Assignment Instructions/ Description
Assignment 4. Report Summary of assignment • Task: Write a report that does the following: o defines a problem persuasively and accurately o proposes a solution(s) to the problem or issue,presented to a decision-maker(s) who can implement the solution recommendation(s) • Topic: You will choose the same topic on which you wrote the memo for writing assignment #3. • Length: 2000-3000 words (single-space)There are about 520 words per page, single spaced, 12-point font. Note: Word count does NOT include transmittal memo, Table of contents, References, or anyAppendices. • Sources: Your sources will be cited and listed in APA format. • Writing process: You will submit a first draft of the report to the assignment folder. The first draft will be given comments by the instructor. After receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a revised draft. The final draft will be graded. _________________ Your last writing assignment is a report to a decision-maker offering a solution to a complex problem in an organization or other community. You have been preparing for this all semester.This must be an original paper for this class. • Many of the detailed requirements for this assignment are found in the associated rubric. Please read that first. • The complete report should cite at least seven secondary sources. At least three of these secondary sources should come from peer-reviewed, scholarly journals. • Cite primary sources. Note: Instructions on how to list an interview in APA format can be seen at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/11 Students who cannot conduct primary research for safety or other valid reasons are required to provide TEN secondary sources. DUE TO THE DANGERS RELATED TO THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC, PRIMARY RESEARCH IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS RESEARCH REPORT ASSIGNMENT. HOWEVER, IF POSSIBLE, STUDENTS CAN CONDUCT INTERVIEWS OR SURVEYS REMOTELY (BY USING A SYSTEM SUCH AS ZOOM) OR VIA EMAIL RELYING ON WRITTEN RESPONSES. • Use graphics where you can. • Integrate (synthesize) your primary and secondary sources into the paper to explain the problem, to provide evidence of the problem, and to support the solution. Graphics note Your report might benefit from graphics. As mentioned above, pictures of your workplace or community situation might help illustrate the problem you are trying to address. Graphs, tables, or charts might help show trends that will persuade your decision-maker that the problem exists. Please do not incorporate a graphic for the sake of incorporating a graphic. Include a graphic only if it helps communicate a message in your report. Organization Remember, the final report has a distinct series of sections in a specific order: REPORT SRUCTURE The report will include in the following sections in this order (with approximate page lengths): Transmittal letter to the decision maker (reader) Executive Summary (about ½-1 page) Table of Contents I. Introduction (about ½ page) II. Findings (about 4 pages) A. B. etc. III. Conclusions (about ½ page) IV. Recommendations (a few sentences) (+ an “implementation strategy” if you have one). References(in APA format) Appendices (as needed) Remember, you must SHOW these sections (headings) in the report. You must have several subsections (“secondary headings”), labeled with clear descriptive subtitles, at least under your report Findings. You can have subsections under any primary heading. Summary: Content of Parts (Sections) of a Formal Report (in this order) • (Title page) • Executive Summary: The “ex. summ.” is a stand-alone piece, written AFTER the main document is done. The ex. summ. is not a section per se (Intro. is section I). It summarizes the WHOLE document. It introduces NO new info. It follows the sequence of the original document. Some readers will only read the ex. summ. It is placed just before the table of contents. You can all but copy and paste key parts of each report section to make an executive summary (and make a PowerPoint presentation too if you need to!) • (Table of contents) Table of contents is not a section per se: Include a table of contents with corresponding page numbers. Note: the headings in the table of contents are the same headings actually used in the report. Use “heading levels” built into in MS Word as you write each section, which generates an automatic table of contents from the heading levels you set earlier in the document. I. Introduction: The introduction states the problem topic under investigation and its significance. It states the goals of the study and usually contains background information that the reader needs to know in order to understand the balance of the paper fully. Provides a lead in to the entire report; includes scope of the study (this may be little more than a list of what you will cover subsequently). Begin on a separate page; start numbering with p. 1. II. Findings: Facts (research-based) bearing on the problem/thesis. Findings (info. = evidence) must be credible, authoritative, convincing, and often current. You take a position on the topic (e.g., X should…) and then you prove your points through hard research data.Don't discuss data that appear to have little or nothing directly to do with your thesis. Divide or partition the subject matter into subsections, addressing each in order of importance. This evidence must support your problem and conclusions. "A problem-solving analysis requires that you discuss all possible main causes, narrowing your focus to probable and then definite causes." (Lannon 487) The Findings subsections must logically parallel and flow from your stated thesis. Don’t separate primary and secondary info. into separate blocks. Go for data integration and a seamless flow of info. Note: Don't spend a huge amount of time gathering data that will ultimately not be connected well to your thesis and never fit into a brief report. Otherwise, you will have to discard much of your notes and even your report draft—taking a lot of time. Note: Several reputable scholars and some in the professional world call the Findings section, “Results.” Just so you know, what is meant is research findings or research results—the same thing. III. Conclusion(s): The conclusionaddresses/answers the question(s) that initiated the research and analysis, which proves your thesis. The conclusion summarizes, interprets, and synthesizes the key findings presented and offersinferences drawn from those findings. It reflects YOUR thinking and analysis. Limit the conclusions to the data presented earlier; do not introduce new material. Your problem identification, conclusions, and recommendations must have a logical connection (be parallel) among one another. IV. Recommendation(s): These urge the reader to take certain ACTIONS (or even no action) to solve the problem(s) you’ve identified--having supported your recommendations with the preceding research findings and conclusions. Your problem identification and these recommended solutions must have a logical and parallel connection. Recommendations can and should be brief and cryptic. Don’t justify your recommendations here; you’ve already done that in the rest of the report. Save any conclusions for the Conclusions section. Normally, base your recommended solutions on your own ideas. References/Bibliography: On a separate page, list all pertinent references used in compiling the report. Be sure to have up-to-date data, as required. Note: Citations: You must identify research sources within the text of your document = “in-text citations.” Use citations to the authors and Web sites of quoted text and for restatementsyou make of other people’s ideas/research. So again, I would like your final report (and Table of Contents) to be structured like this: SAMPLE: Thesis/Title: e.g., More businesses need an effective social media presence for optimal marketing Executive Summary I. Introduction II. Findings (research) A. Comparing Social Media Applications B. Encouraging Customer Engagement C. Building a Global Consumer Base D. Creating Brand Awareness of Products & Services E. Enhancing Financial Performance III. Conclusions IV. Recommendations
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