COMM240 Persuasive Communication
Department of Arts and Communication: Communication Studies
- I. Course Number and Title
- COMM240 Persuasive Communication
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 2250
- IV. Prerequisites
- Completion of COMM111 with at least a C or better
- Corequisites
- None
- V. Other Pertinent Information
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This course meets the General Education requirement for Critical Thinking.
This course meets the General Education requirement for Information Literacy. - VI. Catalog Course Description
- This course helps students build skill in analysis, writing, and communication of persuasive messages. Topics include: the theoretical premises currently operating in the field of persuasion, research and analysis of persuasive messages, preparing and delivering persuasive messages through a variety of channels.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
Students will:
- examine the various theoretical premises and approaches to studying persuasion;
- identify persuasive premises, including the use of emotion, logic, the role culture plays, and nonverbal messages;
- analyze various types of persuasive messages in a variety of contexts, including persuasive campaigns or movements [Critical Thinking];
- examine the role mediated communication plays in the creation and delivery of persuasive messages; and
- research, prepare and deliver persuasive messages to a variety of audiences [Information Literary].
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
- Ethical Dimensions of Persuasion
- Theories of Persuasion
- Argumentation
- Visual Persuasion
- Persuasion and New Media
- Persuasive Public Campaigns
- Persuasion and Personal Relationships
- Persuasive Dimensions of Nonverbal Communication
- Persuasive Dimensions of Health Communication
- Persuasion in Business and Professional Contexts
- Persuasive Presentations
- Persuasive Humor
- Appraisal of Persuasive Messages
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Students satisfy the Course Learning Goals via tests, written class exercises and assignments, papers, critical thinking assignments, class participation, and individual and group oral presentations.
Students in Persuasive Communication meet the General Education Learning Goals of Critical Thinking and Information Literacy through many of the class exercises, papers, tests, and through a final presentation in which the student(s) produces a persuasive campaign. This presentation requires the use of multiple sources of evidence. Student's persuasive skills and critical thinking skills are evaluated based on a rubric created by the course professor.
The artifacts produced for assessment include a presentation outline for the campaign (for Critical Thinking) and a written assessment that requires research, ethics, evaluation, and citation of sources (for Information Literacy).
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Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
- Each instructor uses a departmentally-approved textbook.
- Students use traditional library materials and academic online resources.
- Students may be required to:
- engage in supplemental reading
- access and utilize the college online learning platform
- access and utilize the publisher supplemental website
- attend an outside conference
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Approval/Revision Date: Approved 12/2012; New Core 8/2015