Post #1: Communication and Persuasion Assessment in My Field
Due: Friday, October 24
Students will first compose a post that assesses communication and persuasion as these occur in their respective fields. They should title this post "Communication and Persuasion in [name of field]."
Steps:
First, each student should research and brainstorm about his or her field by considering the following:
Students will first compose a post that assesses communication and persuasion as these occur in their respective fields. They should title this post "Communication and Persuasion in [name of field]."
Steps:
First, each student should research and brainstorm about his or her field by considering the following:
- Contexts (kairos):
--In what settings or circumstances does communication routinely take place in your field? What are the physical locations, times, or events that necessitate important communication?
--Where does persuasion take place?
--What kinds of media are used for communication and/or persuasion? Is it written, oral, or via another form of communication? - People (speakers and audiences):
--Who are the ones communicating and who is being communicated to?
--What do they have in common or what distinguishes them from one another?
--Is there a psychological profile that distinguishes them as having specific values or predispositions? - Kinds (compare "branches of oratory")
--What genres of communication are common?
--Which carry weight in your field?
Next, rather than composing a post using these headings, each student will give a brief case study of persuasion that brings out these issues of context, speaker/audience, and kind of communication. This need not draw conclusions and can be mostly descriptive.
Students should also include a brief personal narrative describing 1) their own interest in this field; and, 2) how they went about finding out what they did.
Students should also include a brief personal narrative describing 1) their own interest in this field; and, 2) how they went about finding out what they did.
Post #2: Field-Specific Topics of Invention / Stasis
In a separate post (for Oct 31), the students will look into those topics of invention that are specific to their field. These are topics that are common to that group but may be unknown or less emphasized by other groups, and reflect what counts as knowledge or proof or as something convincing within that field. Students will list and describe at least three special topics of invention, those that are specific to (or specially emphasized) within their field.
[updated 10/30/14:]
Let me clarify a bit and then provide more specific instructions for doing this assignment.
[updated 10/30/14:]
Let me clarify a bit and then provide more specific instructions for doing this assignment.
What I want students to look for is patterns of persuasion in their chosen field. What types of arguments are used, what counts when people in that field try to persuade one another? That may include some of the common topics of invention but it will also include topics special to that field, or specially emphasized in that field.
I would also like my students to identify one common point of conflict that gives rise to issues requiring debate or persuasion (This is what is known in rhetoric as "stasis," though they don't need to call it that). For example, in medicine, one common point of conflict regards the status of alternative treatment methods and homeopathic medicine. This conflict leads health providers to make specific kinds of arguments based on commonplaces like the value of professional medical opinions or the problems that happen with unlicensed treatment. (Note how the issue is then argued about by appealing to specialized topics). A more complete example follows below.
Revised Instructions:
First, briefly describe a typical point of conflict in your field, the sort of thing that gives rise to arguments and efforts to persuade. Then, discuss topics of invention in your field, and do so by using a fictional case study based on a typical persuasion scenario in that field. Mention two or three topics of invention, including special topics of invention and (optionally) common topics of invention that get special emphasis within that field. Do all of this in 300-500 words. The following example is around 350 words long:
Example:
Post Title: Conflict Issues and Special Topics of Invention in Law
A Point of Conflict in Law
Many points of conflict come out in law -- it's a profession filled with conflict. Such conflicts often end up having to do with legality. Over and over again, you will hear lawyers making cases (literally!) about whether something is legal or not.
Topics of Invention in Law
A typical persuasion scenario for trial lawyers is when they attempt to persuade a jury about the innocence of their client. Here is a fictional case study to illustrate. Let's say someone is being tried for defrauding others through a bogus investment scheme. The lawyer could say something like the following:
"My client, Mr. Kandinsky, was obviously involved in a lot of people losing money. What he did by promising high investment returns was ludicrous. You probably think he is a bad person. Maybe he is. But there is a difference between what is morally wrong and what is legally wrong. I hope you have strong moral convictions, but I also hope you won't confuse those ideals with the more clear task placed before you: deciding whether Mr. Kandinsky's actions were legal or not. In this setting only the law of the land is relevant. We must simply review the definition of fraud from the applicable statute, and in doing so it will be very clear that my client's actions do not meet the criteria. What he did may have been foolish or even evil in your viewpoint. But we have to set aside our personal beliefs and act only in terms of the clear definitions set forth in our law. If we don't like the law, there are other settings for changing it; here, we should only be applying it."Analysis:
This lawyer emphasized the distinction between what is morally right or wrong and what is legally right or wrong. We could call this special topic of invention the "moral vs. legal commonplace." It's a distinction lawyers have to make frequently, and one that is convincing for their audiences. The lawyer also uses common topics of invention, but with special emphasis. Law and Definition are both common topics, but he elevates their importance by drawing such focused attention to them as standards.
