Secondary Research Report

Requirements for Secondary Research Project

Learning Objectives and Project Overview

In this project, you'll do secondary research to "find out what the experts say" about a workplace problem or challenge. Then you'll apply the Spence Method as you synthesize information from various sources to write compelling and richly detailed article for your readers. The subject matter will be one of the issues that you wrote about in your Client Interview Article. The audience will be either the client you interviewed or people in the same job role as the interviewee. This project includes these assignments:

• Project Proposal Pitch (Due Week 3) • Synthesis Matrix (Due Week 4) • Research Report – preliminary draft (Due Week 4) and final

draft) (Due Week 5)

Requirements for Project Proposal Pitch

Write a 300-word pitch to the instructor discussing the specific topic you will write about and the specific reader (client or job role) that you will address. Explain why this topic is important and relevant to this audience at this time.

To provide the instructor with insight into the timeliness of this issue, include a 100-word summary of an article that was published about this topic within the past 3 years.

Topic for Your Research Report

Choose a timely and specific problem or challenge facing people in the same job role as the interviewee for your Client Interview. The topic must be specific and actionable, not a broad subject such as "leadership" or "fundraising" but a specific problem or challenge faced by people in that job role. The paper must explain the problem or challenge and must offer specific solutions that are actionable by the reader. The paper must not merely explore the topic or present solutions that are outside the scope of the person's job role ("the government should...," "society will has to change...," "universities need to offer...," or "technology needs to be developed..."). The best reports will present information from current articles, webinars, and conference presentations intended for people in this job role or industry.

Audience for Your Researched Report

Your document must address people in a specific job role, such as "biomedical engineer" or "technical writer," not "the general public," not "government officials," not "professors and students").

Purpose of Your Researched Report

The reader is looking for information and advice about this topic. Your position statement will be something like "people in ________ (specific job role) can address the problem of ________ by ________ (doing what?)."

Word Count Suggestion for Researched Report

1,000 to 1,200 words

Structure and Content for Your Researched Report

Include these elements (as described in the Spence book): * Opening Statement: Introduce the subject and conveys its importance to people in this field, its timeliness now, and your Position * Methodology: Briefly describe your methods for conducting your secondary research, including how you selected your sources & why they are credible. * Essential Background (optional): Provide definitions of terms, if needed, and any historical information or other background information that readers need to understand the topic and why it's especially important now * Issues and Conclusions: Develop and support your position, presenting information from your research and explaining its relevance. Include at least one paragraph that addresses a likely objection to your recommendations. * Closing statement/call to action: A short discussion of next steps

Required Sources for Your Researched Report

Support your position by using information from at least 4 sources that were published since 2010 and have named authors. * Institutional authors are OK if they are highly credible to your intended audience. * If you wish, you also can use additional sources that are older or that do not have named authors. Older sources can be useful for theory, past practices, or essential background. * You can use articles, books, videos, webinars, etc., from academic or professional sources. To determine the credibility of sources, search the Internet to determine the credentials of the author(s) relevant to this subject.

* Source articles need to be relevant to your topic but do not necessarily have to be written for the same audience that you are writing for in your paper. * Your paper must include a Works Cited List with proper APA citations for all sources that you use. * To earn more than a 0 on this paper, you must properly use sources, and properly cite everything that comes from a source. Follow the best practice of paraphrasing and synthesizing information rather than

stringing together quotes. Review the syllabus for information about academic integrity and plagiarism.

Format for Researched Report

The report will be created in Word using a design that conveys professionalism. The text will be a readable size. Headings, sub- headings, figure captions, bullets, tables, etc., will be used to ensure a readable and professional design. The Works Cited list will be properly formatted.

Grading Criteria for Researched Report

Purpose/Audience: Everything in the report supports the purpose stated in the intro, and it is consistent with the assignment scenario. For full points, it consistently focuses on a clearly stated position and the purpose of helping people in the specified job role to understand and use this information.

Development/Support: Descriptive details, examples, explanations, etc., are used to develop the information and the recommendations; there is no redundant or extraneous information. For full points, the document is full of attention-getting and memorable details and as a result is useful, relevant, and actionable. It meets all requirements for sources, which are synthesized and properly cited. There is as good balance of source material and the writer's own interpretations and recommendations. The writer generally follows the best practice of paraphrasing sources rather than stringing together quotes.

Organization/Format: The report follows the required structure. It presents the content in well-structured paragraphs and uses transitional phrases to create smooth flow. For full points, it presents information in a manner that makes it easy for the reader to find, use, and understand the information.

Professional Ethos: The tone is conversational yet professional and serious. The language is characterized by active voice, concise sentences, and correct grammar/spelling/word choice. There are no $20 words and phrases and no wordiness. For full points, the report conveys the information with a strong sense of professionalism and accountability.

Graded Components of this Project

Synthesis Matrix for 3 articles Project Proposal Pitch Researched Article Preliminary Draft Researched Article Final Draft