Articulate what constitutes effective persuasive communication in personal, professional and academic contexts.

Engage in a team setting with professional integrity and respect.

Assignment Introduction

You engage in persuasion every day. Whether you are posting on a social media site about the need to build sidewalks to keep children safe when they are walking to school, emailing your boss to propose a new safety procedure, or writing an academic essay that advocates a mandatory spay/neuter program in your city, you have to consider the most appropriate audience, method of communication, and evidence to make your case.

In this Competency Assessment, you will describe and analyze three persuasive messages or communications – a personal, professional, and academic example from your experience. Your reflection will include an opening paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Since you will be writing about your personal, professional, and academic experiences, using “I” and first-person pronouns is fine when describing each example. 

The three body paragraphs (a minimum of 5-7 sentences each) should describe and analyze each example. You will also connect the example to Linda Flower’s concept of intercultural rhetoric in the Module 1 Reading. In each body paragraph, you will do the following:

Review a sample assessment

Describe

As you describe each example, think in terms of audience, setting, and purpose. For example, does your professional example take place among your fellow managers (audience) at an IT company (setting)? Is one of the managers arguing for a shift to a four-day work schedule (purpose)? As you explain the persuasive messages, include details that explain what information was exchanged in these communications. Consider using dialogue and description to develop them further.

Analyze

In the analysis portion of your paragraphs, you will provide two reasons why each example was effective. Consider techniques such as tone, word choice, evidence, and examples as you analyze. For instance, did the speaker provide concrete examples of companies successfully implementing a four-day work schedule?

Connect

Finally, connect each example to the Module 1 readings by explaining how the example demonstrates one concept from Linda Flower’s intercultural rhetoric concepts, such as rival hypotheses, the story behind the story, or options and outcomes. For example, did the manager consider a rival hypothesis, such as the cost of moving to a four-day workweek? And because you will often need to work as part of a team in academic and professional contexts, those two paragraphs should also discuss how you could use collaboration and teamwork to persuade and communicate ideas effectively and ethically to others.

Along with three body paragraphs, open with a brief introductory paragraph (2–4 sentences) to introduce the main point of your reflection. Finally, conclude your reflection with a brief summary (2–4 sentences) of your points.

Follow APA formatting guidelines for the document. Body paragraphs should use the PIE method — “point, illustrate, explain” — and should be well-developed, cohesive, and edited for clarity and correctness. Include an APA references list.

Submit your reflection to the Module 1 Dropbox in a Microsoft Word document or a PDF.

Use the following chart to help ensure that you meet the following expectations in the final version of your competency assessment: