A persuasive essay is essentially an essay posing an argument in favor of a particular point of view.
Layout is important. The essay needs to be structured simply and clearly so that each part of the text leads logically from one stage to another:
This is basically a 'narrative text', much like a text in a debate, explaining the arguments and sums up persuasively in favor of a particular viewpoint.
Example of a persuasive essay
Urban development - When to stop?
Urban development is one of the most controversial issues today. Developers and the property market argue that additional development is required to support larger populations and to accommodate modern lifestyles. Environmentalists and many social action groups argue that development is creating an unhealthy environment for human beings and reducing the quality of life through overcrowding and related social pressures.
The world's population is undeniably growing, and many governments have been looking at ways of dealing with large increases in population in areas which lack the infrastructure to manage population growth. It is expected by the year 2050 there will be 10 billion people living on Earth. Shanghai is one of the classic examples of the new mega-cities, rebuilt in response to massive demand for housing and more city facilities. It has developed very rapidly, virtually rebuilding itself into a city many times the size of the original city plan.
Despite the impressive size and scale of the redevelopment of Shanghai, the city's growth has come at a cost. Many locals have protested at the manner in which the redevelopment was carried out. Environmentalists state that these mega cities are not sustainable and in fact caused massive pollution and a very unhealthy environment for the inhabitants. This is seen as counter-productive result, negating the benefits and creating major problems for societies.
Another factor which has come into play is the rise of the New Economy. Lifestyles are changing, and so is the way that people do business. CAD design is also offering many different engineering options for providing infrastructure at lower cost on a much more sustainable basis. Modern design includes using urban areas as water catchments, and enhancing city structures to provide both power generation capabilities and healthier environments.
The risk is that the new mega-cities may not be able to perform their intended functions in future. There are better ways of designing cities and creating sustainable infrastructure to support larger populations at lower cost and with less disruption to the environment. In my view, alternative design option should be a natural part of any urban development proposal to ensure maximum efficiency and best results. We need to be looking ahead, to ensure best practice and best outcomes for future generations.
