avoiding bad ones.

• Websites that end in URLs of .gov and .edu are valid sources.
• Stay far away from blogs because there is no way to check validity.
• Businesses that sell products should be avoided because they might benefit one side or the other.
• Trusted names like Britannica, National Geographic, and other established new magazines will provide accurate information.
• When using news sources, make sure it's not an opinion or an editorial.
• Double-check facts against other sources.

Outline Your Points

Many pervasive topics have tons of points that could be argued, so it's essential to pick the right arguments to use. It's important to note that if the goal is to persuade the reader to do something that doesn't benefit them directly, the writer should include one argument for why it could be suitable for the reader.

Outlining points and arguments will help to begin writing the body of the essay. If the writer uses the originally formulated points before their research, the outline of the main points should be a relatively straightforward process. Each paragraph will be a topic so that each topic sentence can be written during this phase in the process.

Think about the order of the arguments and which ones are more important. It's often best to save the strongest argument as the last point in the essay.

Incorporating Sources

Unlike full-blown research papers that require a works-cited page or detailed footnotes, incorporating sources depends on their usage. If a direct quote from a source is used, they need citations like in a research paper. If the source is only a reference, it doesn't require direct quotations.

Sometimes the writer will want to use the source because it adds validity. If the argument involves the importance of getting a vaccine, then a credible source can bolster the argument.

Writing the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

The hook should pique interest without revealing the writer's full intention and position. Pretend the reader is a squirrel that someone wants to hand feed - no big movements. Gently entice them to come closer.

Use the outline and the arguments to form the body. Include the argument points and their details. When arguments are written and organized, the writer can re-read and make sure it all fits.

Test the body - Once the arguments are written down, have someone read the arguments. Sometimes the writer gets blinded by their stance and fails to see a fatal counterargument that could ruin the essay.

The introduction paragraph should begin with the hook, followed by background information, the thesis, and then write a quick preview of the arguments found in the body. The concluding paragraph rehashes the arguments but doesn't add any new point of view. The call to action is the final sentence and lays out precisely what the writer wants the reader to do or think.

Editing and Revising the Persuasive Essay

Before editing a single word, the author should have someone play devil's advocate and act as the intended audience of the paper, or the opposite opinion of the writer. This concept is called devil's advocate because it argues the opposite side. If the devil's advocate can dismantle any arguments, they will need to be tweaked or re-written.

Once the writer determines that the essay's arguments hold up, the piece is ready for editing grammar, punctuation, and spelling. While grammar and spelling are always essential, they are vital in a persuasive essay because any mistakes will take away from the validity of the author.

This point is also valid for sourcing. During the editing phase, double-check major facts and sticking points to make sure they are correct. If data is being used, make sure it's accurate and represented correctly.

A persuasive essay is a written piece where the author attempts to get the reader to think a certain way or do something. Persuasion is used in many different fields like commercials and editorial pieces in newspapers. The persuasive essay comprises three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The structure of the essay is very similar to expository and informative essays . The first step to writing an excellent persuasive essay is to pick a topic that can be well-argued. A fantastic persuasive essay includes solid research from good sources that help to bolster the writer's argument.

Writing an excellent persuasive essay begins with picking a good topic, doing strong research, and writing down the main arguments. Then a thesis statement is developed along with a general outline of the essay. The writer then focuses on writing the body of the essay, which contains the main arguments that back up the thesis statement. After the writing of the essay's body, the introduction and conclusions are easy to compose. The essay should be scrutinized by someone posing as the opposition to see flaws in the arguments. Finally, the essay should be proofed and edited for grammar, spelling, and content. If the writer can set up the essay using the previous steps and methodically follow them, writing a good persuasive can be a smooth process.

Video Transcript

Persuasive essay writing with multiple sources.

'Because I said so!' We've probably all heard that phrase at some point before. Maybe we heard it when we were kids, or perhaps we've used it on our own kids when we're tired of giving reasons for why something should be done. An exasperated mom might have some success using it on her little kids through sheer exercise of parental authority rather than actual explanations of why the kids should, for example, clean up their rooms.

But if you write a persuasive essay without using several reputable, credible sources to back up your assertions, no matter how good your ideas are, you're essentially saying 'Because I said so!' over and over to your readers. In this lesson, we'll review how to put together a persuasive essay by pulling from a number of sources to back up your assertions.

