Download Pro-Con Plus 1

Advocacy Briefing & Prep
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Advocacy Briefing & Prep
Overview
Nature of Persuasion (or
Advocacy)
Building the Advocacy Brief
Organization Patterns
Delivery Tips
Evaluation Procedures
Nature of Persuasion (or Advocacy)
• Persuasion or advocacy is…
•Communication that influences and changes
•the beliefs, feelings or behavior of a listener
• 3 reasons to persuade or advocate:
• Convince
• Inspire
• Motivate
Nature of Persuasion (or Advocacy)
• Briefing to convince - to alter beliefs, judgments
Examples:
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Prosecuting attorney tries to convince jurors a
defendant is guilty
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Legislator attempts to convince others that a tax
increase is best way to solve the deficit problem
Nature of Persuasion (or Advocacy)
• Briefing to inspire – reinforces, intensifies feelings
or beliefs of a listener
Examples:
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Coach gives the football team a pep talk to
generate enthusiasm and a winning spirit
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A political leader makes a
Veterans Day speech to
rekindle patriotic feelings
Nature of Persuasion (or Advocacy)
• Briefing to motivate - inspires audience to act
Examples:
• American Red Cross worker encourages
participation in the upcoming blood drive
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Candidate asking for votes
Building the Advocacy Briefing
1. Select a Topic - 2 sides or multiple
solutions
– Key to a Successful Topic:
• Commitment to issue
• Appropriate supporting material
• Organization of supporting material
Building the Advocacy Briefing
2. Analyze your audience
3. Conduct research
– Library sources, internet
– Testimonies, statistics, and examples
– If evidence does not support your position or
viewpoint, be willing to modify the topic
Building the Advocacy Briefing
4. Write position statement
– Write a sentence, your position statement, that
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you can provide a solution for or
you can confidently side with
acts as focal point for arguments and supporting
materials
reveals a clear point of view on a controversial topic
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Examples:
1. The military must play a bigger role in US drug interdiction
efforts.
or
2. The military must not play a bigger role in US drug
interdiction efforts.
Building the Advocacy Briefing
5. Argument strategy (cont)
– Use logical arguments (see T&Q, pp42-53)
– Use facts, evidence, and rationale reasoning
– Use organizational patterns to help audience
understand and believe
Goal: to influence your audience to consider and
ultimately accept your point of view
Organization Patterns
• Problem-Solution
• Pro-Con Plus 1
Organization Patterns:
Problem-Solution
• Show a problem exists, then discuss possible
solutions, ending with proposed solution
• Often used for proposition of policy:
advocating a course of action or change in
future policy
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Usually contains the word “should” in the
statement
Organization Patterns:
Problem-Solution
Position Statement: The government should use the
military to combat the illegal drug problem in the US.
Problem: Illegal drug problem in the US is a pressing
national issue today.
Possible Solutions: 1. Law enforcement
2. Social programs
3. Military intervention
Proposed Solution: Military intervention
Organization Patterns:
Pro-Con Plus 1
1. State both sides of issue evenly
2. Follow with “extra” support for your view not
previously discussed, or refute the cons
This final Pro or Con equals the “Plus 1”
Organization Patterns:
Pro-Con Plus 1
Position Statement: The military must play a bigger
role in US drug interdiction efforts.
Pros: Decreases crime & drug-related health problems
Cons: Undermines constitutional liberties and detracts
from military training
Plus 1: Reduces indirect cost to the nation and slows
the degradation of our social structure
Delivery Tips
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Avoid “I think” or “I believe” comments
Only use “ in my opinion” if you are an expert and
set yourself up accordingly
Stress research sources to build credibility
Use eye contact and gestures to emphasize
arguments
Use facial expressions and voice to express
emotions
Stay behind the podium, except to emphasize a
point
Show passion and energy & Practice, Practice,
Practice!
Briefing Grade Sheet
• Informative vs Advocacy Briefings
• Introduction, Conclusion
• Support Material
Position Paper Evaluation
• Requirements
• Turn-in prior to briefing
• Format same as Background Paper
• See T&Q (2004), pp 217-218
Summary:
Advocacy Briefing & Prep
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Nature of Persuasion (or Advocacy)
Building the Advocacy Brief
Organization Patterns
Delivery Tips
Evaluation Procedures
Tim Russert, moderator of “Meet the Press” said,
referring to Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the
“Today Show,” 24 Sep 03:
“You have to be able to
articulate your position.”
And now look who’s governor of California!