Ah, yes, the dreaded essay! Don’t fear essay writing. It sounds scary, but it does not have to be. Take one step at a time, and it isn’t so bad. The thesis statement can be problematic for some writers, so let’s address it here.

A few questions to keep in mind when writing to persuade. Who are your readers? Are they likely to be skeptical or critical? How familiar are they with the topic? Will they understand technical language? How informal can you be?