Start by using this: I want to persuade my audience to my purpose. Exchange my audience with who you want to persuade and my purpose with what it is you want to persuade them to do. After you have established that, ask yourself: Why? List the reasons why you want your audience to do what you want them to do. After you brainstorm reasons, sort them by importance. Place all the important details into a column, then place all the less important details in another column. This step helps you narrow your reasoning so you emphasize the relevant, salient points. [1] X Trustworthy Source Reading Rockets Online resource supported by PBS providing research-based strategies for assisting children to become confident readers Go to source

When you are figuring out your purpose, think about any solutions that you can offer.

Try to find a real person to address your letter to. Who are they, and what power do they really have to help you? How are they going to change your mind? Will they just pass along your complaint? How should you address them? Are they in a senior or functionary position? Talk to them according to their position. Try to discover what beliefs and biases the reader has about your topic. What disagreements might arise between you and your reader? How can you present a counterargument respectfully? Figure out what concerns your reader might have with the topic. Do they have limited funds to distribute? Are they directly affected by the topic? How much time do they have to consider your document? Think about the kind of evidence your reader will need in your argument to be persuaded.

Use facts, logic, statistics, and anecdotal evidence to support your claim. Don’t come out and say the other side is wrong; instead, be respectful as you explain why your position is stronger and deserves notice.

Start by using single-spaced, block paragraphs. Left justify each paragraph; in other words, don’t indent the paragraph like you would in prose or an essay. Leave a line between each paragraph. Use a standard font, typically Times New Roman or Arial, in size 12.

Type the date. Spell out the name of the month, then give the date and year. Skip a line. June 4, 2013 Provide the name and address of the recipient. Try to find a specific person to send your letter to. Skip a line.

When addressing the person, use their title (Mr. /Ms. /Dr. /Miss/etc) and last name. If you are unsure what a woman’s preference is, refer to her as Ms. Always follow this by a colon. Leave a line between the salutation and the first paragraph. [5] X Research source Dear Dr. Brown:

Choose Respectfully yours, for something more formal. Sincerely, Kind regards, Thank you, or Yours truly, are standard for formal business e-mails. Best, Best regards, or Have a nice day, are much less formal and friendly. Skip 4 lines afterwards to leave room for the signature before typing your name. Thank you,

Avoid overly long sentences. Make sure to use strong, declarative sentences. Your writing should be succinct, to the point, and easy to read. Don’t make your paragraphs too long. Don’t cram so much information inside that you lose your reader, stray from the main point, or make your point hard to understand. Stick to the relevant information, and change paragraphs when you start a new idea.

This paragraph might only be 2-4 sentences.

Remember to keep it logical, polite, and factual. Avoid overly emotional language, don’t demand action, or be rude to the person or company you are writing to or opposing sides.

Cite statistics and facts to appeal to your reader’s reason. Make sure your statistics and facts are from credible, respected sources, and that you are using them truthfully and not taking them out of context. Make sure to cite the sources. Quote experts on the topic who support your position or disagree with the other side. These experts should be respected in their fields and be qualified to have an opinion on the subject. [9] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source Provide a reason why your request should be granted. Telling someone they need to do something isn’t a very effective persuasive technique, but explaining to them why you believe something should be done can help change their mind. Provide details, specifications, and limitations to your position and request. Talk about past efforts related to your request, or the lack of any action. Give examples of testimonials that relate to your position. Think of any other evidence you can provide as to why your position matters. Just remember to limit what you include in your paragraphs. State your case and situation simply. Don’t go into excess detail, but do include all the essential points. Choose only the most relevant statistics, experts, and testimonials.

Make sure to openly admit differences between your position and the opposing side. Don’t try to hide them; this weakens your argument. Instead, stress shared values, experiences, and problems with the opposing side. Avoid judgmental statements. That puts too much emotion into your letter and lessens your logical appeal. Being overly negative and judgmental may deter the other side from agreeing with you.

Aim to end with a powerful sentence that will help to persuade your reader to be on your side, or to at least see things more clearly from your perspective. Offer your own solutions or help. Agree to compromise, or meet in the middle. Show what you have already done or are prepared to do to deal with the situation.

If needed, have someone check your writing for spelling (or use your spell checker in the software).