Download Communication Skills Curriculum Changes

Advocacy Briefing & Prep
Overview: Advocacy
Briefing & Prep
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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:

Prosecuting attorney tries to convince jurors a defendant
is guilty

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
Examples:

Coach gives the football team a pep
talk to generate enthusiasm and
winning spirit

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

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
• 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
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