Course Rep
Academy
Successful
Campaigning:
How to Win Your
Arguments
Learning outcomes for today
• Focusing your campaign aims
• Identify the components of a
winning argument
• Practise making a winning
argument to decision makers and
targets
What would you improve on your
course?
• Write down an issue on your
course
Preparation is key
when highlighting your issues
• ‘Better feedback’
• ‘The university/college to commit to
a maximum of 3 weeks turnaround
on written assessment’
Preparation is key
when highlighting your issues
Ensure you are SMART:
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time bound
The seven sins of non
preparation
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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?
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•
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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!)