A persuasive essay attempts to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint using sound reasoning and evidence. It follows several key steps: choosing a clear position on an issue, researching the topic thoroughly through various sources to find specific evidence, and structuring the essay to present the evidence in a logical order. A strong persuasive essay will be well-informed, have a debatable thesis, disprove opposing arguments, and support its position using facts, statistics, expert quotes, and concrete examples from responsible sources.