Listen Speak Engage

San Jos State University

COMM 120P: Persuasive Presentations
PERSUASIVE PITCH PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS AND GRADING CRITERIA
PURPOSE: This assignment provides students the opportunity to apply persuasive theory to a practical
situation. This assignment addresses course learning objectives 2, 3, & 5.
SPECIFICALLY: Each student will select a significant issue that s/he believes affects the SJSU
population. Once a topic/issue has been selected, students will conduct research and then design an
online survey that measures attitudes about the topic. After assessing survey results, each student will
then write a report that aims to persuade the reader to rate the issue/topic as a top priority. Finally,
students will pitch their topic ideas to the class in an attempt to persuade them to vote for the topic
to be one of the six that the class will use for the Political Action project.
STEP ONE: SELECT & RESEARCH TOPIC The first step in this assignment is to choose a topic that you
believe is a significant issue that affects your classmates and members of the SJSU community. Choose
a topic that is meaningful to you. Once you have a topic, spend some time researching it and identify
the history and highlights of the issue, various positions people have about it, and any significant events
or effects of the issue, etc.
STEP TWO: DEVELOP SURVEY DRAFT Once youve completed the initial research, design a survey
that includes approximately 10 questions designed to measure peoples attitudes and understanding
about the topic/issue (see chapter 2 in the textbook for more information about how to design
questions). Surveys should incorporate a variety of question types (closed, open-ended, likert scale,
etc.). Also, include a brief introduction that provides a description of the issue and states that the survey
findings are anonymous. Submit your draft to Canvas by 11:59PM Thursday, September 11.
STEP THREE: FINALIZE SURVEY & SEND LINK Once you have incorporated any feedback you
received from me into your draft, transfer the information to an online survey tool (e.g. Survey Monkey)
and then send the link to a minimum of 50 people. You may also distribute the link via social media.
When sending the request for participants, include the fact that this is for a class project, is anonymous,
and will take approximately 5-minutes to complete. Submit your nal survey to Canvas by 11:59PM
Monday, September 15. Surveys are worth up to 15 points.
STEP FOUR: ANALYZE SURVEYS & WRITE SUMMARY Step four is to analyze the results of the
survey. Note similarities across surveys, areas of difference, and how the findings support your argument
that the topic is significant and should be one of the six selected for the final project. Write up a one-
page summary of the findings. Summary papers should be attached to the Persuasive Report
Papers due Tuesday, October 14. Summaries are worth up to 15 points.
STEP FIVE: WRITE PERSUASIVE REPORT Once your have completed analyzing the survey findings,
you are to write an approximately four page persuasive paper that reports your research and survey
findings, and persuades the reader to believe the topic is significant. Reports should include a clear
summary of the the issue, including its history, any significant events associated with the issue, and any
controversies. Next, the paper should include a brief description of the survey findings, including
specific examples and statistics to help strengthen the case for the topic. Finally, include a well-
reasoned persuasive appeal for why this topic should be considered significant. Please attach your
survey analysis summary to the paper.
All papers are to be written in standard essay format (introduction, body, and conclusion), well
organized, and grammatically correct. Please follow the formatting requirements as stated on the
syllabus. Papers are due in class Tuesday, October 14. Papers are worth up to 50 points.
COMM111P Fall 2014 Page of 1 2
Listen Speak Engage

STEP SIX: PITCH TOPIC TO CLASS Each student will pitch their topic to the class in a 4 - 5 minute
persuasive presentation. The goal of the pitch is to get the class to vote for the topic/issue to be one of
the six chosen for the Political Action Project (the engagement unit project). Pitches should include a
brief overview of the issue, significant information from the research, and highlights from the surveys. All
presentations must include at least two visual aides that support the persuasive effort. Students must
turn in an outline of the pitch on the day they present. Pitch Presentations will take place on Tuesday,
September 30, and Tuesday, October 7. Pitches and outlines are worth up to 20 points.

EVALUATION CRITERIA: This assignment is worth up to 100 points total (15 for the survey, 15 for the
findings summary; 20 for Pitch and outline, and 50 for the persuasive paper). All written components will
be evaluated based how well they meet the assignment guidelines as listed above. Specifically, students
whose papers satisfactorily meet the minimum requirements can expect to earn a grade in the C
range. Those whose papers meet the requirements and demonstrate thoughtful responses, clear
organization of ideas, and clarity in the writing will receive a grade in the B range. Papers that
demonstrate excellence in all areas and are free from grammatical error will receive grades in the A
range. Presentations will be evaluated based on how well they incorporate the assignment
requirements, and the effectiveness of the persuasion.
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