A persuasive essay is very similar to an argumentative essay in that information is presented to attempt to persuade the reader that a certain point of view is more legitimate than another. Another element of a persuasive essay will try to convince the reader to take a certain action or to modify a behavior they are already performing.
Usually, the success of a persuasive essay is based on many things. First is the information presented that is in support of the author’s point. If a reader can sense that the writer is less than very well informed on the topic, credibility will be lost. Another aspect of convincing the reader to buy into the writer’s point of view is quality of writing. Although this may seem obvious, it is critical to building effective momentum toward a powerful argument.