TOUCHSTONE 4: Persuasive Recommendation Report

SCENARIO: Your workplace has experienced significant change recently, and your department is expected to respond to change with innovation. Your immediate manager has asked you to determine one specific innovation for your department; you will be responsible for the implementation of this innovation.

You have already presented your manager with an informative report in which you explored two options for how this innovation might be implemented. Now they would like you to create a recommendation report for the department manager.

ASSIGNMENT: In Unit 3, you revised the informative report in which you researched several methods for implementing your chosen innovation and compared and contrasted two of them based on factors that you chose. In this assignment, you will choose one of these methods and write a persuasive composition in which you aim to persuade your audience that this is the best course of action to take in order to implement your innovation.

To write a detailed recommendation, you will need to consider 2-3 criteria that are influencing your recommendation. These should be the same criteria that you evaluated objectively in your comparison/contrast assignment; however, you should look at them through a new lens as you are now aiming to persuade your audience that one method is better suited than the others rather than to inform them about the similarities and differences between the methods.

In addition to advocating for the method you have chosen, you should spend at least one body paragraph acknowledging and responding to any counterarguments you anticipate regarding this method. Think about the method you did not choose and why someone might advocate for that method instead. Address those concerns by demonstrating why the method you have chosen is still the best option. Refer to the Unit 4 lesson called Using Counterarguments for further instruction on addressing these types of arguments in a persuasive composition.

NOTE: If your source or direct quotations are not verifiable for authenticity (working link, author/title/publication information match, locatable quotations) by a grader, your Touchstone score will be negatively impacted (see "Argument and Support" and "Research" components in the rubric).

Sample Touchstone 4

Helpful Links:

A. Assignment Guidelines

DIRECTIONS: Write a double-spaced 4-6 page (1000-1500 words) persuasive essay in which you:

Use the information you have learned from your informative comparison/contrast report to write a recommendation in which you advocate for one of the methods of implementation that you investigated for your innovation.
The essay must contain a persuasive thesis statement that clearly states the method you think is best and why (the 2-3 criteria that influenced your recommendation).
1. For example, if you compared and contrasted various instant messaging tools for creating more rapid communication between teams, you could argue in favor of implementing a particular tool due to the fact that it is less expensive and more user-friendly than the other options.
State your persuasive thesis in an introductory paragraph.
Include 5-7 body paragraphs that explore the criteria that led you to advocate for this particular method of implementation, applying and analyzing researched evidence.
1. Make sure to explain your reasoning and interpretation of your researched evidence, using the techniques of context, translation, and analysis where appropriate.
Address potential counterarguments using logic and evidence.
Cite and reference 2-4 verifiable and reliable primary or secondary sources that you used to support your argument for this particular method of implementation.
1. Make sure to integrate your source material effectively, using the techniques of summarizing, paraphrasing, and verifiable quoting where appropriate.
2. Referencing more than four sources will result in a delay in grading.
End with a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis in different words and provides a concluding thought.
Include at least two specific, verifiable quotations (cited with accurate page/paragraph numbers).
Write in the persuasive mode throughout the composition, using rhetorical appeals.
Minimize mechanical and stylistic errors.
Answer the reflection questions listed below.

B. Reflection Questions

DIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.

Think about the specific skills and techniques that you used while developing and writing this final assignment. What have you learned about how to present a strong argument using persuasive writing techniques? How can you apply this knowledge in your professional or everyday life? (4-5 sentences)
Consider this course as a whole. What have you learned about yourself as a writer? Is there anything you have struggled with in the past that you now feel more confident about as a result of taking this course? (5-6 sentences)