Researching and Reviewing Sources

Once you have your persuasive essay topic, your first job is to determine what sources you'll use for your paper. This process will typically happen in one of two ways. If you've been assigned a persuasive essay for a class, then you'll need to conduct research to find suitable academic sources to support your position. Or, if you're taking a timed essay exam, you'll need to review the source excerpts that have been provided as part of the test so that you can become comfortable and familiar with what they say.

Note that excerpt is a fancy word for a short piece taken from a longer work. With standardized exams, you'll often be given a few short excerpts to read and use as sources for the essays you write.

If you've been assigned a persuasive essay for school for which you'll have to conduct your own research, be sure to use credible academic sources. That means that you'll need to use books and scholarly journals from the library. As you look for good sources, keep the following criteria in mind:

• Look for current sources. Some history papers, for example, may not require the most recent sources, but a good rule of thumb is to find sources that have been written in the last few years.
• Look for sources written by experts in their field or by reputable organizations.
• Avoid Internet sites that are not run by legitimate, credible groups. Sites associated with universities, governments, and major, reputable organizations are typically acceptable. Crowd-sourced sites like Wikipedia usually are not.

If you're writing an essay for a timed exam and you've been presented with excerpts from sources that you must use in your essay, take a few minutes to read through those excerpts more than once. On your second pass through the excerpts, you can scribble notes to yourself about the key points in each source. These notes might be quite simple.

For example, if you're writing a timed persuasive essay on the topic of whether the government should place high taxes on unhealthy junk foods and you've been presented with a few short excerpts expressing differing opinions on the issue, you might jot down simple notes about what the author of each source is saying, such as 'PRO: Because people would be less likely to eat unhealthy foods. Better for society;' Or 'ANTI: Because government shouldn't interfere with personal choices about what people eat.'

It's okay to jot down simple ideas and sentence fragments . We don't have to worry about whether our grade school English teachers would approve of these notes. We simply want to make it easier to refer quickly back to our sources and know what we're dealing with.

Outlining Your Points

As much as outlining your ideas before writing an essay might seem like too much additional work, it's well worth your time to do it for two major reasons. First, sketching out an outline will help you identify and organize your best, most convincing points in support of your argument. If your essay ends up being a tangled bunch of ideas, you won't end up persuading your reader or getting a good score even if you've put a few really good points in there. Second, outlining your points of argument ahead of time will help to ensure that your persuasive essay will be structured logically around your ideas. Your persuasive points should be the backbone of your paper and information from your sources should support your points.

In other words, you don't want to write a persuasive essay that's just a bunch of quotes and ideas from your sources that you've strung together. When you're writing a persuasive paper - or any paper, really - your good ideas should be the stars of the show. The information from your sources should play supporting roles to help build your credibility by providing data, facts, and credible opinions that bolster your ideas.

Remember, though, that while your ideas are the stars of your essay, you do need to back your essays up with good, credible research. Keep in mind that nagging mom from earlier. Without supporting your key points with information from your sources, you would just be trying to persuade your readers by telling them that your ideas are the right ones just because you said so. Just remember to strike the right balance between using your sources to support your points without depending on them too much and just pasting them all over the place instead of presenting your own ideas.

Incorporating Your Sources

So how do you accomplish that balance? How do you use your sources enough but not too much? Let's think now about how to avoid relying too much on your sources and not putting enough of yourself and your ideas in your paper.

The next time you write a first draft of a persuasive paper for class or a practice essay in preparation for a standardized essay exam, take a look at each body paragraph and do a quick estimate of how much space in that paragraph is devoted to you explaining your argumentative points and how much space is taken up by quotations, paraphrases, or summaries of your sources. If you find any paragraphs that consist entirely or almost entirely of material from your sources, consider that a red flag for revision.

The start and end of each body paragraph should always consist of your words and ideas. And your words and ideas should also run throughout each body paragraph, where you'll be making your major persuasive points, with ideas (and occasionally words) from your sources used as support. For example, if you're writing a persuasive essay arguing that the government should institute higher taxes on unhealthy junk food, you should have a few major points that make that case, and hopefully you should have those points organized in an outline.

If you're devoting two paragraphs to the point that such taxes would deter people from consuming junk food, which would in turn lead to a healthier community, you should have a clear topic sentence that introduces that subsection of your essay in your own words. Then look to your sources. Do you have sources that provide data showing that heavily taxed items are purchased less often? Do you have sources that provide data that show that communities that consume less junk food are healthier overall than communities whose residents do eat a lot of unhealthy foods? Use the credible facts that you find in your sources to support your major points. But be sure that you make your actual points yourself, in your own words, and just use your sources as back up.

