Research & APA Style

Comets to the Core Project

Individual Essay & Team Presentation

Assignment Background: This individual essay and group presentation are part of the University’s Comets to the Core (CTTC) project. “The Comets to the Core project is the sole requirement for UNIV 1010 and UNIV 2020, both of which are required courses for graduation” (UTD, n.d). You will submit both required assignments to your professor for this class but also submit them to UNIV.

Your Objectives:

1. Analyze an issue from the list, research a solution, and make a recommendation

2. Communicate effectively to different audiences

· Write for an academic audience. We will discuss business writing later this semester.

· Present for a professional audience

Project Deliverables (see BCOM 1300 syllabus calendar deadlines):

Part 1 (see page 2): Individual essay. Submit to eLearning TurnItIn dropbox for PeerMark peer review by INSTRUCTOR_INSERT_DATE. Submit to the UNIV eLearning by Sept. 24.

Part 2 (see page 4): Team Presentation. Presentation done live, in classroom. Submission: (1) Post link to BCOM 1300 discussion board, and (2) Upload file to UNIV eLearning. NOTE: The UNIV deadline for the presentation for the rest of the university is Sept. 24. JSOM students have until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 8 to submit their video file.

Much Later, In November: Submit the revised essay and presentation evaluation to the BCOM 1300 end-of-semester portfolio

Assignment Set Up:

1. Groups of 3-4 people will be formed for you by UNIV. Groups have a mix of JSOM majors, but all students are in your BCOM 1300 course.

2. Individually, write a persuasive essay on this topic (details on page 2)

3. As a group, present a persuasive solution to the issue (details on page 4).

Topic (mandatory). Sustainable public transportation in the City of Dallas. See UNIV eLearning for additional information. However, as JSOM students, we expect you to investigate the relationship between business and sustainability.

Both assignments will be persuasive and should demonstrate your critical thinking skills. Also, JSOM expects students to connect their analysis and recommendations to the fields of business and management.

BCOM 1300 Comets to the Core: Individual Essay & Group Presentation

Introduction to Professionalism and Communication in Business

4

Essay Assignment: 2-3 page essay (individually written and submitted)

Individually, you will write a 2-3 page persuasive essay (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12pt font) in APA format on your group’s UN topic. Cite at least three sources in APA style (the reference page does not count toward the page count). As JSOM students, you can and should get sources beyond what’s provided to you by UNIV. Use the library databases.

The essay should include the following information:

1. What is the issue you are covering? Briefly cite information about the extent of the problem. This section should be shorter compared to the other sections.

2. How have businesses (global, national, and/or local) tried to address this issue? Explain at least three examples. Cite your sources.

3. Critically analyze what you discussed in point 2. For each example answer:

a. Which component of the problem (e.g., social, economic, environmental, and/or political) did the business’s solution address?

b. Was this a good approach?

c. What could businesses do better to make a lasting impact related to this issue?

4. Why is it important for companies to address this problem?

Draft submission: Proofread your essay. Run it through Grammarly. Does it meet the formatting and source requirements? Does it have the three sections listed above? If so, good job! Submit it to the eLearning dropbox for PeerMark peer review. TurnItIn will scan papers for plagiarism.

You will submit it to two places:

(1) TurnItIn eLearning drop box for your BCOM 1300 course and

(2) the UNIV 1010 drop box.

I will grade the draft submission for UNIV 1010. I will report a letter grade based on this rubric, using a +/- letter grade.

Final submission: After PeerMark peer review, revise your essay and include it in your final portfolio. That’s the “big grade” for this class in November.

Essay Rubric

Rubric Criteria	D/F (may need to retake the class)	C	B	A
Content & Overall	Your professor would consider the poor quality of work, lack of analysis and/or your sloppiness in logic as a sign that you may need to retake the class. Your ideas were weak, and you made no attempt at persuasion.	Your professor would be troubled by the poor quality of work. Your sections have significant errors and content choice issues. Your ideas were okay, but the persuasion was ineffective. This document should have been rewritten and could contribute to being close to not getting course credit.	Your professor would consider this average. You need to do more research and heavy revising. Your ideas are a good start but need some work to be more persuasive. There are many errors and content choice issues.	Nice work! Your professor would be satisfied and have to spend minimal time suggesting any edits. Document meets all criteria, and with few exceptions, exceeds expectations. Your ideas were solid and persuasive.
Writing Style & Organization	You show a misunderstanding of communication basics and conventions. Many grammatical/ spelling/ punctuation errors, and/or improper terminology or fluffy language. Distracts from fully understanding the writing. Writing is disorganized.	You do not demonstrate an understanding of business communication or academic writing. A moderate amount of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors, and/or includes some improper terminology or fluffy language. Inappropriate language/style/tone. Writing is somewhat organized.	You meet the expectations of writing. A few grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Occasionally uses improper terminology or fluffy language. Appropriate use of language/ style/tone. Writing is organized and clear.	You had very few errors and showed significant consideration effective writing. Free from grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. Contains proper terminology and avoids fluffy language. Skillful use of language/style/tone. Writing shows purposeful organization.
Evidence and Sources	Presents evidence and examples that are irrelevant to the topic or inappropriate. No use of sources.	Discusses evidence that is both relevant and irrelevant to the topic. Uses sources that are inappropriate for the topic. Major issues with APA style.	Most of the evidence presented and examples used are appropriate and relevant to the topic. Mixed use of inappropriate and appropriate sources. Some issues with APA style.	Uses appropriate and relevant evidence and examples to demonstrate writer's knowledge of the topic. All sources used are appropriate for the topic and contribute to the purpose of the work. Only minor APA style issues.

