A personal anecdote is a short, real-life story that often happened to the writer or speaker. It can be used in a variety of writing, including persuasive essays, to help persuade an audience. Personal anecdotes can be about a person or an event and are most effective when placed correctly within the argument. They can be used to personalize an issue in a way that supports the writers contention and provide insight into how an issue has affected someones life. Anecdotes can also encourage audiences to see an issue from a unique or different perspective and engage readers emotionally, encouraging a sense of empathy with the writers contention. When telling a personal anecdote, it is important to take time to think about the story before starting to talk, use narrative tenses, and finish the story by saying why it is important to you or why you remember it.