College Composition CLEP Prep Practice Exam

A persuasive essay is typically written with the intention of convincing the reader to agree with the author's viewpoint or argument. This means that the primary purpose of a persuasive essay is to persuade or sway the reader towards a particular viewpoint. The other options are incorrect because they do not necessarily focus on persuading the reader. Option A suggests a balanced view, which is not the main goal of a persuasive essay. Option B focuses on informing the reader, while option C focuses on explaining a point of view; however, neither of these options explicitly state the goal of convincing the reader. Therefore, option D is the most accurate answer as it specifically states the primary purpose of a persuasive essay.