Preferably, you should use a combination of sources throughout your paper rather than going one at a time, discussing one source, and then another and then another. Try to create a type of conversation among your various sources in which you pull facts from your sources as they become relevant, so that any one source may be used in a few different spots throughout your paper.

If your instructor or an exam scorer sees body paragraphs in your persuasive essay that consist just of information taken from your sources and tacked together, he or she will see that you haven't synthesized your sources to create your own points and ideas. Synthesis , in this context, means combining separate materials to form a single product. In other words, you should be taking the various reputable ideas that you have found in your sources and using them to generate and support your major, unifying thesis.

Here are some additional tips to ensure that you have done a good job of synthesizing the ideas from your sources into your persuasive essay:

• Compare your finished essay to your outline. Does your essay progress through specific, well-organized points? Remember, your major argumentative points should be driving your essay. The information from your sources should constitute supporting details .
• Have you used a combination of methods to incorporate your source material? You should use a combination of summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting from your sources. Stringing together a bunch of quotations does not equal a strong, well-synthesized persuasive paper.
• Have you given yourself the last word? A paragraph that ends with a quotation - or even a paraphrased idea from a source - is a dead giveaway that the writer hasn't been synthesizing ideas, but rather copying and pasting materials from sources without really thinking about them.

In each paragraph of your paper, you should be presenting clear, logical points of argument, supported by relevant facts and ideas from your sources. But the unifying idea behind each paragraph or subsection of your paper should be yours, and the concluding point in each paragraph or subsection should therefore also be yours. Always provide your own summary that ties everything together and drives home the point that you're making.

To review, in order to use multiple sources effectively when writing a persuasive paper, you'll need to first conduct research to find credible sources or thoroughly review any sources that have been provided to you. Next, outline your points to ensure that you have a logical progression of persuasive ideas and to be sure that your own points are driving the paper. Then, work on incorporating your sources into your essay by using them for supporting information only. If you find that you've included long quotations or large paraphrased chunks from your sources, that means you've let your paper get away from you. Remember that you're the one who should be making your argument. Use your sources to back up your points and enhance your credibility with your reader.

Learning Outcomes

This video will help you better understand how to:

• Locate good sources for essays understand how to incorporate them into your work
• Create an outline from your research
• Define synthesis and understand how to apply it to writing an essay
• Compare your finished essay with your original outline

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STAAR Writing: 4th and 7th Grade Essay Practice Strategies

Within the next few months, students across the state of Texas will be taking the STAAR test. Teachers usually review relevant information in class and conduct practice sessions, but because kids typically don’t have as much experience writing essays, the essay portion of the 4th and 7th grade STAAR tests can present unique challenges. Today, I’ll discuss how to practice writing for the STAAR test and also how to generally practice writing with younger students.

The STAAR test for 4th grade and 7th grade requires that students compose an expository essay within 26 lines. To clarify, essay “genres” fall into a two main categories:

Expository = informative (you are describing facts)

​Ex: Textbook article, newspaper report, description of a person, how-to guide

Argumentative = persuasive (you are trying to convince someone to think or act a certain way)

Ex: Book review, newspaper opinion piece

The STAAR test is somewhat strange in that you often are presenting your opinion but you are not necessarily trying to persuade the reader to agree with you. You often are describing “the best invention” or “what makes a good friend.”

At any rate, the best method for studying the STAAR essay outside of school involves three steps:

1. Gather sample materials from the STAAR website from past exams.

The STAAR website offers great resources for understanding the basics of the test. You can see last year’s exam and several before that. These exams include the prompt as well as scored responses and grader feedback. So you can see what kind of essay generally scores a 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Before getting too far with practicing the writing itself, I like to have younger students see samples of good writing. First, we will read a past year’s official prompt and brainstorm how we would respond. Then, we keep in mind our brainstorming and review the 4-scoring essays. With those samples, I will explain the different parts of the essay, such as the thesis statement, topic sentences, the examples, and the commentary. The goal here is to provide a “model” of good writing.

During the modeling stage, you don’t necessarily need to go through each and every test. Reviewing the most recently released test should work well since there are multiple examples for each score.

