COMM 315: Persuasion (Miller)

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Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

COMPOSE IDEAS CLEARLY IN EFFECTIVE, APPROPRIATE AND WELL-ORGANIZED WRITTEN MESSAGES (SLO #1).

Use advanced lower-division composition techniques that address essay structure, continuity, emphasis and subtlety, elements of style, grammar as stylistic technique, audience, and persuasive essay writing.
Apply the advanced use of clarity (agent-action-goal) and coherence (concentration, focus, maintenance, clear orientation and subject control), concision and emphasis to develop writing skills appropriate for a sophisticated style of English.
Compose arguments cogently in a number of modes, including but not limited to making proposals, providing evaluation, and explanation of positions and the existence of causal and/or correlation relationships.

ANALYZE AND FORMULATE CRITICAL THINKING WITHIN THE EVIDENCE AND REASONING OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN MESSAGES (SLO #2).

Construct and deliver ethical persuasive messages directed toward a specific audience in front of a live audience or other pedagogically appropriate medium.
Apply the theoretical foundations for argument analysis, persuasion and essay construction of induction, deduction, analysis, synthesis, and sound reasoning within the readings and writing of persuasive communication messages.
Differentiate between ethical persuasion and unethical means of influence such as manipulation, coercion, and propaganda.

ASSESS INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN ONE'S ABILITY TO INFLUENCE ETHICAL, EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION AMONG DIVERSE SETTINGS AND PEOPLE (SLO #3).

Employ critical thinking and writing skills in reflection about multi-cultural diversity issues, ethics, and politics in terms of the effectiveness and appropriateness of persuasive communication.

DEFINE AND IDENTIFY VARIOUS THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ACROSS THE DISCIPLINE OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES (SLO #4).

Analyze persuasive messages, including identifying and explaining the persuasive components or strategies used to effect change.
Identify persuasive strategies and their theoretical foundations as they exist in a variety of communication contexts (e.g., interpersonal compliance-gaining, commercial advertising, political rhetoric and campaigning, public speaking, mass media, etc.).
Explain and apply the basic concepts of the field of communication demonstrating an understanding of theories of persuasive communication.
Determine and evaluate criteria for the development of successful persuasive campaigns.

This introductory course will examine historical and contemporary approaches to persuasive messages throughout time. It will also focus on the presentation of persuasive appeals, and learning to construct, deliver, and critique persuasive messages. Students will construct and deliver ethical persuasive messages directed toward a specific audience in front of a live audience or other pedagogically appropriate medium. Students explore ethical considerations of persuasive communication, learn about types of reasoning, and identify fallacious arguments as well as unethical means of influence such as manipulation, coercion, and propaganda as they occur in persuasion. This course presents fundamental theoretical models of critical thinking and communication studies that apply to rhetoric, examining message production, analyzing messages, and exploring the fields of electronic, print and social media, advertising (product campaign), political campaign strategy, and ideological campaign techniques for mass communication. A series of writing assignments of advanced composition will focus on the skills of critical thinking, persuasion, and the sophistication of argumentative essay skills. Access to a computer with online capabilities may be required and computer access is available on campus. As HONOR 341 Persuasion within Social Issues has a similar basis as this course, this course is not open to a student that has received credit for HONOR 341.