How to Write an Advisory Essay

An advisory essay is similar in structure and purpose to a persuasive essay, in that it tries to advise or convince the reader of your findings or recommendations. In order for this type of essay to be successful, the researching of the topic must be thorough and well balanced. You will need to address even the down sides of following the advisory you are recommending, but with material to convince the reader that the benefits far outstretch any pitfalls. Choose a topic you are passionate about as it will make the task easier and make the writing more convincing.

Select a topic for your essay and research the topic thoroughly. For example, if you are writing an advisory against drinking out of a plastic water bottle, you will need to research all arguments for and against it.

Read articles, interviews and studies regarding your selected topic. Take notes on the pros and cons of your advisory and organize your research material to back up your conclusions.

Organize the layout of the essay. Lay out points to be introduced in the beginning, middle and end. Make notes of where to insert your research and professional opinions.

Write an introduction that showcases and introduces your idea and sets the scene. For the water bottle advisory, for example, write an everyday scene the reader can visualize and relate to. "It's a hot sunny day and you just finished a grueling workout at the gym. You head over to aconvenience store and place a dollar bill down on the countertop and request a bottled water from the cooler." Here you will have the reader relating to the scene and investing in the setting. Jolt them out of this visualization with a stark fact. For example, relay a hard fact or number regarding how chemicals from the plastic can contaminate the drinking water.

Craft the body of the essay. Each paragraph, for example, should lead the reader from point to point, each building on the last. Weave in research material and professional opinions into your finds. Mold the writing so that it not only presents your findings but warns and advises the reader to heed your conclusions. For example, with the bottled water essay, you will be urging reader to abandon their use.

Incorporate the cons of following your advisory. The reader will likely be thinking of them so by touching on them in the essay and addressing your concerns you make the essay that much more convincing. For example, a con of foregoing bottled water is a decreased convenience factor. Bottled waters are available at virtually every store while you may not have your stainless steel water container with you. Illustrate to the reader that the benefits outweigh any inconvenience.

Conclude the essay with your strongest, most moving and most convincing facts or a powerful quotation. Incorporate a call to action in the essay conclusion that pushes the reader to follow the advisory you have presented.