Post 3: Style and Delivery Analysis (due Nov 7)
[updated instructions, 11-6-14]
Where are style and delivery evident within consequential written and oral communication in my field? This is the question to be answered in this blog post. It requires thinking about what is conventional and expected in terms of written and oral communication in that field, and about where and how ideas are delivered to audiences that matter.
"Style" should be understood not in the popular sense of personal flair or fashion, but in terms of the ethos and decorum befitting someone as they function in a given field: one "styles" one's communication to fit the common functions and audiences for one's field. Think of how style manuals are required in various fields to standardize ways of communicating. "Style" doesn't necessarily mean fanciful or imaginative; it may mean dressing one's thoughts (and sometimes one's physical appearance) appropriately for the occasion
"Delivery" should be understood in terms of oral or face-to-face communication in that field. Presentations, pitches, speeches, and interviews are common kinds of delivery in today's business world.
Use a narrative and case-based structure to this blog post, imagining two separate scenarios: one in which someone makes stylistic choices for written communication; and other in which someone uses oral communication to exemplify delivery. Make up a sample of such communication to illustrate.
Example: Style and Delivery in Law
Kyle Beauchamp (not his real name) works at a mid-size law firm that handles personal injury practice. The firm has a collaborative relationship with various doctors who document the injuries of clients. Because such doctors enjoy the steady income from this arrangement, they can sometimes enter a grey area in which their diagnoses favor the cases of the law firm. A typical communication scenario for Kyle is to keep the firm's doctors acting professionally. In addressing them, he has to show appreciation for a collaborator with whom they want to maintain a longterm relationship, but he also has to get the point across that biased diagnoses aren't acceptable. In this sample letter to a doctor who has had a problem along these lines, note how he adopts both a friendly and formal style to accomplish this goal. He also frequently refers to "we" and "our" to make sure that the doctor he's writing to understands he's speaking on behalf of the firm and its interests:
[Example section on delivery]
When Kyle meets privately with clients, he knows that they need to feel reassured of his expertise and that he is keeping their best interests in mind. He also needs to be efficient with time, and very clear about any legal matters. Thus, when Mr. and Mrs. Jones come to see him and they are frustrated that their case seems to be dragging on with little happening, he first allows them to state their concerns, and he even asks them follow up questions to clarify. ("So, if I understand you correctly, Mrs. Jones, your cousin's personal injury case that was similar to yours was settled in a few months, and we are going on 18 months with this case.") He's not sure how familiar with the law that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are, or with legal procedures. What he doesn't do is to use technical legal jargon--or if he has to, he quickly explains in layman's terms what he means. ("It isn't a quid-pro-quo arrangement, meaning that you don't give something to get something"). He tries to have a courteous, professional tone, while also showing a degree of sympathy with their situation. Sometimes, he will use simple metaphors or comparisons to clarify his point. "The meeting with the insurance company's representative isn't a tug-of-war negotiation; it's more like waiting at a bus terminal. Sixty minutes into the meeting, the actual offer from the company will arrive, and you just have to decide if you want to get on that bus or not." Kyle has to make sure that he balances his tone. If he sounds too informal or casual, they won't think he is professional. If he talks too much like a law professor, they won't actually understand what he is doing on their behalf.
Where are style and delivery evident within consequential written and oral communication in my field? This is the question to be answered in this blog post. It requires thinking about what is conventional and expected in terms of written and oral communication in that field, and about where and how ideas are delivered to audiences that matter.