2. Practice writing paragraphs and short essays that include all the essential parts.

Younger students are going to struggle a lot with writing the basic structure of paragraphs and essays. To keep things simple, I like to break down a paragraph as follows:

TOPIC SENTENCE - a broad statement of the key idea of the paragraph

TRANSITION/CLAIM - a more specific statement that introduces evidence

EVIDENCE - a specific example that supports the claim/topic

COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS - an explanation of how the evidence supports the claim/topic

CONCLUSION - a statement that reiterates the main point of the paragraph

Not every paragraph needs to include all of these elements, but for the sake of practicing strong paragraphs, it is best to get students in the habit of including all of these parts. Often, younger students will write about 3 out of 5 pieces, usually forgetting to include a topic sentence and a conclusion.

For basic practice, I have students practice writing simple paragraphs, responding to prompts like “What is the best way to serve a tennis ball?” or “Describe your favorite class at school.” I recommend that they write at least once a day for 30 minutes to an hour. At this point, the information itself does not need to be perfect (and there will most likely be spelling and grammar errors); again, writing the structure correctly is the goal.

3. Once the structure is consistently correct, then focus on refining the content.

With practice, the student should be able to more consistently produce the structure of a paragraph and also a multiple-paragraph essay. Then you can start focusing on improving the content within the paragraph. (Of course, you can still guide the student on content before this stage.)

Usually students struggle with clarity in expressing their ideas and including examples that support their topic sentences and claims. Often, younger students rely too much on vague pronouns or phrasing that doesn’t precisely explain an idea or situation. Sometimes this lack of clarity happens because what they are describing is too abstract or the example is too complicated to explain. So you may need to help them brainstorm, too, if the content proves too tricky to write about.

When reviewing the essays during this stage, try to pinpoint areas in the student’s writing that leave you wondering what exactly they meant. Ask the student if they can clarify. Also, demonstrate and work together to come up with an improvement so they can see the process firsthand. I like to type up what the student has written and then break the essay down into parts, revealing what the student needs to improve.

Final Thoughts

Through this three-step process you should be able to more systematically help younger students with writing paragraphs and essays. Once you have done practice for a few weeks, you can then “benchmark” the progress by handing out another official STAAR essay prompt and having the student write a response. After reviewing, you can once again look at sample essays and compare, determining the student’s score and what to focus on for future practice.

Preparing for the STAAR test? Need help on the writing section -- or maybe just need writing help in general? Our tutors can assess your student’s weaknesses and help them build their skills for the test and beyond!

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162 Persuasive Writing Prompts & Topics: Examples & Tips

Writing a persuasive essay can be a challenging task. While it is excellent for improving a student’s critical thinking and rhetoric skills, coming up with a good topic might be difficult.

The easiest way to kickstart the writing process is to find persuasive writing prompts. Are you passionate about some controversial issue? Want to express your opinion? A prompt will help you to start thinking about it critically. It may contain a set of questions or a brief guideline for your discussion.

Our team will help you!

There is plenty of persuasive writing prompts for high school and college that deserve attention. So, we’ve prepared a list of such. Once you choose one to your liking, remember to read a prompt thoroughly. The controversy of an issue is usually apparent. It is crucial to find a prompt that states the main aspects of the topic clearly.

Believe us—writing a persuasive essay is elementary with prompts at your disposal!

• 🤷 Writing with Prompts
• 💡 How to Write?
• ⭐ 12 Best Prompts
• 🧒 Elementary School
• 🎒 Middle School
• 🖊️ High School
• 🌊 Environment
• 🕹️ Video Games
• 🔌 Technology

🤷 Persuasive Writing with Prompts

Before we dive into the prompts, let’s answer a few vital questions.

What is a persuasive essay?

A persuasive essay is a type of academic writing where you try to persuade your reader using arguments and supporting evidence. You provide facts and examples that explain why your position is the correct one. Describe the issue in the introduction, and express your stance on it in your thesis statement.

Remember to include the other side of the argument in your essay. It is essential to consider different perspectives on the problem. You can find numerous examples of persuasive papers in a free essay database . Not only will it serve as a sample, but can act as a source of writing prompts, too.

What is a writing prompt?

A writing prompt is a short passage that describes an idea for an essay, report, article, or some other piece of writing. It can be as short as one sentence, although it is usually more elaborate.

Some prompts can be presented in the form of an image. The most crucial thing is that they give a clear understanding of the topic.

How does a persuasive writing prompt look like?

