The Art of Persuasion

Persuasion is a delicate art form used to influence others into doing or believing something. Persuasion is used in many different ways in order to appeal to all different types of people. One seemingly universal medium is money. Money is a scarce resource because there is not enough to satisfy all of our desired uses. As a poor high school student, I was faced with a decision: which college do I attend? In making that vital choice, Saginaw Valley State University preyed on my scarcity of money to provoke me to attend SVSU in the fall of 2007.
As a high school student, I had many different avenues opened to me, creating a difficulty. I was ranked top in my class for academic standing. I was also heavily involved in extracurricular activities. My problem was not being accepted, but in deciding which college or university to choose. Do I choose a university that is well-known and respected? Do I choose a university that is cheaper to prevent the number of student loans? Do I go to a community college for a few years and then transfer?
With these many options weighing heavily on my mind, I began to receive different pamphlets and letters in the mail from colleges and universities all around the country. Some were proud of their athletic programs; others, their diversity. But the price tag kept holding me back from making my decision. I did not want to graduate college and be left to pay off $50,000 or more in student loans. There had to be a better solution.
At the beginning of my senior year, I began narrowing my choices. I knew that I wanted to stay in Michigan to be close to home and that I wanted to attend a college with an AACSB Accreditation. At this time, I had narrowed my choices to two Michigan Business Accredited universities, Central Michigan or Saginaw Valley State University.
In December 2006, I was offered the opportunity to attend an interview process at Saginaw Valley State University in prospect of receiving a full tuition scholarship called the President’s Scholarship. Determined and ready, I set off for the campus. In a few weeks time, I received a letter stating I was granted the full tuition scholarship from Saginaw Valley, covering all 124 credits needed to graduate. This scholarship, worth over $25,000 was the determining factor that persuaded me to attend Saginaw.
Looking back and evaluating my decision, I believe it was a solid one. Not only did Saginaw Valley have the characteristics that were important to me (close to home and accreditation), but they offered me the ability to attend a university for a relatively low cost. Not only am I growing as a student, but I have found a home here at Saginaw Valley State University. The friendships I have established are ones that are irreplaceable. I have matured from a teenage to a young woman, a woman ready to face the world.

Rhetoric

As human beings, we have a burning desire to establish and nurture relationships. The single most important puzzle piece in any well-functioning relationship is communication. Communication is the way we use words, noises, and body signals to relay messages. The most effective and common is words.
For example, the English language has around 600,000 words, and is ever changing and ever growing. We use our rhetorical skills to express feelings, thoughts, desires and more. Each person has a unique style when speaking, giving them individuality and character. With so much to say, many people rise in the morning and begin speaking, and drift off whispering.
Without this vital form of communication, we would a less intellectual society. Rhetoric allows us to bounce ideas off of one another, to enhance these ideas and to put them into action. The art of persuasion is more than prominent in our history books, as well as in society today.