ENGL 2960 Project #4

PROJECT #4

 

ANALYTICAL REPORT

“Global Issues, Challenges, and Conflicts in the World of Work”

 

 

Overview of the Analytical Report

This report requires conducting research, collecting viable source material, reporting gathered information, and compiling it into a visually-enhanced report with the expected front matter and end matter (Successful Writing at Work, Chapter 9).  A collaborative writing activity, you are to select classmates to “build’ into teams of 4 for your joint investigation.

 

Description of Assignment

Select an event somehow related to a field of study that is of interest to your team as your starting point of investigation for this report.  The topic you select is thus to be an industry-related event involving possible ethical workplace infractions, misconduct, conflicts, etc.  You will examine a particular issue to determine what caused the ensuing problem/conflict. 

 

Possible Workplace Issues to Investigate for the Analytical Report

· Insider trading

 

Collaboration

First, “build” a team of four classmates for your joint investigation.  Team members may collaborate in the following way:  Each member must complete a section or sections of the report.  All sections will then be combined (according to your team’s “plan”).  The final document must be edited so that it is a cohesive document without differences in styles, formats, etc.  The team will have to work together in order to produce a “seamless” document.

 

 

Analysis

In the “Long Report” section of Chapter 9, Kolin describes the types of situations that typically lead to this kind of investigation and reporting.  Three types of analytical reports are discussed: “causal analysis” (Why does X happen?), “comparative analysis” (Is X or Y better for our needs?), and “feasibility analysis” (Is this a good idea?).  Your report should develop from one of these three approaches.  A model report (Figure 15.3) appears on pages 700-718; consult Appendix A for information on grammar usage.

 

 

Guidelines for the Three Optional Analyses

These three approaches reflect different purposes, require different data to be collected, and result in different structures for organizing information in the report.  For example, “causal” investigates why the event happened, isolating immediate and ultimate factors.  “Comparative analysis” contrasts similar events to determine what differs in the factors or circumstances leading to the event and its outcome.  “Feasibility” examines whether a proposed course of action is realistic or desirable, often contrasting several optional courses of action to argue in favor of one or another.  No matter which type of analysis is chosen, the analytical report contains common features that lead to a set of conclusions and recommendations that grow logically out of the data.

 

 

Research (“Data Collection”)

Information (“secondary sources”) for this report must come from relevant, reliable, current sources (reports prepared by companies, academics, government agencies, and private organizations).  In keeping with research guidelines, anticipate biases and be able to account for them.  Thus, read informed opinions of different experts in the field who publish in professional journals, as well as comments and responses of community leaders published in national and international news sources.  You may want to locate information printed in newsletters of organizations, public agencies, or community action groups.  You must also collect information first hand (“primary sources”) by interviewing someone, distributing a survey, conducting a mini poll, or via an email posting.  These two types of information – primary and secondary – will need to be summarized, paraphrased, quoted, analyzed, and interpreted within your report.  Locate relevant information from a minimum of 6 different and reputable secondary sources, including professional journals, dissertation abstracts, conference proceedings, online databases, international news sources, or textbooks. 

 

BASIC FORMAT FOR REPORTS:

(Completed report should be approx. 6 pages

 

*Refer to Little, Brown Compact Handbook for MLA and APA formatting information.

 

 *Due: Monday, April 2, 2016 at 3 pm