The main goal of persuasive writing is to convince the reader that your side of an argument is the most legitimate one. Unlike in expository or descriptive writing, persuasive essay prompts express the duality of a dispute.

Persuasive letter prompts should be pertinent to the audience’s concerns. A prompt should ultimately convey your stance on the subject. Use words like convince , persuade , and why . Avoid using how in a persuasive essay prompt as it distracts from the purpose of such writing.

💡 How to Write a Persuasive Essay Using a Prompt?

Persuasive writing prompts help produce a good quality essay. Here is a list of things you should do to write an essay using a prompt:

• Read it and learn what issue the prompt states. What should you elaborate on? Look out for words that you find especially important or problematic.
• Understand what the prompt wants you to do. See whether you should discuss causes and effects or your opinion. In the case of persuasive writing prompt, it asks you to convince your reader in something. In what? Should you discuss both sides of an argument or state your opinion immediately?
• Divide the prompt. Look deeper into what it’s saying. Write down your initial thoughts on the subject.
• Compose a thesis statement . Outline the question or the situation the prompt states and elaborate on it in one topic sentence.
• Write arguments and supporting evidence. Dedicate one body paragraph to describing the opposing argument. Remember to use transition words to ensure good writing flow.
• Revise if you have time for it. Check with the prompt not to miss anything. That’s why writing drafts is always a good idea. This way, you can change your text without making a mess out of your paper.

⭐ 12 Persuasive Writing Prompts for High School

• Cooking as art — a delicate craft.
• 4-Day work week.
• Facebook vs. Instagram: visual design.
• Winter holidays — a time for friends.
• Is living in a village stressful?
• Beef production.
• Is kindergarten education importnat?
• Hobby as a job is a bad idea.
• High school students and independence.
• Allowance for kids: how much?
• Reptiles as pets — a lifelong commitment.
• Outside classes and fresh air benefits.

✔ 50 Persuasive Essay Writing Prompts

If you have trouble coming up with ideas for writing a persuasive essay, here is our prompts list. Whether you’re in school or college, we’re sure here you’ll find a topic that interests you!

🧒 Persuasive Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

• Your parents should go to bed at 9 pm every day. They say that it’s your time to fall asleep, but why? This way, they get to have a good night’s rest to feel energized the next morning. And your parents need it as their jobs are tedious and stressful. While you would like to have more spare time before going to bed. Persuade your parents that going to bed at 9 pm is perfect for them, not for you.
• We should stop wearing a uniform to school. If not every day, at least once a week, students should be allowed to wear casual clothes to school. Discuss why it is a fun and useful initiative.
• You need to move to another country for a year. Explain why you think that studying abroad is essential for you. Which country would you pick and why? Discuss what made you choose this country.
• Every child needs a pet. Some parents don’t allow animals at home. Explain why it is vital to have a pet in a family. Convince that a pet of your choice is the perfect option for any kid.
• Pupils should select their seats in the class . Your teacher always tells you where to sit in class. Would it be better if you get to pick your place? What is your opinion on that?
• Playing music is an educating activity that is crucial for child development. What musical instrument is the most fun to play? Convince your reader that the music instrument of your choice is the best one.
• The summer break has to be longer. Do you believe the summer holidays are long or short? Is it enough for you to get rest and find the strength to start a new term? Convince your reader that your point of view is the right one.
• The ability to read people’s minds in both the worst and best superpower. Imagine that you get to have this superpower. What are its advantages and disadvantages? When can you use it? Is it ethical? Discuss your opinion in your essay.
• Pupils should select their tutors. In school, you don’t get to choose your teacher. Would it be better if you could? Can students change teachers based on their personal preferences? Discuss why or why not.
• We should manage our budget from an early age. Do your parents give you pocket money? Well, they’re better to start. Some parents think they should give their kids pocket money even if they misbehaved. Others wouldn’t give allowance to their children if they did something wrong. What position do you think is fairer, and why?

