Course Rep Academy

Successful Campaigning:

How to Win Your Arguments

• Focusing your campaign aims

• Identify the components of a winning argument

• Practise making a winning argument to decision makers and targets

Learning outcomes for today

What would you improve on your course?

• Write down an issue on your course

Preparation is keywhen highlighting your issues

• ‘Better feedback’

• ‘The university/college to commit to a maximum of 3 weeks turnaround on written assessment’

Preparation is keywhen highlighting your issues

Ensure you are SMART:• Specific • Measurable• Achievable• Relevant• Time bound

The seven sins of non preparation

• Unclear aims and objectives• Activity planning happening before (or

without) setting an aim• Lack of evidence• Going it alone• Targeting the wrong decision maker• Messages that people don’t care about• Forgetting to monitor and evaluate

What makes an effective argument?

ACTIVITY•In pairs identify what makes an effective argument

• Think of at least 5 things

Activity Time: 5 minutes

What makes an effective argument?

• Have a clear ask• Back up your argument with evidence• Remind them who they’re accountable to• Explain how it will benefit them• Other people are on board• What will happen if they don’t agree?• Examples of where it’s worked well• Play to self-interest• Get people they respect on board to help

Now it’s your turn?

• Lobbyist – make an effective argument in 3 minutes. What is your ask?

• Target – don’t be too mean but think how that person would respond.

• Observer – make notes on what they did well

• (Lobbyists, don’t forget to tell your target who they’re pretending to be!)