✍️ Part 8: Persuasive Writing — Structuring Arguments for Impact
(For IGCSE, AS Level, and IB English Exams)
Want to convince, influence, and impress? Persuasive writing is all about clarity, logic, and emotional punch—presented in a structured, reader-friendly format.
🎯 Purpose of Persuasive Writing
To convince the reader of your point of view using:
- Logic and reason
- Emotional appeal
- Evidence and examples
- A clear, confident voice
🏛️ The Classic Structure: PEEL or PEAL
Use this model for body paragraphs:
P – Point
E – Evidence (facts, examples, stats)
E/A – Explanation/Analysis (how it supports your argument)
L – Link (back to your main point or move to next)
✅ IGCSE and AS students benefit from this logical clarity.
✅ IB students should aim to expand it with nuance, tone, and counterpoints.
🧱 Suggested Persuasive Structure (Essay/Article/Speech)
- Hook / Engaging Opening
- Start with a rhetorical question, shocking fact, or short anecdote.
- “What if I told you that every minute, we lose a forest the size of 20 football fields?”
- Start with a rhetorical question, shocking fact, or short anecdote.
- Clear Thesis / Stance
- “This is why I believe deforestation must be globally criminalised.”
- “This is why I believe deforestation must be globally criminalised.”
- 3-4 Body Paragraphs (Main Arguments)
- Each with clear reasoning and relevant evidence.
- Use PEEL. Include emotional or logical appeals.
- Each with clear reasoning and relevant evidence.
- Counterargument + Rebuttal (Optional but powerful)
- Acknowledge the opposing view — then dismantle it.
- “Some argue it supports the economy. But what use is profit on a dead planet?”
- Acknowledge the opposing view — then dismantle it.
- Strong Conclusion
- Summarise your argument.
- End with a call to action, warning, or memorable line.
- “The clock is ticking. We act now — or we never breathe freely again.”
- Summarise your argument.
💡 Powerful Persuasive Sentence Starters
- Let’s face it —
- Is it really fair to…?
- Imagine a world where…
- The truth is undeniable:
- While some may argue that… the reality is…
✍️ Sample Paragraph (PEEL)
Point:
Fast fashion is destroying our planet.
Evidence:
Over 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced every year, according to the UN.
Explanation:
This waste pollutes landfills and waterways, all for clothing that lasts mere weeks.
Link:
Surely, the environment deserves more than disposable trends.
🎙️ Tone Tips for Persuasion
- Use confident, assertive language (must, undeniably, clearly).
- Maintain a tone that suits your audience and context (formal/informal).
- Use parallelism, rhetorical questions, and triples for rhythm and emphasis.
We have the resources. We have the knowledge. What we need — is the will.
📉 Common Pitfalls to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It Fails |
| Repeating points | Weakens the argument |
| Over-emotional, no evidence | Makes you seem biased or irrational |
| No clear structure | Confuses the reader and lowers coherence |
| Ignoring the opposing view | Makes argument look one-sided and weak |
🧠 Examiner Tip
- IGCSE/AS: Coherence, clarity, and use of persuasive devices matter most.
- IB: A mature argument includes awareness of audience, balanced tone, and subtle rhetoric.
🎓 “Strong persuasive writing is passionate but disciplined.” – Examiner Comment
🧪 Quick Practice Prompt
Task:
Write 1 persuasive paragraph answering the question:
Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
Use the PEEL structure.