Communication- Argumentation and Persuasion

COM 470: Argumentation and Persuasion

Fall 2020, Volkman

COM 470 Argumentation and Persuasion

Final Paper Guidelines

Fall 2020

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/marketing campaign, political debate/campaign, health public service announcement/campaign – BUT it must connect to class concepts. This 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.

Parts of the Final Paper

Part 1: Introduction

a) Introduction paragraph to the paper

b) Identify the advertising/marketing campaign, political campaign, or health issue that you have chosen to focus on and justify why it is important to understand how the campaign is using persuasion strategies. 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 two (no more than 3) most common persuasive strategies you think are being used to persuade an audience on this topic. Include examples of these strategies (at least 2 per strategy). Include peer-review journal articles and other references as citations to support this area of the paper. Please provide a screenshot/copy of the examples you are using in the appendix section of the paper.

b) Explain why you think these persuasion strategies are working. For example, what do you like about these persuasion strategies? Why do you think they are effective? Include peer-review journal articles as citations to support your thoughts.

Part 3: Recommendations on What Could be Done Differently to Persuade Others

a) Provide another persuasive strategy that is not one previously discussed, which you think could also hold possibilities to persuade others. 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 paragraph of your paper to conclude the paper.

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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 is 8-10 pages (you can go 1-2 pages over the page limit if needed) double-spaced, 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, 7th edition. 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 the paper on Blackboard as aTurnitin.com assignment.

e) References are needed! At least 8 peer-reviewed sources are needed and should appear throughout the paper (not just one part). Additional references (e.g., books, websites, etc.) can be used. The textbooks 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.)

g) Tips on using APA style can be found on Blackboard.

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