This document provides guidance for a consultant assessment of a nonprofit organization. The assessment should include: 1. A history of the organization, its goals to accomplish policy changes or educate the public, its identity and values, and intended audience. 2. An analysis of the organization's major communication strategies, an evaluation of how effective each strategy has been, and reasons for the assessment. 3. Recommendations to improve ineffective strategies, such as mock-ups of a new Facebook page or logo designs. Suggestions should align with the organization's identity and rhetorical challenges. Recommendations also include a policy issue for the organization to engage with and why. 4. A conclusion reviewing the organization's record

1. Consultant Assessment
PART I: The Organization (2-3 pages)In this 3-4 page section, you should describe the
organization you have chosen to study. Your analysis should address thefollowing four
components:A. Organization history. Here, you are describing the history of this
organization, from its inception to its currentstatus. Explain to your readers why and how
this organization began, and what its most prominent activities have beenthroughout the
years.B. Organizational goals. What does your organization want to accomplish? Are they
aiming to get particular policypassed or do they have broader goals (such as educating the
public about a particular issue)?C. Identity, ethos, and goals. You should also inform your
reader about the organization’ s identity and ethos. Howdoes your organization present
itself? What are its goals and values? What kind of expertise and credibility does
youraudience bring to its particular public policy issue?You can quote from the
organization’ s mission statement here.D. Audience. Who is your organization’ s intended
audience(s)? Be specific as you can here. Do not simply say“ Americans.” Instead explore
who in particular your organization will need to reach in order to complete its goals.E.
Rhetorical Situation. Finally, analyze the rhetorical situation your group faces. What does
polling data say aboutyour organization’ s issue or policy? Does your group have wide
support in their position or not?Note: Sub-Sections are provided to help you understand
exactly what I am looking for. Your writing should not just respondto each sub-section on
its own. Rather, you should be sure to transition smoothly between sections so your reader
canfollow the path of your argument. You do not need to label every sub-section in your
paper, but you should try to addresseach section thoroughly.PART II: Communication
Strategies & Assessment (4-5 pages)This section should be 4-5 pages long and consist of:A.
Strategies. A description of the major rhetorical strategies and tactics this organization has
used in the courseof its history and presents in its communication artifacts. Think back to
our rhetorical strategies from Unit 2. Does yourorganization use identification? Narrative?
Agenda-setting? Building agency? Image events? What symbols do yourorganization draw
on when discussing their issues? Is health care a matter of “ security” or is it a “ human
right?” UseStewart and our bottom-up rhetorical strategies to support your analysis here.B.
Evaluation. An evaluation of each strategy – has it done well? Was it well-conceived? Has it
achieved the intendedoutcome for which it was designed? For each strategy, do more than
merely pass judgment or provide your opinion as towhether it was a good or bad strategy —
instead, you must also provide a reason as to why you have assessed each strategythis way.
Be specific, and keep in mind the audience here. Note that a strategy is always intended for

2. a specific audienceand a particular rhetorical context or situation. Also keep in mind the
organization’ s ethos or identity. Note thatrhetorical strategies should always be
understood in the context of the organization’ s identity. For example, Greenpeacewould
probably never consider using a cooperative strategy with oil companies.PART III:
Consultant Recommendations & Conclusion(4-5 pages of text, plus mock-ups of
communication strategy recommendations)The final section should be 4-5 pages long and
consist of your recommendations to the organization for how they can (i)alter strategies
that haven’ t worked; and (ii) improve upon existing strategies which are already
effective.A. Communication strategy recommendations. Your recommendations should be
as thorough and specific as possible: ifyou think the group’ s use of a mailing list has been
ineffective in expanding their audience base, don’ t just say “ Start aFacebook page” – tell
them how this page should look, what it should say, and provide a mock-up/sample of how
the pagewill look. Don’ t just say “ create a new logo.” Instead, provide a design of a logo
that includes symbols relevant to yourgroup’ s policy goals. Be creative in your mock-up or
design. You will not be evaluated on your artistic skills, but youwill be expected to provide
at least 2-3 new designs for the group. Hence, you are not only suggesting changes,
butshowing how these changes will take place and how they will take actual shape. If you
suggest creating a flier, design andinclude that flier in this section. Note also that suggested
strategies should be contextualized within the group’ srhetorical challenges and identity as
a group. For example, it would not make sense to recommend that Occupy Wall Streetjust
get along better with big banks, because their purpose is to challenge the corruption of Wall
Street.B. Policy strategy recommendations. You should also identify a specific policy
controversy at the state, local, orfederal level that your group should involve itself in. For
example, a project analyzing People for the Ethical Treatmentof Animals might recommend
the organization get involved in a local ordinance loosening restrictions on fur producers
inPortland, OR. Briefly explain the nature of that controversy and why your organization
should get involved in it. Whatdoes your organization stand to gain? Why is it so important
for your group?C. Conclusions. Finally, you should end the paper with a brief conclusion in
which you review the organization’ scommunication record and remind your readers of the
specific suggestions you made.