A persuasive paper uses evidence to convince others on a subject or particular point of view. The audience is generally people who are “on the fence” about the issue and therefore will benefit from gaining more information on the topic.  

An argumentative paper is similar to a persuasive paper. The main difference is that the audience is likely to be more resistant to your stance, thus requiring a stronger argument with a more focused topic.

Both of these essay types make a clear assertion or argument about some topic or issue. When you’re writing a persuasive or argumentative paper, it’s important to remember that an academic argument is quite different from a regular, emotional argument. In an academic argument, you’ll have a lot more constraints you have to consider, and you’ll focus much more on logic and reasoning than emotions.

Some assignments of these essay types may be composed entirely of your own ideas while others will require you to do some research and engage with the ideas of others. Be sure to check your assignment and/or ask your instructor so that you know which kind is expected of you.

These paper styles are important for learning how to properly present facts in a way to sway your audience.  By learning to properly form an argument to persuade others you gain life skills that can be useful in negotiation, whether it is asking for a promotion or purchasing a new car.