CM220M1-1: Articulate what constitutes effective persuasive communication in personal, professional and academic contexts.

PC1.1: Engage in a team setting with professional integrity and respect.

In this Competency Assessment, you will write four paragraphs describing effective persuasive communication in personal, professional, and academic contexts. No matter the context, you need to choose the most appropriate audience, method of communication, and evidence to convey your argument and persuade others to agree with you.

In each of the first three paragraphs, include at least one concrete example of effective persuasion that you have experienced or produced yourself to illustrate your points. Describe that example, identify the parts of the rhetorical situation (audience, speaker, text, purpose, and context), and offer specific reasons why the example was effective based on the concepts covered in the Module 1 reading. You can also include information on tone, style, formality, voice, correctness, evidence, and word choice as you develop your analysis. The fourth paragraph will focus on the relationship between teamwork and persuasion.

• In the first paragraph, describe an example of effective persuasive communication in personal contexts such as social media posts, emails to friends, or communications to your child’s teachers and explain the considerations you must keep in mind to communicate effectively in these personal communications.
• In the second paragraph, describe an example of effective persuasive communication in professional contexts. You can consider your own field of study and the expectations for writing effectively in that field and explain how that communication example illustrates the expectations for professional persuasive communication, or you could describe a communication you received in a professional context, such as a letter from a lawyer or business.
• In the third paragraph, describe an example of effective persuasive communication in an academic context like a discussion board, assignment, or group presentation. In this paragraph, consider how academic persuasive standards differ from personal and professional writing.
• Finally, you will often need to work as part of a team in academic and professional contexts. In the fourth paragraph, discuss how you could use collaboration and teamwork, including the strategies described by Steven Johnson in his TED Talk “Where Good Ideas Come From,” to persuade others and communicate ideas effectively and ethically to others.

Follow APA formatting guidelines for the document. Paragraphs should be well-developed (use the “point, illustrate, explain” method), cohesive, and edited for clarity and correctness. Cite any sources used in APA style, including the module reading. 

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

Paragraph 1

● Describe an example of persuasive communication in a personal context. This could be a social media post, an email to a friend, or even a conversation.

● Identify the parts of the rhetorical situation.

● Analyze what makes this example effective.

● Draw connections to concepts from the Module 1 reading.

Paragraph 2

● Describe an example of persuasive communication in a professional context. This could be a memo, email, or presentation.

● Identify the parts of the rhetorical situation.

● Analyze what makes this example effective and consider the expectations for professional communication in your field.

● Draw connections to concepts from the Module 1 reading.

Paragraph 3

● Describe an example of persuasive communication in an academic context. This could be an essay you wrote for a class, an article you read, or a discussion post.

● Identify the parts of the rhetorical situation.

● Analyze what makes this example effective and consider how academic persuasion differs from other contexts.

● Draw connections to concepts from the Module 1 reading.

Paragraph 4

● Discuss how you could use collaboration and teamwork to persuade others and communication ideas effectively and ethically.

● Draw connections to Steven Johnson’s TED Talk and the theories of rhetoric covered in the Module 1 reading.

References

● Since you will reference concepts from the Module 1 Reading or may draw ideas from the PG Writing Center, include signal phrases and citations, like this: According to the PG Writing Center, persuasive writing should. . .

● include a References page with citations for the reading and any other sources you use.