This document contains a rubric for evaluating a persuasive presentation and instructions for two persuasive presentation assignments. It provides grading criteria for elements of the presentation like introduction, body, conclusion, delivery, visual aids, and a question and answer session. It also gives requirements for the two assignment topics, presentation structure, length, delivery style, use of visual aids, and a question and answer session.

1. Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________
Persuasive Presentation Critique
Actual
Possible
PointsPoints
4INTRODUCTION
Attention Step
Audience Adaptation
Specific Purpose Statement
Preview of Points
10

2. BODY
Problem Overview
Description of
Solution
’s Features
Persuasive Strategies (Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Visualization)
Benefits
Language/Word Choice

3. Transitions
4
CONCLUSION
Summary
Call for Action
4
DELIVERY
Voice, Fluency

4. Body Language
Use of Notes
4
VISUAL AIDS
Design, Consistency
Content
2
TIMING
2
Q & A SESSION_______
_______
30 Total Points

5. Persuasive Presentation Assignments (2)
1. CEO presentation to a classmate, professional, or co-worker
– 7 to 10 min.; no PowerPoint needed
2. Communication Audit Report (18 to 20 minutes
maximum for Skype Presentation on
Report); request a time slot from Dr. Joyce.
Purpose
Your goal is to persuade the audience of the need to adopt your
recommended changes in your stance on a position or on
organizational policy, program or procedure regarding the flow
of communication based on your Communication Audit Report.
The presentation should be clear about the urgency of the
problem to be solved, your proposed solution(s), and the
procedures for implementing the solution(s). Include responses
to any potential objections to your recommendations.
Emphasize persuasive appeals rather than the features of your
plan – remember, this is a persuasive presentation, not an
informative presentation.
Audience
Nominate a hypothetical audience. It should be a group within
the organization who can approve and implement your

6. suggestions. Assume they are already familiar with your idea –
they have read your proposal report or spoken to you informally
prior to the occasion of your presentation – but are unconvinced
of its value.
Structure
Follow the three-part format:
A.
Introduction
1.
Attention step
2.
Statement of specific purpose
3.
Forecast of main points
B.
Body
1.

7. Brief overview of the problem and its urgency
2.
Brief review of your solution’s features, including
implementation
3.
Persuasive appeals, including ethos, logos, and pathos (spend
most of your time on these appeals)
4.
Response to possible objections
C.
Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
1.
Summary of main points
2.
Call for specific action
Length
You must time your presentation while rehearsing it out loud,
preferably before a live audience, in order to gauge how long
the actual delivery will take.
Delivery Style

8. Extemporaneous. Resist the temptation to read from a
manuscript or speak without notes.
Avoid using your slides as speaker notes, since eye contact with
the audience would suffer. Dress professionally. Use note
cards—not sheets of paper if needed.
PowerPoint Slides
A slideshow must accompany your formal Skype presentation.
Use the slides to emphasize and visualize your key ideas.
Improve your ethos by making the slides attractive and
readable. See Chapter 14.
At minimum, your slideshow should include a title slide, an
attention-getting slide, an agenda slide, at least one slide for
each main point, a summary slide (matching the agenda slide),
and a final slide that calls for questions and/or calls for action.
Proofread carefully your slides.
Q & A Session
Announce that you will answer questions immediately at the end
of your presentation. The Q&A session does not count as part
of your time limit.
COMMUNICATION AUDIT REPORT

9. Prepared for
Board of Directors
Houston Bank
and
Dr. Marguerite Joyce, Professor
Managerial Communication
Prepared by
Michael L. Garcia
BCOM 5203.Z01
April 30, 2015
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 18, 2005, interviews were conducted to uncover
effective and non-effective communication techniques at
Synergetic Communications. The purpose of these interviews
was to evaluate employees’ answers to determine the
effectiveness of communication and give feedback for
improvements.
The company President and two administrative employees

10. provided information on formal and informal communication.
Most of the information gathered for this report was from
primary data obtained during the interviews. Secondary
information was taken from business articles relating to
effective communication.
The research uncovered the following findings:
· Formal oral communication needs little to no improvement.
· Communications with customers are mostly by e-mail.
· Telephone is 85% of the collectors’ form of communication.
· Internal e-mails are 70% of the managers’ form of
communication.
· Least used modes of communication are video conferencing,
intranet, and website.
Recommendations for improvement in communications are as
follows:
· Implement a company newsletter.
· Create formal standards in external e-mails.
· Set up a company website.

