dotted quarter note followed eighth note in series of quarter notes

If I am playing a 4/4 measure that includes four notes: a quarter note, a dotted quarter note, an eighth note, and a quarter note, how can I play those notes to get the timing correct? I know that I can play along with a tape and try to slow down my strum for the dotted quarter note and speed it up for the eighth note to match the tape. Is there any other way to do this? Is there another, or better, way to do this? 

Thanks, Paul