COM4208 - Persuasive Communication

Leader: TBA

Offered

Not offered in 2007

Synopsis

The unit explores the rhetoric, imagery and gestures of persuasive communication. Students become acquainted with an array of communication styles that are effective with different audiences. The unit discusses key ideas from the traditions of rhetoric, public communications, advocacy, debating, design, fine arts, narratives, advertising, marketing and public relations.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Knowledge, skills and attributes necessary for understanding and engaging in persuasive communication.
2. Increased understanding of the convergence of the convergence of traditions of rhetoric, public communications, advocacy, debating, design, fine arts, narratives, advertising, marketing and public relations in the art of persuasive communication.
3. Increased understanding of the role of persuasive communication in political, social, and organizational processes;
4. Increased knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary for independent research, enhanced capacity to formulate and research persuasion and advocacy issues, to analyse and evaluate arguments, and to understand critical approaches to then ethics and pragmatics of persuasive communication;
5. Enhanced intellectual independence, and greater self-reliance and critical distance in intellectual and professional activity;
6. Significantly increased ability to engage in persuasive communication in organizational and social contexts.

Assessment

Assignment 1 Case Study (4000 words) 40%;
Assignment 2 Research Essay (5000 words): 60%

Contact hours

On-Campus: 2 hours (1x2 hour seminar) per week. Off-campus: Students will be expected to participate for a minimum of one hour per fortnight in on-line discussion

Prohibitions

COM5208