C. Rubric

	Advanced (100%)	Proficient (85%)	Acceptable (75%)	Needs Improvement (50%)	Non-Performance (0%)
Persuasive Thesis Statement Take a clear position on the topic and state the reasons for this position. (10%)	Accomplishes all of the following: Includes a persuasive thesis statement; thesis statement takes a well-articulated, clear, specific position on one side of the issue; thesis statement states all 2-3 of the criteria that influenced this position.	Accomplishes 2-3 of the following: Includes a persuasive thesis statement; thesis statement takes a well-articulated, clear, specific position on one side of the issue; thesis statement states all 2-3 of the criteria that influenced this position.	Accomplishes 2 of the following: Includes a persuasive thesis statement; thesis takes a well-articulated, clear, specific position on one side of the issue; thesis statement states all 2-3 of the criteria that influenced this position.	Accomplishes 1 of the following: Includes a persuasive thesis statement; thesis takes a well-articulated, clear, specific position on one side of the issue; thesis statement states all 2-3 of the criteria that influenced this position.	Does not include a thesis statement, or includes a thesis statement that does not take a position or state any criteria.
Development and Support Argue in favor of a particular position and provide sufficient accurate/verifiable support for this stance, including an acknowledgment and rebuttal of any potential counterarguments. (25%)	Accomplishes all of the following: Details are highly relevant and clearly support the thesis statement; persuasive elements are thoroughly developed; the position is consistently and effectively supported using rhetorical appeals and accurate/verifiable source material; counterarguments are thoroughly addressed.	Accomplishes 3-4 of the following: Details are highly relevant and clearly support the thesis statement; persuasive elements are thoroughly developed; the position is consistently and effectively supported using rhetorical appeals and accurate/verifiable source material; counterarguments are thoroughly addressed.	Accomplishes 2-3 of the following: Details are highly relevant and clearly support the thesis statement; persuasive elements are thoroughly developed; the position is consistently and effectively supported using rhetorical appeals and accurate/verifiable source material; counterarguments are thoroughly addressed.	Accomplishes 1-2 of the following: Details are highly relevant and clearly support the thesis statement; persuasive elements are thoroughly developed; the position is consistently and effectively supported using rhetorical appeals and accurate/verifiable source material; counterarguments are thoroughly addressed.	Details are irrelevant and distract from the thesis. Persuasive elements are not developed and/or the composition is not persuasive, and counterarguments are not addressed, and/or source material is inaccurate/unverifiable.
Research Integration Incorporate and appropriately cite verifiable sources through effective quotations (at least two), paraphrases, and summaries. (20%)	Accomplishes all of the following: All outside sources are verifiable and cited following APA conventions; incorporates sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotations (at least two), paraphrase, or summary; references 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources.	Accomplishes 2-3 of the following: All outside sources are verifiable and cited following APA conventions; incorporates sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotations (at least two), paraphrase, or summary; references 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources.	Accomplishes 2 of the following: All outside sources are verifiable and cited following APA conventions; incorporates sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotations (at least two), paraphrase, or summary; references 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources.	Accomplishes 1 of the following: All outside sources are verifiable and cited following APA conventions; incorporates sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotations (at least two), paraphrase, or summary; references 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources.	Does not cite verifiable sources, or citation is consistently inappropriate. Does not reference sources and/or sources are not credible or appropriate.
Organization Exhibit competent organization, flow, and writing techniques. (15%)	Accomplishes all of the following: Includes an introduction with a strong thesis; includes an adequate number of body paragraphs; includes effective topic sentences for all body paragraphs; includes a conclusion with an effective closing thought; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.	Accomplishes 4-5 of the following: Includes an introduction with a strong thesis; includes an adequate number of body paragraphs; includes effective topic sentences for all body paragraphs; includes a conclusion with an effective closing thought; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.	Accomplishes 3-4 of the following: Includes an introduction with a strong thesis; includes an adequate number of body paragraphs; includes effective topic sentences for all body paragraphs; includes a conclusion with an effective closing thought; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.	Accomplishes 1-3 of the following: Includes an introduction with a strong thesis; includes an adequate number of body paragraphs; includes effective topic sentences for all body paragraphs; includes a conclusion with an effective closing thought; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.	Is missing multiple required components of a composition or all of the components are ineffective; the sequence of sentences and/or paragraphs is consistently illogical.
Style and Tone Establish a persuasive tone and make thoughtful choices. (15%)	Accomplishes all of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices; uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently persuasive tone that is appropriate to the persuasive composition.	Accomplishes 2-3 of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices; uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently persuasive tone that is appropriate to the persuasive composition.	Accomplishes 2 of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices; uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently persuasive tone that is appropriate to the persuasive composition.	Accomplishes 1-2 of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices; uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently persuasive tone that is appropriate to the persuasive composition.	Consistently demonstrates poor word choices and/or repetitive sentence structures; tone is consistently informative rather than persuasive and the composition is dominated by facts without interpretation or analysis to demonstrate how they support the position.
Conventions Minimize errors in standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. (10%)	Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	Includes fewer than 5 minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	Includes 5 minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	Includes more than 5 minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.
Reflection Answer reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. (5%)	Accomplishes all of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses; follows or exceeds response length guidelines.	Accomplishes 2-3 of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses; follows or exceeds response length guidelines.	Accomplishes 2 of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses; follows or exceeds response length guidelines.	Accomplishes 1-2 of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses; follows or exceeds response length guidelines.	Does not answer the majority of reflection questions or the majority of answers do not follow response length guidelines.

D. Requirements

The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:

Double-space the outline and use one-inch margins.
Indent the first line of each paragraph by ½ inch.
Use a readable 12-point font.
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
Use of generative chatbot artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard) in place of original writing is strictly prohibited for this assignment.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.
Submission must include your persuasive recommendation report and reflection questions with the components described in the guidelines above.
Include all of the assignment components in a single file.
Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.