ENGLISH 30063: BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING

ENGLISH 30063: BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING

Assignment 2, Group Report on a Solicited Topic

Now that you have spent some time understanding the ways in which:

research (primary and secondary)

summaries and

visuals work in a report,

you are ready to work on your group report.  I will be guiding you through this report (giving you a general topic some data). [1]

As with actual professional writing, you will often be called upon to work on a particular issue that your employers give to you, with specific parameters. In this instance, you are solicited for particular information. Like that scenario, I am framing an issue for you here.

You will have more choice in a topic in final, individual project.

Central issue for paper 2: Sustainability and Peak Load Days Sustainability is an issue across the Kent campus that can be approached by all subject areas. A basic definition of sustainability is an effort to maintain natural, social and economic needs for present and future generations. With this definition, resource use is a central concern. And within resource use, the way we use energy is important. At Kent State University, peak load days occur in the summer and are days when energy consumption is at the peak of the electric grid (see attachment A). The Kent State Sustainability Office would like this issue to be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner to gain a variety of perspectives about why peak load days and saving energy is important Your group task: To illuminate the issue of peak load days within your field by writing a report using primary and secondary research, and to make conclusions and recommendations based on your research within your field.

 

Possible Directions:

Accounting: Cost analysis of enacting energy reduction for peak load days

Business: Products that might help with lowering energy costs of peak load days

PR: Enacting a media/ entertainment campaign (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, poster campaign,  real time event, etc.) that would help students, staff and faculty to understand the importance of powering down on peak load days (could focus on a particular area: ie, sports facilities).

Design: Designing elements of a specific visual, audio or mulitmudaltools(designing a commercial, photo shoot, web page, etc. that might be used in a larger campaign) that might be used on various platforms to help students, staff and faculty to understand the importance of powering down on peak load days.

ESL teaching: the importance of showing how this issue should be addressed in all languages at Kent State

If you have a unique take on this subject, let me know! I am open to your ideas.

I will provide: Two secondary sources Survey and data from survey about sustainability  at Kent State (primary source data) Each individual group member will need to provide: At least one more professional or peer reviewed secondary sources from your field Your final group report must have at least 4 secondary sources and one primary source. (You may certainly include more sources) * You may choose to work alone, but you must include 4 secondary sources plus the survey data

Your final report must include (feel free to use as checklist):

• A cover page (consider engaging graphics – see “reports” templates – 1 page
• A table of contents – 1 page
• An executive summarywith conclusions and recommendations – 1 page (at least)
• A report with an introduction, body (make clear your primary and secondary research using APA citations as you report on the issues you’ve uncovered), and conclusion (expand conclusions and recommendations) – 3 pages, at least (not including visuals)
• At least two visuals with proper labels

* one should be created yourself (from survey data)

* the other should come from another source (be sure to cite)

–    Subtitles throughout

• Extended Conclusions and recommendations; Depending on your field, you may choose to center conclusions and recommendations for this report by suggesting the creation documents and or website. – 1 page, at least
• A “References” page (APA) – 1 page

Where can I find models to guide me?

1. 399- 413 in your text has a great example, as is the example on the top of the Blackboard page. Since you will be including conclusions and recommendations, the PDF on the Blackboard is helpful for that portion.

– Be aware:

that the PDF version does not contain proper labels around images (look to textbook to do so)!

– the PDF uses footnotes (you’ll want to use APA in-text citations)

– The textbook report on p 399-413 does not contain an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations that you’ll need.

– Neither use APA style (review via Purdue Owl)

Rubric:

Focus/Critical Thinking	Content	Organization	Style	Conventions
Final text is: Focused on purpose and shows evidence of critical thinking	Final text includes: All parts noted on assignment sheet (Title page, table of contents, executive summary) An appropriate introduction Pertinent information in body Primary and secondary data -APA citations Effective presentation of  graphics An appropriate close with conclusions and recommendations References (APA)	Final text has: Logical order New paragraphs for new ideas Effective transitions Effective spacing	Final text is: Coherent Clear Concise Precise with vocabulary for context Made effective with varying sentence styles	Final text has error-free: Spelling Grammar Punctuation Usage Syntax Conventions for professional writing

Attachment A:

[1]For your next, individual report in this class, you’ll be selecting your topic and collecting data on your own. I suggest that you start thinking of a professional writing project you’ve run across in your job investigations (feel free to connect that to a current workplace/ project – writing a grant, economic report,  introducing a new kind of equipment to a company,  introducing a PR campaign or creative project (promoting a band, screenplay or show) would be a perfect example of professional writing for many of you.)