Persuasion

#5 Overview: Persuasion is constant in each of our lives. No matter where we look, what we read, what we see, or who we interact with, we are inevitably going to encounter some form of persuasion. Advertisements want us to buy things. Newspapers and television want to convince us of how we should feel about events. We are put into positions where we must defend our thoughts and beliefs to others, and the process we apply is typically some form of persuasion.

Persuasive writing is one of the most powerful forms of writing—it has the ability to influence one’s thoughts, and also the ability to change one’s mind about a particular issue. The persuasive essay is an ideal opportunity to support an opinion on an issue using researched facts and information. It also gives you the chance to recognize opposing viewpoints and refute it, noting that those who hold the opposing viewpoints are the intended audience of the piece.

Prompt: For this essay, you will identify an issue in your current major (Business Administration), a major you are interested in pursuing, or your field of work. You will then establish an argument and support that argument with research and relevant evidence.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Writing Plan: Use this writing plan as a way to gather your thoughts and determine your strategy for writing your critical analysis essay. This process will allow you to develop a potential structure for effectively communicating and supporting your claim. This plan will be helpful in keeping your thought process on track when you begin writing and revising your essay.

A. Describe the argument to be addressed in your persuasive essay. Explain how the argument relates to your major, the major you are considering pursuing, or your field of work.

B. Determine three key points that will be helpful in supporting your argument.

C. Identify the audience who will be reading your essay. What potential challenges will you encounter in supporting your argument with this demographic?

D. Establish a goal that you hope to accomplish with this essay. What will this essay need to be successful? E. List potential resources that could be used as supporting evidence for your argument, and provide a brief description of each and how they will reinforce your argument.

F. Align key points of your argument with supporting resources for establishing an effective essay structure.

G. Based on your argument, determine at what points in the essay integrating evidence would be most effective, and explain why.

H. Describe a revision strategy that would be most effective while writing this essay. Why would this strategy be effective?

I. Review your writing notes assignment and the feedback provided by your instructor. How does this feedback influence your progress moving forward? What changes did you make to your writing plan after receiving this outside feedback?

#6 Assignment: Reflection
Overview: In this assessment, you will write a reflection essay that explores how you chose to incorporate feedback on your argument, your exploration of the issue, and your source integration in the persuasive essay, as well as how your incorporation of resources supported your claim. Additionally, you will note any challenges you faced in incorporating resources and developing your argument throughout the writing process.
Prompt: Previously, you identified an issue in your current major, a major you are interested in pursuing, or your field of work. You then established an argument and supported that argument with research and relevant evidence. In this assignment, you will reflect on how you chose to incorporate feedback concerning your argument, your exploration of the issue, and your integration of sources. Additionally, you will note any challenges you faced in incorporating resources and developing your argument throughout the writing process.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Reflection . What peer-review feedback did you choose to incorporate concerning your argument and why? B. What challenges did you face in developing your argument? What could you have done differently? C. What peer-review feedback did you choose to incorporate concerning your exploration of the issue and why? D. What peer-review feedback did you choose to incorporate concerning your effective source integration and why? E. What writing strategies were most effective in supporting your argument, given your audience, subject, and purpose?

Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your reflective essay must be 1–2 pages in length (plus a cover page if written in APA format) and written in MLA or APA format.

Reflection

Over the past few weeks, I have been engaged in various course assignments, including the preparation of milestone papers and engagement in discussion boards. These assignments were not only challenging for me but also interesting and engaging. I found the discussion boards very interesting and engaging, as the various assigned topics were discussed amongst peers. I received both positive and negative feedback on the various discussion posts that I completed. A memorable post that I made was a paper that discussed the use of wigs and braids and the various aspects related to their use. Even though the topic seemed credible and relevant to me, having been working in the beauty industry for a while, it failed to convince my peers and the instructor that it was good enough. The feedback that I received from the instructor was straight to the point and helped me to understand the requirements for a good topic for course assignments.

In the feedback provided for the wigs vs. braids paper, a lot was highlighted about the process of topic selection. I was informed that a good topic should be arguable and researchable, besides being interesting. I also learned that a good topic should not be just based on personal opinion but also support from peer-reviewed sources and credible journals and websites. A good topic should also be arguable from multiple sides. The topic I had selected failed to meet these requirements to an extent, as I had selected it based on my opinion and thoughts, but not based on information from credible sources. While I found some journals and articles on the selected topic, I felt that I needed to find a better topic for my persuasive essay. This was the reason why I chose to discuss the various cellphone service providers in the United States, as I could find supportive information from the websites of respective providers.

In the process of developing my argument, while composing the summative persuasive essay, it was challenging to make connections between my argument and the arguments posed by those against my view. The process of gathering data was easy since I have been working at a retail store that deals in the sale of smartphones and cellphone provider service plans. However, the process of framing my knowledge and the information that I had gathered from the customers who visit the store to fit the purpose of the persuasive essay was quite challenging. The integration of information sources was also quite challenging, especially since most of the information that I depended on to develop the persuasive essay was not documented – word of mouth communication with the customers from the store where I work. I, however, found a lot of information from the websites of the companies that I was discussing, and was able to integrate it in my paper.

