Distinguishing Between Argumentative & Persuasive

Argumentative vs Persuasive

There are various styles of writing employed for crafting essays. Argumentative and persuasive writing are two styles that seek to convey the author’s point of view to the reader. Although these styles share some similarities, they are not the same and are used interchangeably by many. This article will highlight the key differences between argumentative and persuasive writing.

Key Takeaways

• Argumentative writing presents an argument and supports it with evidence, while persuasive writing tries to convince the reader of the author’s idea.
• Persuasive writing has a more personal tone, whereas argumentative writing is more fact-based and cold.
• Argumentative writing acknowledges counter views, while persuasive writing focuses on the author’s point of view and its efficacy or efficiency.

Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing is commonly used in advertisements, where the goal is to convince the reader of the effectiveness or efficiency of a product or service. It is an umbrella term encompassing all writing aimed at converting the reader’s opinion, ultimately leading them to accept the author’s point of view. Persuasive writing relies heavily on logic and has a personal touch, as the writer seeks to directly communicate with the reader. At the end of the piece, the writer usually calls for action from the reader.

Argumentative Writing

As the name implies, argumentative writing presents an argument and provides facts and evidence to support the reader’s understanding. This type of writing acknowledges that there are other points of view and presents evidence in support of these counter views. However, the writer also exposes the flaws in the counter views using facts and suggestions.

The primary goal of argumentative writing is not to sway the reader’s opinion or win them over, but rather to present a solid point of view that allows the reader to think about and compare the merits of the presented perspective with counter views.

Difference between Argumentative and Persuasive Writing

• While both persuasive and argumentative writing styles share many similarities, the methods used by each style are different.
• Argumentative writing aims to prove a point of view, while persuasive writing seeks to convince the reader of the author’s idea.
• Persuasive writing has a more personal tone, while argumentative writing appears to be cold and based on facts.
• Persuasive writing focuses on the author’s point of view and its efficacy or efficiency, whereas argumentative writing acknowledges and addresses counter views.