"Style" should be understood not in the popular sense of personal flair or fashion, but in terms of the ethos and decorum befitting someone as they function in a given field: one "styles" one's communication to fit the common functions and audiences for one's field. Think of how style manuals are required in various fields to standardize ways of communicating. "Style" doesn't necessarily mean fanciful or imaginative; it may mean dressing one's thoughts (and sometimes one's physical appearance) appropriately for the occasion
"Delivery" should be understood in terms of oral or face-to-face communication in that field. Presentations, pitches, speeches, and interviews are common kinds of delivery in today's business world.
Use a narrative and case-based structure to this blog post, imagining two separate scenarios: one in which someone makes stylistic choices for written communication; and other in which someone uses oral communication to exemplify delivery. Make up a sample of such communication to illustrate.
Example: Style and Delivery in Law
Kyle Beauchamp (not his real name) works at a mid-size law firm that handles personal injury practice. The firm has a collaborative relationship with various doctors who document the injuries of clients. Because such doctors enjoy the steady income from this arrangement, they can sometimes enter a grey area in which their diagnoses favor the cases of the law firm. A typical communication scenario for Kyle is to keep the firm's doctors acting professionally. In addressing them, he has to show appreciation for a collaborator with whom they want to maintain a longterm relationship, but he also has to get the point across that biased diagnoses aren't acceptable. In this sample letter to a doctor who has had a problem along these lines, note how he adopts both a friendly and formal style to accomplish this goal. He also frequently refers to "we" and "our" to make sure that the doctor he's writing to understands he's speaking on behalf of the firm and its interests:
Dear Dr. Phillips:
It was good to see you again at the firm's summer social. You really showed us all who was boss out on the links!
We've enjoyed several good years of working together as you've diagnosed our clients, and that's something we certainly want to continue. As I am sure you understand, our firm has worked hard to establish a reputation not only among our clientele, but among fellow lawyers, judges, and the insurance industry. We will compromise that reputation if there is even the appearance of bias among the professionals with whom we consult. It's come to our attention that several of your recent diagnoses have seemed to favor the cause of our clients. That might seem to be a good thing for us, but the best thing for us is to have solid, respectable data, so that we could never be accused of bias. In the future, please avoid even the appearance of bias. The best way to approach things would be for you to write up your diagnoses as though you didn't know which side of the law case our firm was on.
I'm sure there has never been any intention of bias on your part, but paying attention in this way will avoid the possibility of the appearance of bias. I will schedule an appointment with you to review the next set of cases just so we are on the same page.
Our firm looks forward to many years of ongoing collaboration.
Sincerely,
Kyle Beauchamp
[Example section on delivery]
When Kyle meets privately with clients, he knows that they need to feel reassured of his expertise and that he is keeping their best interests in mind. He also needs to be efficient with time, and very clear about any legal matters. Thus, when Mr. and Mrs. Jones come to see him and they are frustrated that their case seems to be dragging on with little happening, he first allows them to state their concerns, and he even asks them follow up questions to clarify. ("So, if I understand you correctly, Mrs. Jones, your cousin's personal injury case that was similar to yours was settled in a few months, and we are going on 18 months with this case.") He's not sure how familiar with the law that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are, or with legal procedures. What he doesn't do is to use technical legal jargon--or if he has to, he quickly explains in layman's terms what he means. ("It isn't a quid-pro-quo arrangement, meaning that you don't give something to get something"). He tries to have a courteous, professional tone, while also showing a degree of sympathy with their situation. Sometimes, he will use simple metaphors or comparisons to clarify his point. "The meeting with the insurance company's representative isn't a tug-of-war negotiation; it's more like waiting at a bus terminal. Sixty minutes into the meeting, the actual offer from the company will arrive, and you just have to decide if you want to get on that bus or not." Kyle has to make sure that he balances his tone. If he sounds too informal or casual, they won't think he is professional. If he talks too much like a law professor, they won't actually understand what he is doing on their behalf.
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How will such knowledge be of benefit?
Students will make an overall argument as to why and how the study of rhetoric is relevant to their intended field, and will direct their final paper to other majors or other entering the same career field. As students move from drafting these ideas to more formal discussion of their topic, adjustments will be made regarding the appropriate format and the types of arguments or research needed to support the claims being made.
Students will make an overall argument as to why and how the study of rhetoric is relevant to their intended field, and will direct their final paper to other majors or other entering the same career field. As students move from drafting these ideas to more formal discussion of their topic, adjustments will be made regarding the appropriate format and the types of arguments or research needed to support the claims being made.
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