Persuasive writing has been the most informative and challenging task for me, mostly because I was used to argumentative writing before taking this course. I have been able to practice argumentative writing with the essay draft and the summative paper, and I believe that I have learned a lot. However, I plan on practicing more writing and engaging in research to improve my writing skills and be able to engage in persuasive writing without any challenges. Overall, the course discussions and assignments have helped me sharpen my writing skills a great deal.

Summative Assessment: Persuasive Essay

Introduction

Over the last few years, I have been working at the electronics department of a retail chain store. In the electronics department, we provide smartphone and telephone devices as well as services from various telecommunication companies. These include AT&T, Verizon Communications, Total Wireless, Tracfone, and Straight Talk. Each of these companies provides devices and services at different prices and quality. I have conducted personal research into the services, and their respective prices, offered by each of these carriers to determine the best network to use in the country. The research included getting the opinions of customers and friends on the services that they receive and enjoy from the smartphone carriers that they subscribe to. While most people gave the opinion that they prefer Verizon over other networks and providers, they complained that its services were more expensive compared to the other providers. Some customers thought that AT&T works better than Verizon since it works on GSM and provides services in and out of the United States.

Some customers prefer Tracfone, Total Wireless, and Straight Talk since they are more affordable compared to AT&T and Verizon. All the various network carriers provide great services and devices. However, the quality of service and the prices offered to subscribers are very different. The determination of the service provider that is better than the rest can only be done through a comparison of the quality and cost of the services provided. My opinion is that Straight Talk provides better data services at a lower price compared to AT&T and Verizon. For customers who need more data at a budget, Straight Talk is the carrier to go to. A comparison of the services provided by the various companies is conducted in this paper to show why Straight Talk should be the carrier of choice for customers in the United States. Also, I would recommend Tracfone for customers who wish to talk less and who do not use the internet or data services, especially the older generation of subscribers.

Comparison of Various Providers

Verizon Wireless provides three different services: prepaid, postpaid, and contract services. Amongst all these services, a huge number of its customers go for prepaid services because they are “pay as you use” services, and have no hidden costs. Verizon’s prepaid plans start from $30 for unlimited talk time with 500MB data, up to $75 unlimited talk time and unlimited data monthly (Verizon, n.d.). The company provides quality data and voice services, with strong network coverage in most parts of the United States. However, the provider’s customer service is very poor, and customers with complaints or queries have to wait for more than 45 minutes before getting the technical assistance that they need from the company. Wait times sometimes go up to more than an hour, especially during peak time. Sprint is another big provider in the United States (Sprint, n.d.). The company provides services that are similar to those provided by Verizon, but at a lower price. While Sprint provides services at lower pricing compared to Verizon, making affordability the biggest perk for using Sprint, Verizon provides more network stability compared to Sprint.

AT&T is another popular service provider in the United States. The company provides prepaid and postpaid plans as well as data services to its customers. Customers enjoy international calls to various countries and autopayment of service plans. Compared to Verizon and Sprint, AT&T provides cheaper services and call rates. However, its network coverage is not dependable since the company’s coverage is quite low. Total Wireless provides only two service plans that are not unlimited. This inconveniences customers who are interested in unlimited data and call service. Tracfone has recently introduced unlimited plans, even though it deals with call time minutes – $20 plan that lasts for up to 90 days, but the minutes roll over when not used up within the 90 days and a yearly plan for $99. The company does not provide many plans for customers with varying needs to choose from. However, the customer service provided by the company is good. Amongst all these reviewed service providers, Verizon seems to be the best option for customers, for both those interested in data services and those that are interested in voice services.

Straight Talk is a cellphone service provider that is offered at Walmart retail stores. The company provides various contract-free smartphone and telephone plans that allow customers to pay for services as they use them. Customers have the option of choosing from a monthly service plan or a yearly plan (Straight Talk Wireless, n.d.). The provider operates on the Verizon Wireless network since it does not have a wireless network of its own at the moment. However, even though Verizon and Straight Talk use the same wireless network, they are separate cellphone carriers. Customers that use Straight Talk services have no direct affiliation or connection with Verizon Communications. There are many advantages associated with using Straight Talk. Customers of the company avoid the worry or stress of having to pay a monthly bill for services provided. The customers have the option of refilling credit when they need to use it and may stop using the service at any time without having to pay a cancelation fee. Also, devices running on Straight Talk do not enter roaming mode when a customer leaves a coverage area. As a result, customers avoid incurring roaming costs when traveling.

To improve convenience, Straight Talk allows customers to transfer their old phone number to Straight Talk. The cellphone service provider is popular in the United States for being a cheap prepaid wireless brand that provides unlimited plans. The plans provided by the company can be purchased through Walmart or the company’s website. They provide prepaid plans, and customers need to bring their phone or purchase a compatible one from their website. Straight Talk’s most popular service plan is the Unlimited Everything plan. This plan includes unlimited text, unlimited talk, and unlimited data (Straight Talk Wireless, n.d.). Data service provided is unlimited but once the consumer hits a gigabyte threshold for one month, currently at 3GB, data speeds go down to a slower speed. However, the consumer continues to enjoy data services for the rest of the month, only at a slower speed.

