MLA Guide to Persuasive Writing

A step-by-step method for writing clear, persuasive prose

Persuasion begins not with answers but with questions. Using a classic approach to persuasive writing, this guide lays out a series of logical questions writers should ask about a topic. Writing thus becomes a tool of discovery through which writers learn to judge the strengths and weaknesses in reasoning, see new perspectives on a topic, and find their own voice. The guide covers

persuasive genres

stages in the writing process, from brainstorming to proofreading

writing for a particular audience

supporting your claims, structuring your writing, and developing your style

The book also addresses nonlinguistic persuasion, writing on social media platforms, and using generative AI in the writing process. Passages from real, contemporary texts serve as examples of genres and as illustrations of persuasive strategies, and key terms are integrated throughout the book.