Module 4 – SLP
PERSUASION
For this assignment, review the basic concepts of persuasion
discussed in Cialdini (2001) and McLean (2012). Then take a close look at the
first few slides of Jernigan (2013) and make sure you are clear on the
distinction between argument, persuasion, and propaganda.
Once you have finished reviewing the background materials,
think about communication that you receive in your daily life that is intended
to sway your attitudes, opinion, or behavior. This could be communication from
your employer, YouTube videos, TV advertisements, spam email, and a host of
other communication that you are exposed to in your daily life. After reviewing
some communication examples, write a 3-page paper addressing the following
questions:
Describe a communication example that you have seen that is
best described as propaganda. In addition to describing the communication,
explain why you think this was propaganda rather than argumentation or persuasion.
Use the distinctions spelled out by Jernigan (2013) in your answer.
Now find a communication example that you think is a good
example of argumentation. Describe the example and explain why you think it
fits the definition of argumentation described by Jernigan (2013).
Last, but definitely not least, find an example of
persuasion that you think best fits the definition of Jernigan (2013) as well
as exemplifies the concepts of persuasion discussed in Cialdini (2001) or
McLean (2012). Explain why you think this communication best fits the
definition of persuasion rather than propaganda or argumentation.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Follow the assignment instructions closely and follow all
steps listed in the instructions.
Stay focused on the precise assignment questions, don’t go
off on tangents or devote a lot of space to summarizing general background
materials.
Make sure to cite readings from the background materials
page. Rely primarily on the required background readings as your sources of
information.
Include both a bibliography and in-text citations. See the
Student Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper, including pages 11-14
on in-text citations.