The Unlimited Everything plan currently goes for $45 a month, which is very affordable for customers (Straight Talk Wireless, n.d.). The cellphone provider also offers an international plan for $60 a month. Both these plans are more affordable than the plans provided by both Verizon and Sprint. Sprint, however, provides plans that include a subsidized price for a phone, whereas one has to buy a phone or bring their own with Straight Talk. Besides the affordable services that the company provides to customers, the customer service provided is great. There are very few complaints about the quality of service provided, as the company uses Verizon’s wireless network. There are also very few complaints about customer service. The only complaint I have ever heard was that a customer care representative assisting a customer on the phone was not able to speak fluently in English. Straight Talk does everything in its power to provide the best service to customers with queries and complaints. The wait time for customers is less than half that which Verizon customers are put through.

There are those who argue that Straight Talk does not come even close to the services provided by Verizon. Their main argument is the inability of Straight Talk to provide international calling plans. Customers can only make national voice calls when using Straight Talk. The device selection for Straight Talk is also not as expansive as with Verizon and Sprint, and the service provided is only usable in the service areas that are within the company’s coverage map. While this is true, the services that Straight Talk provides are much more affordable than those provided by Verizon, even though the network quality that the companies provide is the same. For customers that wish to subscribe to a cellphone service provider that provides great connectivity at a reasonable price, Straight Talk is the best choice.

For customers that find paying for a smartphone off-contract too costly, Straight Talk allows customers to bring their smartphone from other carriers. Verizon only allows customers to bring a used Verizon smartphone when they want to use its services and cannot afford to purchase a new device. Both Verizon and Straight Talk provide customers with payment plans for smartphones with no zero deposit and multiple payment lengths. Straight Talk coverage and Verizon coverage are nearly identical. This is because Straight Talk runs on the Verizon Wireless network. Both Verizon and Straight Talk offer their customers 4G LTE data speeds that allow them to connect at the fastest current internet speeds (Edwards, 2020). Switching to Straight Talk is a great decision, especially for customers that want to save money but still enjoy the best network and speeds. Straight Talk is suitable for customers that need a lot of data. Even for families that use a load of data at home, the company provides amazing and affordable deals. Straight Talk provides 10GB high-speed data plans for $45 a month (Straight Talk Wireless, n.d.), while Verizon provides 10GB high-speed data for $60 a month and 7GB for $50 a month (Verizon, n.d.). This means that customers on Straight Talk save $15 when using the 10GB monthly high-speed data plan.

Straight Talk and Verizon also offer the best smartphone range compared to all the other providers, including the latest devices from Apple and Samsung. While customers do not see new devices on Straight Talk as fast as they see them introduced on Verizon, they can buy off-contract and unlocked devices and bring them to Straight Talk using the option where they can buy a SIM card for $9.99. They can also purchase new devices directly from Straight Talk using monthly payments if they do not wish to bring their own devices.

Conclusion

Considering all the cellphone service providers discussed, it is clear that Straight Talk is one of the best companies to subscribe to. The company is a great option for customers looking for a company with a major network coverage but trying to save costs. The plans and devices that the company provides are easily accessible through the company’s website and Walmart stores. The service plans provided by Straight Talk are inexpensive and reliable. They run on a reliable network that uses Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile spectrums, but mostly Verizon. Besides, a customer who is looking for a smartphone device that can go along with their Straight Talk plan can choose from lots of options, including flagship devices from Samsung, Apple, and LG. Affordable plans are the company’s key strength. Other strengths include a good selection of smartphone devices and the premium network on which the services provided run. If a customer is looking for a solid, feature-packed, and quality cellphone plan that is affordable, then Straight Talk is the cellphone service provider to go for. Besides, the plans that the company provides are prepaid, which means that the customers do not have to worry about monthly bills since they pay for what they want to use. Services are paid for upfront. The company’s only weaknesses are the inability to provide international call plans and the limited cellphone plan lineup. A comparison of the cellphone provider’s strengths and weaknesses clearly shows that the company is a great choice for customers. These strengths mean that Straight Talk customers enjoy the same quality network and data services as Verizon customers but at a more affordable price.

References

Edwards, L. (2020, January 16). Best Cell Phone providers 2020: Find the right carrier for you. Retrieved February 22, 2020, from https://www.toptenreviews.com/best-cell-phone-providers

Sprint. (n.d.). Sprint Services: Sprint Support. Retrieved February 22, 2020, from https://www.sprint.com/en/support/services.html

Straight Talk Wireless. (n.d.). No Contract Phones and Plans. Retrieved February 22, 2020, from https://www.straighttalk.com/

Verizon. (n.d.). Buy Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, get S20 5G, on us. Retrieved February 22, 2020, from https://www.verizonwireless.com/