🎒 Persuasive Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

• Tutors should wear uniforms to schools, just like students do. Imagine there is an initiative that wants teachers to do so. Some people believe it is a sign of equality and professional attire. Others think that just a formal dress code is enough. What is your opinion on this?
• Every school has to initiate school trips. Some individuals think they are disruptive to the study process. Other people claim that such trips unite students and are an essential part of education. What do you think? Explain your point of view and why it is the right one.
• Students should learn from famous people from time to time. There is an opportunity for one famous person to come to your school with a motivational speech. Who would you want to come, and why? Discuss why your school can benefit if a celebrity of your choice gives a speech there.,
• Single-sex schools are better than mixed ones. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? Talk about your point of view using convincing argumentation.
• Some individuals should lack money. What’s better: enough money to get by or too much money and more problems? Some think that too much money makes you forget about more straightforward and essential things in life. Yes, cash gives more opportunities, but people tend to strive for more money than necessary. What’s the point of millionaires in the 21st century? What is your opinion on this?
• Fast food damages children’s health and should be excluded from the school meal plan. Do you agree or disagree? What are some benefits of having fast food as a meal option at school? Discuss which opinion is more legitimate.
• Educational institutions have to support the arts and sciences more. Imagine there is a new building opening up in your school. The school administration hasn’t decided what is going to be there. It could be an art studio, a new sports center, or a computer class. Explain why it should belong to the arts and sciences. Talk about how such disciplines motivate students to evolve.
• We should study for four days a week. There is a law that considers implementing a more extended weekend. Do you think three days would be too much? Why or why not? Support your point of view with thoughtful arguments.

• Teachers should be required to turn off their mobiles during the classes. You can’t use your phone during the course (or at school). It’s a law in various educational institutions and for obvious reasons. Should teachers be prohibited from using their phones as well? Is it fair?
• It is better to have PE lessons as the first classes of the day. Some people think it is an excellent way to kickstart the day. Others believe that students will be physically tired to carry on with other classes. Which opinion is the right one?
• Plagiarism and cheating should be punished more strictly. Copying others’ works or using crib notes in class is strictly prohibited, yet it happens. Should schools implement more measures to ensure there is no cheating? How can they work?
• Students should select their courses according to their performance. Some people are better at science, while others excel at arts. Would it be better if we were allowed only to study things we are naturally good at? Why or why not? Convince your reader that your opinion is valid.
• You shouldn’t eat in class. Teachers generally think that it interrupts the lesson and distracts other students. At the same time, eating a snack can help you concentrate better and stay energized. Discuss your opinion on this in your essay.
• There should be mixed sports teams at school. Girls often like to play the same sports as boys. Should schools let them play in the same groups? Why or why not? Support your opinion with argumentation.
• Teachers should treat every student equally. It seems like an obvious thing, but the reality is often different. What would you do to make sure everyone is respected? Why?

🖊 Persuasive Writing Prompts for High School Students

• In the US, the 18-year-olds should be allowed to drink alcohol. In the country, driving is permitted after age 16, while drinking becomes legal after 21. How fair are these age thresholds? Statistics show that countries with integrated drinking culture (like France or Italy) have lower alcoholism rates. Would it be better to bring the legal drinking age down to 18? Discuss why or why not, using supportive argumentation.
• The “book of your choice” is fantastic, and here is why. Write a persuasive essay explaining why your favorite book deserves attention. Convince your audience it is worth reading it.
• Time management skill is vital for a successful adult life. It’s what you acquire in school and use for a job. Why is being organized so important? And why should you learn this already in school? Talk about your opinion on this subject.
• What’s more important in school – discipline or an ability to self-express? Some think that you come to school to get knowledge and acquire social skills. However, some students thrive in a less harsh environment. Discuss your point of view and why it is valid.
• Educational institutions should implement anti-bullying policies. School authorities should intervene if a student is bullied by other students, even outside of school. Do you agree or disagree? Convince your reader that your opinion is the most legitimate.

• Parents shouldn’t raise their children the same way they’ve been raised. Some people think there are universal values and principles that parents should teach their kids. While this is true, times change tremendously as generations grow up. What do you think is more just? Discuss your point of view in your essay.
• Your neighborhood requires a renovation. Imagine city authorities are planning on improving your area. What would you change in particular, and why? Write an essay using the appropriate argumentation.
• The importance of community is overrated. Some people are naturally more outgoing and thrive in such environments. Others often feel pressured and may feel out of place. Talk about your opinion on that subject.
• Are fictional books useless? Some people believe fiction improves imagination and teaches empathy. Others consider it a waste of time since there is no actual value in it. Which stance is more valid?
• Life is fair because it is unfair to everyone. Do you think this statement is true? Discuss the issue of class privilege. Do you think modern society gives everyone equal opportunities? Why or why not?
• Community service should be mandatory for high school students. Do you agree or disagree? What kind of activities would be included? Discuss your point of view in your essay.
• Classic literature should be an integral part of the high school curriculum. Should students be required to read old texts like Homer’s Odyssey or Shakespeare’s tragedies? Why or why not?
• You can make a career out of a hobby. True or not? Pick your side of an argument and convince a reader it’s valid.
• It would be better if all countries in the world switched to one currency. There are many aspects to consider when talking about this argument. Which side of it would you support? Why?
• Safety on school property should be a primary concern. Some institutions offer inefficient security services, which can result in tragedies. They may lack funds to ensure their students are safe. Should the government prioritize these issues? Discuss your opinion on this.

