Final answer:
Persuasion can take many forms, such as using the foot-in-the-door technique to encourage a friend to join a community service project, presenting evidence and factual arguments to borrow a family car, or stepping into a leadership role during a group project to ensure progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
One example of persuasion in action is when I convinced a friend to join a community service project. I did this by first discussing how rewarding the experience would be in terms of personal growth and impact on the community, which is akin to the foot-in-the-door technique. This technique involves starting with a small request to increase the chances of agreement to a larger one later. Specifically, I invited my friend to attend a short introductory meeting about the project, knowing it would be easier to agree to than the project itself.
Another instance occurred during a family discussion where I wanted to borrow the family car. I presented a well-thought-out argument packed with evidence of my past trustworthiness, statistics on teen driving safety, and I highlighted how the freedom would contribute to my sense of responsibility. This approach relied heavily on facts and logical reasoning to build a strong case, which reflects the style of argumentation encouraged in academia.
Lastly, during a group project at school, I found myself taking charge due to a lack of direction. This was situationally induced leadership, where the need for organization and progress compelled me to step up. However, my assertive approach was not well-suited to the team's dynamic. In hindsight, employing a more collaborative leadership style would have better engaged and motivated all team members.