2 What makes messages more persuasive?
In Session 2, Activity 3 you worked through an example of an email that used the Situation, Target, Proposal, Courtesy (STPC) structure to help make a message more effective.
Your chances of influencing others will increase if you can include credible evidence and data in an argument. For instance, consider whether the additional evidence in italics increases the persuasive weight of the argument in the email example below (from the same activity).
The physio can certainly assist with developing flexibility and help keep her injury free while running faster. Recent evidence from our lab testing suggests that a 10 per cent increase in flexibility might lead to her 20 metre sprint speed increasing by a similar amount. Therefore, we need to have some dialogue about how she could fit this into her work pattern.
Good supporting evidence, provided it is presented in a concise way, helps influence others.