11. · Utilize video conferencing.
· Consider cross training of employees for other communication
channels
COMMUNICATION AUDIT REPORT
INTRODUCTION
In most successful businesses, high usage of formal and
informal communication occurs. This is why reviewing the
effectiveness of the communication flow of a business is vital to
its long-term success.
As Board of Directors of Houston Bank, it is likely that
effective communication is something that is taken for granted.
The effects of good communication internally and externally
must be reviewed periodically. The purpose of this report is to
describe and evaluate the Company’s effectiveness of
communication channels along with recommendations for
improvement.
The primary source of my information was interviews with
Mike Orlando, President and two administrative employees,
Shannon Houdek and Virginia Swatek, on April 3, 2015.
Secondary sources of information were current articles relative
to communication effective.
Detailed descriptions of current methods of communication used

12. by Houston Bank are presented, including formal and informal
communication channels.
FORMAL COMMUNICATION
The analysis of communication was directed towards formal and
information channels of communication used by Houston Bank.
Formal Oral Communication
Management meetings and company meetings are examples of
formal oral communication at Houston Bank.
Management meetings
According to the interview findings, management meetings take
place on a weekly basis between the President and his
management team. The purpose is to have the President’s
message relayed to the rest of the Company. It also provides
valuable communication back to the President and should
continue to be a valuable form of two-way communication.
Company meetings
Interview findings showed that Company meetings areheld on a
monthly basis. The primary purpose of the meetings is to give
formal communication from the management team as to the
previous month’s results as well as the next month’s goals and
objectives. Another purpose of the meeting is to give the
employees motivation and direction in their job functions.

13. 1
2
Written Communication
Company policy manuals, external e-mail, newsletters, intranet,
and the website are examples of formal written communication
at Houston Bank.
Policy Manuals

14. The interviewees made me aware of the inception of the Debt
Collection Act of 1977; legislation has mandated behavioral
guidelines for creditors. This has forced Houston Bank to
produce policy manuals to help properly train and educate its
people in order to minimize violations of the Federal Trade
Commission rules.
Houston Bank’s constant evaluation and training for the policy
has enabled the Company to survive and prosper in a
competitive industry. These policy manuals of communication
should continue to help the Company in alleviating the
possibilities of accruing penalties and fees along with any other
legal issues.
External E-mail
According to interview findings, external e-mails are a large
source of communication among the managers and customers at
Houston Bank. Communication is usually through a request for
settlement or other files on a debtor. The managers use this
form of communication with clientele is frequent.
E-mail is easily overlooked as a means of communication. This
is because e-mail can give a sender the false impression of
informal communication. When dealing with customers, e-mails
should be treated with just as much planning and thoughtfulness
as a formal letter.
Houston Bank’s managers would also benefit by creating a

15. universal format when communicating with customers via e-
mail. The message received by the customer would send
powerful impressions that could strengthen or save
relationships. This could also help establish Houston Bank as an
organization willing to communicate in modes that
accommodate its customers.
To ensure that a newsletter is successful, you need to make sure
the “topics presented [are] in depth [which] are more likely to
spark readership than a canned newsletter filled with trivia”
(Clift, 2014 para. 7). Perhaps Houston Bank can begin creating
a more effective newsletter.
Currently, Houston Bank is not utilizing the Company’s
intranet. However, this is something that is in the process of
being put in place and should be operating within the next six
months, as stated by the senior banking officer. The intranet is
a valuable form of communication that will “save time and
energy by managing information and documents” (Dernovsek,
2012, para. 9). Eventually, the saving on edits and revisions of
posted policy manuals, newsletters, and job functions will save
considerable cost and time. The convenience of knowing where
to get updated information and job details will be an invaluable
tool for employees.

16. 3
According to the interview findings, a website is not in place at
Houston Bank. This is another communication tool that could
help maximize exposure to the market and validate the Company
as a significant industry leader. Putting a website in place will
help current and potential clients learn why it’s important or
easy to do business with you. With website design and cost
being very minimal, it would be critical for your organization to
optimize and maintain business by implementing a website.
According to my the interviews, video conferencing is not
currently in effect at Houston Bank. However, the discussions
between the management team have expressed interest. This
would allow effective communication between Houston Bank’s
(1) San Diego, (2) Idaho and (3) Houston offices. This is a cost
effective way to communicate among offices. Video

17. conferencing adds more to the interaction because people can
actually see the other managers during virtual meetings.
The senior lending officer also shared with me the use of the
audio card at Houston Bank. The audio card was established as
a marketing tool to attract new clients and separate Houston
Bank from the competition. This is a brilliant form of
communication with your external customers that keeps the
Company’s name ever present in the market place.
INFORMAL COMMUNICATION
Telephone85%E-Mail10%Grapevine5%
Informal Communication of Collectors
The findings revealed an analysis of informal communication.
Telephone85%E-Mail10%Grapevine5%
Informal Communication of Collectors
Informal Oral Communication

18. Telephone and grapevine are examples of
informal oral communication.
According to my interviews, the telephone
is the single most important communication tool
that the managers use. This form of
communication is used by 85% of the
interviewees. This is depicted in Figure 1.
For the managers and executives, it is used
by 40% of them as a tool with
Houston Bank’s external customers.
The internal grapevine is another form of communication that
generally only passes along non- vital information about the
Company. For example, according to my interview findings with
the managers, if an employee’s attendance is sporadic , the
grapevine could contradict the employee’s calling in sick.