🎓 Persuasive Writing Prompts for College Students

• Abortions should be legal in all US states. Some religious communities are vehemently opposed to abortions. People with more liberal beliefs claim that it should be a mother’s personal choice. Discuss your opinion in an essay.
• The military should be voluntary. Military service is a civic duty is some countries. Should it be obligatory everywhere? Why or why not? Persuade your reader that your opinion is the most legitimate.
• Veganism and vegetarianism should become a new norm. They start to gain popularity in Western society. Some people consider it beneficial for health and the environment. Others switch to these diets because good meat is often too pricey. What are the real advantages? Or are they a myth? Discuss your opinion.
• The education system in the Western world has become outdated. Do you agree or disagree? What should be changed to make it more suitable for modern times?
• Your parents shouldn’t be your buddies. What’s better: a parent who is your mentor or best friend? Choose your stance on the subject and defend it using appropriate reasoning.
• Soft skills are more important than hard skills. It is thought that employers often prioritize your personal skills over professional ones at first. Do you think this is the right position? Express your opinion and support it with facts.

• Social media is a major frustrating factor in the lives of many people. Have you ever gotten FOMO looking at other’s picture-perfect lives? Why is it so easy to succumb to this illusion of ideal life? Discuss your opinion on the subject and support your point of view with pertinent facts.
• Democracy has proven to be the most sustainable governmental form. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Express your opinion and use relevant argumentation in your essay.
• United Nations have become inefficient over time. There is an opinion that the UN does not function properly anymore. Would you agree with this statement?
• Are genderless pronouns a good idea? They have become a crucial tool for transgender and genderfluid people to express their identity. Or does society overthink about words instead of actions? Do you agree or disagree?

💯 Persuasive Essay Writing Topics

If you feel more confident and inspired after reading our prompts list, check out some persuasive writing topics!

🎤 Persuasive writing: Music

• Hip-hop music objectifies women .
• Jazz does not exist anymore.
• Music festivals involve too many drugs.
• Classical music is the most sophisticated genre.
• The music culture of other societies does not get enough attention because of Western dominance .
• Musical therapy is not efficient.
• Patriotic songs can have a stimulating effect on people.
• Listening to music can increase one’s productivity.
• Anyone can learn how to sing.
• Humanity cannot imagine itself without the art of music.
• Music is the most influential form of art.
• Rap should be considered a form of poetry .
• Jazz sounds the best at a live concert .
• A piano is the best musical instrument.
• All children should have musical training at school.
• Music can unite people from all over the world.
• Specific lyrics can trigger aggression in people.
• Queen is the most influential band in Western history.
• To some extent, all music reflects a creator’s personal experience.
• Is the bell ringer a musician?

🦙 Persuasive Writing: Animals

• Wild animals should not be kept in a zoo.
• Animal fights should be illegal.

• Hybrid animals are unnatural.
• Agricultural production puts endangered species at more significant risk .
• Slaughtering farm animals for food does not justify their killing .
• Animal hunts should be illegal everywhere.
• There is no better alternative than animal experimentation for some medicine.
• Exotic animals should not be kept as pets.
• Animals should not be treated as objects—they are meant to cohabitate with humans .
• Cow milk is terrible for human health.
• Dolphins are the most intelligent animals.
• Using animals for medical research is unethical.
• There are better alternatives than cosmetic testing on animals .
• Poaching has multiple adverse effects on the economy.
• Farming is a form of animal abuse .
• Zoos can help in preserving endangered animals.
• All makeup brands should switch to cruelty-free policies.
• The use of elephants in the entertainment industry can lead to their extinction .
• Children should be taught how to treat animals.
• A dog is the best animal companion for a human.

🌊 Persuasive Writing: Environment

• Governments should advocate for the use of renewable energy sources.
• Garbage recycling should be obligatory.
• Humanity should take rainforest conservation more seriously.
• Urban areas should implement environment-friendly design and policies .
• There is a connection between waste management and global warming.

