在论文写作时，作者的目的就是通过影响读者来使他们提源于己的看法。这比起论证来讲更难，论证包含举出事实来证明论点。好似巧舌如簧的政客一样，一篇成功的论文也可以在情感上影响到读者。有说服力的演讲者们并未必要使读者或听者完全改变我们的看法，而是以另一种不一样的方法来考虑一个看法或焦点。
While it's important to use credible arguments supported by facts, the persuasive writer wants to convince the reader or listener that his or her argument is not simply correct, but convincing as well.
用以事实支撑的可信的论点十分要紧，有说服力的作者想让读者或听者相信，他们的看法不单单是正确的，而且还是有说服力的。
There may be several different ways that you chose a TOPic for your persuasive essay. Your teacher may give you a prompt or a choice of several prompts. Or, you may have to come up with a TOPic, based on your own experience or the texts you've been studying. If you do have some choice in the TOPic selection, it's helpful if you select one that interests you and about which you already feel strongly.
你可以用不一样的方法来为你的论文选择一个主题。你的老师或许会给你一个提示或可供选择的策略。或者，你或许会基于你一个人的经验或者正在学习的文本来提出一个主题。假如你可以选择多个主题，你可以选择一个自己有兴趣和印象深刻的。
Another key factor to consider before you begin writing is the audience. If you're trying to persuade a roomful of teachers that homework is bad, for instance, you'll use a different set of arguments than you would if the audience was made up of high school students or parents.
在写作之前，还有一个要考虑的要点就是观众了。假如你是想要让在场的老师们了解留家庭作业不好，那样你就得采取一套面对高初中生或父母时完全不同的论据了。
once you have the TOPic and have considered the audience, there are a few steps to prepare yourself before you begin writing your persuasive essay:
在你定下主题并考虑到观众之后，在开始论文写作之前，还有几个筹备步骤：
1.Brainstorm:Use whatever method of brainstorming works best for you. Write down your thoughts about the TOPic. Make sure you know where you stand on the issue. You can even try asking yourself some questions. Ideally, you'll try to ask yourself questions that could be used to refute your argument, or that could convince a reader of the opposite point of view.
头脑风暴：用任何比较适合你的头脑风暴方法。写下你对主题的怎么看。确保了解自己所站的问题的立场。你甚至可以试着问自己一些问题。理想状况下，你可以问一些对你的论点进行反驳的问题，或者使持对立建议的读者信服的问题。
If you don't think of the opposing point of view, chances are your instructor or a member of your audience will.
假如你不对相反建议进行考虑，你的指导者或观众就大概进行这项活动。
2.Investigate:Talk to classmates, friends, and teachers about the TOPic. What do they think about it? The responses that you get from these people will give you a preview of how they would respond to your opinion. Talking out your ideas, and testing your opinions, is a good way to collect evidence. Try making your arguments out loud. Do you sound shrill and angry, or determined and self-assured? What you say is as important as how you say it.
调查：和同学、朋友和老师谈谈对主题的认识。他们是如何觉得的？你从这类人那儿得到的反馈可以叫你预见他们对你的看法的怎么看。说说你的想法，评估一下你的看法是采集论据的好办法。试着大声说出你的论点。你的声音听起来是尖锐愤怒的，还是果断自信的？你所说的内容和你表达的方法同样要紧。
3.Think:It may seem obvious, but you really have to think about how you are going to persuade your audience. Use a calm, reasoning tone. While persuasive essay writing is at its most basic an exercise in emotion, try not to choose words that are belittling to the opposing viewpoint, or that rely on insults. Explain to your reader why, despite the other side of the argument, your viewpoint is the "right," most logical one.
考虑：这好像是显而易见的，但你确实得想想自己应该如何去说服观众。你得用沉着、论证的语调。论文写作从最基本上来讲是情感的触动，不要用一些贬低对立看法的词汇，或者一味地侮辱他们。向你的读者讲解在对立看法的存在下，为何你的看法是正确的，最符合逻辑的。
4.Find examples:There are many writers and speakers who offer compelling, persuasive arguments. Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech is widely cited as one of the most persuasive arguments in American rhetoric.
探寻例子：有许很多多的作者和演讲者提出引人注目、有说服力的论据。不少人将马丁·路德·金的演讲《我有一个梦想》作为美国修辞学中说服力最强的论据之一。
Eleanor Roosevelt's "The Struggle for Human Rights" is another example of a skilled writer trying to persuade an audience. But be careful: While you can emulate a certain writer's style, be careful not to stray too far into imitation. Be sure the words you're choosing are your own, not words that sound like they've come from a thesaurus .
埃莉诺·罗斯福《为了人权而奋斗》则是另外一个极富方法的作者说服观众的例子。但注意：当你模仿某位作者的风格时，应该注意分寸。确保你所使用的词汇是自己想出来的，而不是那些听起来像是从辞典里抄录的（甚至是照搬某人的原文）。
5.Organize:In any paper that you write you should make sure that your points are well-organized and that your supporting ideas are clear, concise, and to the point. In persuasive writing, though, it is especially important that you use specific examples to illustrate your main points. Don't give your reader the impression that you are not educated on the issues related to your TOPic. Choose your words carefully.
组织语言：无论是写作哪类型型的文本，你应该确保我们的看法是有条有理的，你的支持论点是明确、简洁和切题的。在论文写作中，虽然用具体的例子来讲解你的主要看法非常重要，但不要叫你的读者感觉你在关于主题的一些问题上不够专业。选词需要小心。
6.Stick to the script:The best essays follow a simple set of rules: First, tell your reader what you're going to tell them. Then, tell them. Then, tell them what you've told them. Have a strong, concise thesis statement before you get past the second paragraph, because this is the clue to the reader or listener to sit up and pay attention.
忠于主题：最好的文章都遵循着一套简单的规则：第一，叫你的读者了解你筹备告诉他们什么。然后，向他们进行讲解。然后告诉他们你说了什么话。在你进行到第二段时，可以做一个简短有力的看法陈述，由于这是在提示读者或听者坐好并集中注意力。
7.Review and revise:If you know you're going to have more than one opportunity to present your essay, learn from audience or reader feedback, and continue to try to improve your work. A good argument can become a great one if properly fine-tuned.
回顾和修改：假如你了解自己有不只一次的机会来展示你的文章，你就能从观众或读者的反馈中进行学习。假如调整理理，一篇好的论文可以变得愈加出色。
