communications research essay

Final Paper Guidelines and Rough Draft Guidelines

Spring 2019

Purpose of Paper

This paper will be written as analyses that you have done to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in persuasion on a particular topic. The topic of the paper can be of your choosing – a particular advertisement campaign, political debate, health care laws – BUT it must connect to class concepts. This is not a paper where you voice your opinion; this paper is a strong analysis of persuasion attempts and strategies.

Please note this paper is not easy. It will take time and thought. PLEASE do not wait until last minute to complete this paper. This is a 400-level course, which means that this class is supposed to encompass your best work and display the knowledge, expertise and competency you have gained in all of your courses in terms of writing, analysis, ability to present ideas, and cognitive ability.

***Rough Draft of the Paper Due on 3/7 – 4-5 pages (details below)***

Parts of the Final Paper

The focus of your paper is to utilize your experience and expertise in persuasion to examine persuasive strategies used for a particular experience, issue or product, etc. Please include the following in your paper:

Part 1: Introduction

a) Introduction to the paper

b) Identify the experience, issue, product etc. that you have chosen to focus on and justify why it is an important area of inquiry and warrants our time for analysis and consideration on the persuasion strategies used. Include peer-review journal articles and other references as citations to support your introduction/rationale in this area of the paper.

Part 2: Persuasion Strategies Used

a) Identify and explain at least three most common persuasive strategies used in this area. Include examples (at least 3) of the strategies used. Include peer-review journal articles and other references as citations to support this area of the paper.

b) Explain the “WHY” of these persuasion strategies –why should these persuasive strategies be used for this experience, issue, or product? Reference back to the examples used to help explain the “why.” Include peer-review journal articles and other reference as citations to support this area of the paper. Also:

1) In this discussion of the WHY, please include the pros and cons of each persuasive strategy. Refer back to your examples to help explain pros and cons. Also, explain and justify based on research on the persuasive strategy that supports your pros and cons. Include peer-review journal articles and other reference as citations to support this area of the paper.

c) At the end of this part, state which persuasive strategy your expertise considers most effective and/or appropriate for this experience, issue, product, etc. Include peer-review journal articles as citations to support your thoughts. Include peer-review journal articles and other reference as citations to support this area of the paper.

Part 3: Recommendations for Future Persuasive Strategy to Use

a) Provide another persuasive strategy that is not one previously discussed, which you think could also hold possibilities in this experience, issue, or product etc. Make sure to explain and justify your selected strategy Include peer-review journal articles and other reference as citations to support this area of the paper.

Part 4: Conclusion to the Paper

a) Provide a summary of your paper to conclude the paper.

Format and Specific Requirements for Final Paper:

a) Each student will complete a paper. The work MUST be done individually. Do not work together on this paper.

b) Remember to include appendices: Include a copy of all materials that you used (advertisements, pamphlets, editorials, etc.). In the case of online content, you must provide the links (in proper APA format). Failure to meet this criteria and/or failure to attach all of them to this paper will result in a loss of points.

c) Paper must be 10-12 pages double-spaced, stapled, with 1 inch margins 12 point Times New Roman font (4-5 sentences on a page does NOT count as a page) and follow APA style. Include a title page, references and appendices. An abstract is not needed. (Title page, references, and appendices do not count towards page length.)

d) Submit a hard copy, stapled, AND submit the paper on Blackboard.

e) References are needed! At least 10 peer-reviewed sources are needed and should appear throughout the paper (not just one part). Peer-review journal sources need to be dated from 2000 to now. Additional references (e.g., books, websites, etc.) are needed too. The textbook cannot count as a source – but each chapter has references (peer-reviewed, etc.) that you can use as sources.

f) Paper must be free of grammatical and spelling errors, as well as format problems (weird spacing, smudges, unnecessary bolding or italics, etc.)