• If proper measures are not taken, the loss of biodiversity in coral reefs will be devastating .
• Greta Thunberg is the voice of her generation . The girl’s letter to the UN was one of the most discussed events of 2019. Talk about why her call to enhance environmental protection is more than timely.
• Sustainable clothing is the best fashion trend in 2023.
• Poor farming technologies accelerate climate change .
• Water pollution will soon become a more significant issue than air pollution.
• Environmental conservation is an essential element of economic growth in developing countries .
• First-world countries should implement a carbon tax.
• It is impossible to decrease environmental pollution without severe damage to the world’s economy .
• Weather forecasts are too inaccurate.
• Climate change trends have made the risk of natural disasters worse.

🌽 Persuasive writing: Food

• Parents in America should take better care of their children’s diets . Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the US.
• Healthy eating is more important than exercise.
• Overeating junk food affects mental health.
• Restaurants should be transparent about the nutritional value of the food they serve.
• There is no harm in consuming GMOs .
• Addiction to sugar can be worse than drug addiction.
• The fast-food industry isn’t entirely responsible for consumers’ health . It is up to every individual to take care of their diet.
• Food is not just fuel; it’s a leisure experience .
• Schools must provide students with healthy food options.
• Intuitive eating is the best diet.
• The downsides of sugar substitutes aren’t thoroughly researched .
• Being underweight is more dangerous than being overweight.
• Social and psychological factors have a notable role in obesity development .
• Eating meat is bad for health.
• Food supplements are harmful.

🕹 Persuasive Writing: Video Games

• Violence in video games causes behavioral problems in kids .
• Board games will never go out of fashion.
• Playing computer games can develop one’s cognitive skills .
• Game addiction is a more prominent concern than most of us realize.
• Virtual reality can disrupt one’s social skills .
• Children should have limited access to certain video games.

• There is no place for gaming in education.
• Certain video games can be beneficial for human health and brains.
• Hunger Games should not have been turned into a franchise.
• Gaming will become the most popular leisure activity in 30 years.
• You can earn a fortune by playing online games.
• Video games have multiple adverse effects on children .
• Gaming is just a way to escape reality.
• First-person shooter games improve one’s reaction and reflexes.
• Playing video games too much affects one’s academic and life performance.

🔌 Persuasive Writing: Technology

• Siri is the best example of publicly available Artificial intelligence .
• Computer science classes at school should incorporate beginner-level software engineering.
• Internet is humanity’s greatest invention.
• E-learning in medicine is still too expensive .
• Nowadays, nobody’s personal data is protected.
• If World War III happens, it will be a war of modern technology and information, not nuclear power.
• Genetically modified organisms are science’s big mistake.
• Cloning should be illegal.
• Cell phone addiction will soon become humanity’s worst challenge.
• Cyberbullying leads to drug and alcohol abuse among the youth .
• Robots will never be able to replace humans .
• Technology can help individuals with learning disabilities .

• Drones are an invasion of privacy and should be illegal.
• Apple is the best technology brand on the market.
• Data mining is an essential part of every company’s marketing strategy .

Thank you for reading the article! Leave a comment below to let us know what you think. Share the page with friends who may find the persuasive writing prompts and topics useful.

🔗 References

• 15 Awesome Persuasive Writing Prompts: Thoughtful Learning, K-12
• 200 Prompts for Argumentative Writing: Michael Gonchar, The New York Times
• English II Persuasive Essay [10th grade]: Brianna Johnson, Trinity College
• Writing Prompt (Composition): Richard Nordquist, ThoughtCo
• What Is a Writing Prompt: Karen Frazier, LoveToKnow
• What Makes a Great Writing Prompt: Laura Davis, Kripalu
• Writing Prompts for Middle School: Holt McDougal Online
• Persuasive Essay Outline: Houston Community College Learning Web
• Tips To Write An Effective Persuasive Essay: Melissa Burns, The College Puzzle
• Counterargument: Gordon Harvey for the Writing Center at Harvard University
• Persuasive Essay: EssayInfo, Writing Guides
• Ten Timeless Persuasive Writing Techniques: Brian Clark, CopyBlogger
• 31 Powerful Persuasive Writing Techniques: Karri Stover, Writtent
• A CS Research Topic Generator or How To pick A Worthy Topic In 10 Seconds: Department of Computer Science, Purdue University
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