How to Use Facts, Statistics, and Examples to Make Your Arguments More Persuasive
Persuasive writing is a crucial skill in today’s world, and in the selective entry exam. Whether you are writing an essay, blog post, or email, you need to convince your audience to agree with your point of view. One of the most effective ways to do this is by using evidence to support your claims: evidence in essays can help make your arguments more persuasive, but only if used properly.
Writers, like lawyers in a trial, must use evidence to persuade readers of their claims. Evidence is a double-edged sword that can work in your favour if you format a well-structured statement that corroborates your claims and incorporates a fact, statistic, or similar instance.
When to Use Evidence
The use of evidence should be strategic. It should only be used to support your claims and add validity to your standpoint. Ensure you do not contradict yourself. If you use a rebuttal, use stronger citations to strengthen your arguments. A common mistake is to use evidence that doesn’t directly relate to the argument; only use evidence that reinforces your claims and makes them more convincing.
Cite Your Sources and Use Reliable Sites
It is important to cite your sources when using evidence in your essays and other writing. Failure to do so can lead to plagiarism, which can have serious consequences, such as losing credibility with your audience. Citing sources is also an ethical obligation to the original author of the information.
Use reliable sites, and look for exact and accurate figures to verify your arguments. Depending on your essay’s topic, you can categorize it into a specific field such as health, technology, or money. For example, when writing an article or essay related to COVID, it would be more efficient to cite the health minister’s stances than your friend.
Think About Using Quotes and Expert Statements as Evidence
To make your points stronger, think about using quotes and statements from experts in the field. Exact numbers, or a statement from someone considered an expert in the field, can add credibility to your arguments. By keeping track of news and media, you can learn about different people and gain general knowledge, which you can apply to your writing.
Keeping Track of News and Media
To best prepare for persuasive writing, it’s highly effective to keep track of news and media of what’s going on. This way, you will not only gain general knowledge but also learn about different perspectives. Once you incorporate such skills into your writing, it will be well-recognized and considered an educated piece.
Using evidence to support your arguments is an essential aspect of persuasive writing. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can use facts, statistics, and examples to make your arguments more persuasive. For more persuasive writing tips, why not download our persuasive writing guide? And if you still have questions or need further assistance, reach out to our friendly tutors.
