Parental and coach conduct in youth sports

Communication: Unit Two, Three, And Four

"Who's misbehaving now? Parental and Coach Conduct in Youth Sports" by Maggie Durham

An essay is termed effective if it is able to relay information and pass its point across clearly. Maggie Durham's essay passes as an effective piece for a number of reasons. First, the author clearly states her goal, which is to get parents and coaches to engage in the sporting lives of the youth in a constructive manner. The use of questions is another crucial strategy. For instance, the pertinent question - "Whatever happened to sportsmanship, fair play, and just enjoying the game"- pushes readers to explore the key themes presented in the essay from an entirely different angle, and perhaps even conduct further research, to see just how modern play differs from its historical equivalent (Docstoc.com, 2013; Burns, 2014). Of equal significance is that the essay points its readers towards the long-term implications of the subject matter -- that if this continues, the country will, in the near future, no longer be the powerful force it currently is, in the field of sports. The author's focus on the future is a valuable strategy geared at challenging readers to take immediate action. The consistent use of the active voice, and the employment of a formal tone are other invaluable contributors to efficiency, with the former strengthening the writing and flow of ideas, and the latter creating an environment of seriousness and concern.

Unit 3 Discussion

Public relations is my chosen career field. I understand that attentiveness to detail is one of the key ingredients to a successful public relations career. Well, this particular quality is in line with my personal writing goal, which is to be able to persuade both potential and existing clients, and influence people's decisions though written work. My persuasion skills are near perfect in speech, but I reckon that in order to reap the highest possible benefits of my chosen career, I will have to upgrade my skills, and be perfect in written communication as well. Persuasion is not about just getting others to accept your point-of-view; rather it is about listening to others and negotiating towards a common ground.