See next page for information on the group presentation.

Persuasive Group Presentation Instructions: 5-7 minute presentation

Assignment: As a group, you are imagining that you are presenting at an event called UTD Sustainability & Community Commitment Breakfast. The audience includes local executives, UTD administration, and politicians. They have asked you to research what other companies have done and make recommendations of what the board should and should not do moving forward regarding your chosen issue. They are expecting you to be persuasive, verbally cite at least four quality sources (can be beyond what’s provided by UNIV), present for 5-7 minutes (with everyone talking for at least a minute). In your presentation, you need to address the following:

1. Briefly describe the issue or problem (your group can narrow it down to a particular area)

2. Provide 3 or more examples of what businesses have done to help address this issue already

3. Identify effective components and challenges or mistakes of these solutions/actions

4. You have two options for the final component. Choose one.

a. Persuade the audience that one of the solutions would be more effective than the others. Suggest feasible steps toward improving these programs and suggest ways a company can be more effective in tackling these issues

OR

b. Propose your own solution to the problem

Assignment steps:

1. Share your research (not your paper) with your team members in a team meeting.

2. Outline your presentation. Consider following the five finger model and make sure you address the presentation components listed above. You do not need to turn in the outline.

3. Assign sections. Each person must present for one minute. You will not receive credit if you do not present.

4. Create PowerPoint slides for your presentation. Do this as a team. (Must be PowerPoint for JSOM students.)

5. Give the presentation in class and record presentation.

6. Submit the video file to UNIV and to the BCOM 1300 course discussion board.

7. Submit the review for this class of your presentation for this course.

Group Presentation Rubric

Each section (content, organization, delivery, and visual aid) detailed below the table will be graded using the professionalism/workplace-based rubric. The bullet points under each section outline your supervisor’s expectations for the presentation.

I will give you a letter grade using +/- for this assignment. The grade is reported to UNIV.

Letter Grade	Description
A	Your supervisor would approve this portion of the presentation without any changes. Management would be impressed and remember your work when a promotion is discussed.
B	Your supervisor would approve this portion of the presentation with minor editing. Your work would “get the job done.” Management would be satisfied and have to spend minimal time suggesting any edits.
C	Your supervisor would ask you to revise and to edit portions of this presentation before allowing people outside of your department to see it. Management would be dissatisfied and have to spend some time suggesting edits and revisions.
D	Your supervisor would be troubled by the poor quality of work. Revision and editing are essential. This section of the presentation must be redone before anyone within or outside of your department can see it. Management may feel time has been wasted on the part of you or your supervisor.
F	Your supervisor would consider the poor quality of work or your sloppiness as a sign that you may need to be replaced. This portion of the presentation shows a misunderstanding of communication basics and public speaking conventions. Management would look for someone else to do this job.

The letter grades are determined using the following. Only the letter grade goes to UNIV.

__________ Content (40%):

· Includes oral citations for at least 4 credible sources

· Uses sources, examples, and explanations to support points and their relevance

· Demonstrates appropriate audience adaptation

· Used appropriate language (to topic and audience)

· Included/addressed the expected components of the assignment

__________ Organization (30%):

· Introduction Overall Effectiveness

· Gains attention with clear strategy

· States thesis clearly

· Provides justification and significance for the audience

· Previews presentation

· Body Overall Effectiveness

· Provides a transition from section to section of the presentation

· Each section provides key information and points logically flow together

· Exhibits sophisticated argument structure

· Information is balanced among sections

· Conclusion Overall Effectiveness

· Creatively reviews presentation

· Restates thesis

· Makes a strong closing statement with a persuasive call to action

__________ Delivery (20%):

· Physical Delivery

· Eye contact

· Animated facial expression

· Displays energy and enthusiasm

· Attire enhances group credibility and does not distract

· Appeared well prepared and practiced

· Vocal Delivery:

· Avoids using vocal fillers (um, you know, like)

· Animated vocal delivery (inflection)

· Appropriate rate and volume

· Clear enunciation of words

__________ Visual Aid (10%)

· Layout/text/images were organized, professional, consistent and aesthetically pleasing

· Text and font was readable and not overly wordy.

· Void of spelling, grammar, and other errors

· Enhanced audience understanding

· Explained and referenced

· Seemed well-practiced and was used confidently and professionally

__________ Additional Deductions (over or under-time: -1% for each 10 seconds (shorter than 4 minutes or longer than 6 minutes; offensive comments/delivery; etc.)

__________ TOTAL POINTS

References

UTD. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from https://utdallas.edu/core/faq/