19. 4
The President of Houston Bank receives more information
through the grapevine than most organizational chiefs.
Continued interest in communication through this channel will
help the President to be aware of employees’ concerns and
rumors. The less communication shared through formal channels
with employees, the more active the grapevine will be. To
minimize the grapevine activity, the employees need to hear
different information through a variety of formal channels.
Continue discussion of remaining questions and data results on
pages 5 to 8, etc. Include at least two to three graphic aids
(tables or figures) for significant questions.

20. 5
6

21. 7

22. 8
9

23. SUMMARY
Interviews with the mid-level managers and senior managers
have led to an analysis of Houston Bank’s communication
channels. As discussed, there are several channels that are
currently operating very effectively; yet, a few others that need
improvement. This is why reviewing the communication
structure of the business is so vital to its long-term success.
With all due respect, recommendations for improvement in the
effectiveness of the flow of communication at Houston Bank
are for the success of the Company.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that periodic reviews of communication
channels for re-evaluation and effectiveness of the formal and
informal communication be conducted annually. It is also
recommended that cross training of departments’ employees to
expose them to other methods of communication be
implemented. The effectiveness of the flow of communication
at Houston Bank would certainly improve with the following:
· Newsletter
· External E-mail Standards
· Website
· Video Conferencing

24. · Cross Training
REFERENCES (fictitious)
Clift, V. (2012). Time to rethink your newsletter? Marketing
News28(20), 7. Retrieved March 20, 2005, from Business
Source Premier database via SHSU.
Dernovsek, D. (2012). Creating an effective intranet. Credit
Union Magazine68(9), 16A-20A. Retrieved March 24, 2005,
from Business Source Premier database via SHSU.
13
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25. _1494087899.xls
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COMMUNICATION AUDIT REPORT - RUBRIC
Name _______________________________ Date
_____________________
Actual
Points

26. Possible
Points
40
CONTENT
Discussion of content and information
Research thoroughness
Analyses of data
5
AUDIENCE ADAPTATION
Reader-centered language
Reader-centered content

27. 15
ORGANIZATION
Introduction
Discussion
Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations
5
FORMAT
Title Page
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
References
Appendixes Blank Instrument Tabulated

28. Instrument
10
DOCUMENT DESIGN
Headings
Font Size and Style
Visual Aids
Pagination
Spacing
25
WRITING STYLE AND QUALITY

29. Conciseness
Clarity
Mechanics and Usage
Grammar and Spelling
Punctuation
Actual
Total
Total
Possible
100 pts.
Assignment: Questionnaire
COMMUNICATION PRACTICES OF PERSONNEL AT NSWC
QUESTIONAIRE
This is a graduate project for a class; all information will
remain confidential and anonymous. Your participation in this
project indicates your informed consent.
1. What is your Gender? ____ Female ____ Male
2. What is your position? ____ Manager
____ Supervisor

30. ____ Personnel
3. How many years of professional work experience do you
have?
____ 1 – 5 ____ 6 – 10 ____ 11 – 15 ____16 – 20
____ 21+
4. What is your academic background? ____ B. S. degree
____ Hours toward MBA/Master’s degree ____
MBA/Master ________ Other
5. Do you have direct supervision of employees? ____ Yes
____ No
How many? ___1 – 25 ___ 26 - 50
6. Where is your company located? ___Indian head
______Other
7. Have you received training in business writing? ___ Yes
___ No
8. How would you rate the effectiveness of the flow of
communication at NSWC?
Very Effective____ Effective ____ Needs
Improvement ____
9. How do you communicate to your subordinates? E-
mail_____ Person to Person_____ I Messaging____ Other
_______________

31. 10. What types of communications do you prepare? Memos
Letters Reports Email
11. What do you like best about your company’s flow of
information to you?
12. What is the predominant form of communication used in
your company?
13. What do you think can be done to improve your company’s
flow of information to you?
Please e-mail back by July 15, 2013. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PARTICIPATION.
Sample
Communication Practices of Managers
Interview Questions
This is a graduate project for a class; your responses will
remain confidential as well as anonymous. Your participation
in the project indicates your consent.
1. What is your position title?
2. How long have you served in this position?

32. 3. How long have you been in this profession?
4. What is your highest degree?
5. Do you have supervision of employees? Yes No
6. Have you received training in business writing? Yes
No
7. What is your view of your company’s flow of information?
Positive Negative Needs
Improvement
8.. How do you communicate to your subordinates? E-mail
Person to Person IMessaging
9. What types of communications do you prepare? Memos
Letters Reports
10. What do you like best about your company’s flow of
information to you?
11. What do you think can be done to improve your company’s
flow of information to you?

33. 12. What is the predominant form of communication used in
your company?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION.