This document provides instructions for a competency assessment requiring the student to write a four paragraph response describing effective persuasive communication in personal, professional, and academic contexts. Each of the first three paragraphs must provide an example of persuasive communication from one of those contexts, identify the rhetorical situation, analyze what made the example effective, and connect to concepts from the course reading. The fourth paragraph must discuss how collaboration and teamwork, such as those strategies discussed in a TED Talk by Steven Johnson, can be used to ethically persuade others. The response must follow APA style guidelines and include references.

1. CM220M1-1:
Articulate what constitutes effective persuasive communication
in personal, professional and academic contexts.
PC1.1:
Engage in a team setting with professional integrity and respect.
In this Competency Assessment, you will write four paragraphs
describing effective persuasive communication in personal,
professional, and academic contexts. No matter the context, you
need to choose the most appropriate audience, method of
communication, and evidence to convey your argument and
persuade others to agree with you.
In each of the first three paragraphs, include at least one
concrete example of effective persuasion that you have
experienced or produced yourself to illustrate your points.
Describe that example, identify the parts of the rhetorical
situation (audience, speaker, text, purpose, and context), and
offer specific reasons why the example was effective based on
the concepts covered in the Module 1 reading. You can also
include information on tone, style, formality, voice, correctness,
evidence, and word choice as you develop your analysis. The
fourth paragraph will focus on the relationship between
teamwork and persuasion.
In the first paragraph, describe an example of effective
persuasive communication in personal contexts such as social
media posts, emails to friends, or communications to your
child’s teachers and explain the considerations you must keep in
mind to communicate effectively in these personal
communications.

2. In the second paragraph, describe an example of effective
persuasive communication in professional contexts. You can
consider your own field of study and the expectations for
writing effectively in that field and explain how that
communication example illustrates the expectations for
professional persuasive communication, or you could describe a
communication you received in a professional context, such as a
letter from a lawyer or business.
In the third paragraph, describe an example of effective
persuasive communication in an academic context like a
discussion board, assignment, or group presentation. In this
paragraph, consider how academic persuasive standards differ
from personal and professional writing.
Finally, you will often need to work as part of a team in
academic and professional contexts. In the fourth paragraph,
discuss how you could use collaboration and teamwork,
including the strategies described by Steven Johnson in his TED
Talk “
Where Good Ideas Come From
,” to persuade others and communicate ideas effectively and
ethically to others.
Follow APA formatting guidelines for the document. Paragraphs
should be well-developed (use the “point, illustrate, explain”
method), cohesive, and edited for clarity and correctness. Cite
any sources used in APA style, including the module reading.
Use the following chart to help ensure that you meet the
following expectations in the final version of your competency
assessment:
Paragraph 1

3. ● Describe an example of persuasive communication in a
personal context. This could be a social media post, an email to
a friend, or even a conversation.
● Identify the parts of the rhetorical situation.
● Analyze what makes this example effective.
● Draw connections to concepts from the Module 1 reading.
Paragraph 2
● Describe an example of persuasive communication in a
professional context. This could be a memo, email, or
presentation.
● Identify the parts of the rhetorical situation.
● Analyze what makes this example effective and consider the
expectations for professional communication in your field.
● Draw connections to concepts from the Module 1 reading.
Paragraph 3
● Describe an example of persuasive communication in an
academic context. This could be an essay you wrote for a class,
an article you read, or a discussion post.
● Identify the parts of the rhetorical situation.
● Analyze what makes this example effective and consider how
academic persuasion differs from other contexts.
● Draw connections to concepts from the Module 1 reading.

4. Paragraph 4
● Discuss how you could use collaboration and teamwork to
persuade others and communication ideas effectively and
ethically.
● Draw connections to Steven Johnson’s TED Talk and the
theories of rhetoric covered in the Module 1 reading.
References
● Since you will reference concepts from the Module 1 Reading
or may draw ideas from the PG Writing Center, include signal
phrases and citations, like this: According to the PG Writing
Center, persuasive writing should. . .
● include a References page with citations for the reading and
any other sources you use.