Students

MGMT8077 – Learning to be Persuasive

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Randal Tame
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MMgmt and 40cp at 8000 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The ability to communicate persuasively is a key skill of leadership. This unit offers a practical introduction to persuasion theory and persuasive communication and aims to develop in students an applied understanding of the psychology of persuasion and the art of rhetoric. The approach is theoretical and practical. We will explore both classical and contemporary ideas of persuasion with an emphasis on recent social psychological theory and research. Students will also practice critical skills in analysing, organising, information gathering, goal setting, evaluating and public speaking. The focus in this unit is on the co-active preparation and delivery of persuasive messages, on the quality of the argument and the engagement of the audience, rather than on the theatrics of the speaker’s delivery.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Employ deliberate persuasive strategies to encourage others to change their attitudes toward objective things in the world.
  • ULO2: Analyse and apply rational concepts and methods in a creative process to propose a path out of a current predicament or a solution to a current problem.
  • ULO3: Learn from and engage with audiences of diverse cultural, social and political attitudes and identities to persuade them to come together using a variety of communication techniques.
  • ULO4: Critique a variety of speakers and ways of communicating to deliver persuasive messages.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessments must also be submitted through the relevant submission link on iLearn. No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission incurs a 20% penalty). Late submissions will be accepted up to 96 hours after the due date and time.

This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for SpeciaConsideratiois made and approved. Note: applications for SpeciaConsideratioPolicmust be made within 5 (five) business days of the due date and time.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Peer Evaluation 10% No Week 5 and Week 12
Persuasive Presentation 30% No Week 12
Oral presentation 20% No Week 5
Individual Rhetorical Analysis 40% No Week 10

Peer Evaluation

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 5 and Week 12
Weighting: 10%

Each student will be actively involved in critically evaluating their peer’s capabilities in preparing and presenting persuasive arguments.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Learn from and engage with audiences of diverse cultural, social and political attitudes and identities to persuade them to come together using a variety of communication techniques.
  • Critique a variety of speakers and ways of communicating to deliver persuasive messages.

Persuasive Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 30%

Each student is to participate in one team presentation of a maximum 20 minutes (plus 5 minutes of questions). Teams will consist of no more than 5 students. Each student is expected to contribute equally to the presentation. The Team presentation represents 30% of total assessment. Even though the presentation will take place in a team environment, each student will be marked as an individual.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and apply rational concepts and methods in a creative process to propose a path out of a current predicament or a solution to a current problem.
  • Learn from and engage with audiences of diverse cultural, social and political attitudes and identities to persuade them to come together using a variety of communication techniques.
  • Critique a variety of speakers and ways of communicating to deliver persuasive messages.

Oral presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 20%

The oral submission requires students to combine research and concepts, which involves the collection and analysis of information from a range of sources. The submission will be of up to 5 minutes.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Employ deliberate persuasive strategies to encourage others to change their attitudes toward objective things in the world.
  • Analyse and apply rational concepts and methods in a creative process to propose a path out of a current predicament or a solution to a current problem.

Individual Rhetorical Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 40%

This essay assignment requires reflection and analysis based on observation of one or more publicly delivered speeches utilising concepts covered in the unit. The submission will be of up to 3,000 words.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and apply rational concepts and methods in a creative process to propose a path out of a current predicament or a solution to a current problem.
  • Critique a variety of speakers and ways of communicating to deliver persuasive messages.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required Text

Heinrichs, J., 2017. Thank you for arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson can teach us about the art of persuasion. Three Rivers Press (CA).

Unit Web Page

The web page for this unit can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/

Technology Used and Required

Students are required to have access to a personal computer and familiarise themselves with iLearn (https://ile arn.mq.edu.au/login/).

iLearn will be used to post lecture slides, assessment details, student grades and as a means of communication between staff members and students.

Delivery Format and Other Details

The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/

Recommended readings

Recommended readings are provided via the links on the iLearUnit page

Inherent Requirements

None

Unit Schedule

Please refer to iLearn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.