To make the thesis, or main idea, of your essay persuasive to the reader, it should be the focus of the entire paper as well as be supported by strong arguments. Much like a defense attorney represents his or her client in a court of law, you must defend your main idea, or thesis, not with opinions, but with as much evidence as possible. A persuasive thesis also discusses opposing views to argue why they aren't as correct or effective as the writer's position.
The first step in preparing your thesis on an essay question should be to reflect on it. Take notes in point form as you consider different sides of the question. Note what you think other viewpoints are missing and why the one you chose is the closest to the best answer to the question. For example, if the essay topic is whether or not retirement should be mandatory and you feel strongly that it shouldn't be, examining why those opposed to your view likely think that it should will help you create a more persuasive thesis. Since you'll be discussing other viewpoints and how they relate to your own, you can add depth to your arguments.
Another thing you should definitely do to help create a strong thesis is to not only cover other viewpoints but also anticipate how others will respond to yours. Write arguments to cover the possible responses to your previous arguments. If you find that you agree with some portions of opposing viewpoints, mention this but add why the position as a whole still doesn't work as well as your thesis. For instance you could say something like, "Although it may appear at first that mandatory retirement is desirable because it will open up more jobs for younger people, we must look deeper to see that by forcing older people out of the workforce, the cost will be age discrimination.” By examining all of the issues surrounding the topic and keeping up your supporting arguments, a persuasive thesis can result.
Once you have a strong idea as your thesis, mention it in the first, or introductory paragraph, and support it all the way through your essay. Each of your body paragraphs should relate to your thesis. If you find yourself becoming disoriented from the topic as you write, always go back to the first paragraph to guide you in supporting your persuasive thesis. If you feel yourself running out of ideas, even researching words from your introductory paragraph or your thesis can help. For instance, researching “mandatory retirement” can give you more information about your topic to include in your essay and it may also inspire you with more supporting arguments as well.
