A persuasive essay is an argumentative paper trying to sway the reader's opinion towards your own. Persuasive essays can range from controversial topics such as abortion, to every-day opinions such as "french fries are better than potato chips.
Persuasive writing, also known as an argument, is used to convince the reader of a writer’s argument(s) relating to a debatable issue. Persuasive writing involves convincing the reader to perform an action, or it may simply consist of an argument(s) convincing the reader of the writer’s point of view. Persuasive writing is one of the most used writing types in the world. Persuasive writers employ many techniques to improve their argument and show support for their claim. Another definition is "an essay that offers and supports an opinion".