NO PLAIGARISM!!
Will be verified using TURNITIN.COM
Attached are these same instructions in a Word Document
Click Link for Sample Copy
https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/attachment/289242/Assignments/f23505e3-e42f-44e8-b384-68b7005e03b9/sample%20student%20formal%20business%20report.pdf
Course Project
You will create a 6-10 page (double spaced—introduction to conclusion) Semi-Formal Business Report and a corresponding Power Point Presentation. Topic suggestions are provided. Other final project criteria are as follows:
- The audience for this report is an industry decision-maker, such as your supervisor or CEO, or a public policymaker, such as a politician or bureaucrat, who could act upon your Recommendations.
- Your report must feature at least one technical illustration, such as a chart, graph, or image that you have created.
- Your research must consist of a variety of electronic (Web sites, databases, media) and traditional sources (books, journals, magazines). All sources must be cited in the report using The Modern Language Association (MLA) formatting. However, if you are familiar with the American Psychological Association (APA) documentation system, you may use it, but email me to discussion. APA is often used in the business setting, but MLA is what we use here at APUS/AMU and used in other university settings. The MLA or APA choice is for documentation of sources.
- You will submit your written report in MS Word in Week 7. You must have at least four sources. (Rubric and more details below as well as in Week 7 lesson tab.)
- You will present a presentation of your report using PPT (MS PowerPoint) in Week 8 (rubric and more details below and in Week 8 lesson tab).
Directions: You many choose any of the topics below for your Final Project Report. If you have another topic in mind, you must first get instructor approval before using it. The goal here is for you to choose a topic that genuinely interests you. This topic can be related to your current job or community, or that of your career goals. It is realistic, even if the report scenario is simulate for the purposes of our course. The proposed list of topics is not exhaustive!
1. It is important to understand what organizations are looking for in cover letters and resumes. It is also important to understand the differences between a hard-copy resume and a resume from the Internet. What strategies have proven most successful in getting the writer an interview? Research these questions and present your findings and conclusions.
2. Today’s employee turn-over rate is high for many organizations. Research has shown that the key to hiring qualified individuals is to first promote the company to current employees. By implementing strategies within the organization that promote respect and cooperation between co-workers and managers, awarding fair compensation, and providing various awards, organizations are better able to retain good employees. Research what other organizations are doing to hire and retain good employees in order to combat the high employee turnover rate. Use this research to make recommendations to the management of your organization.
3. Your company needs to update its Code of Ethics. Because of the immense diversity in today’s ever-changing workforce, you need to research other organizations’ codes of ethics. Decide what the new policy should and should not include. Based on your research and conclusions, offer recommendations to your management.
4. You have been asked to review your employee handbook. During this review, you notice many discrepancies between what is stated in the handbook and what actually takes place in your organization. You are asked to research other organizations’ handbooks to determine any changes that need to be made. Based on your research and conclusions, offer recommendations to your management.
5. Outsourcing has become common in the business world, particularly when an organization experiences large growth. Your organization is pondering whether or not it should establish an in-house advertising department or if it should outsource the advertising to another agency. Research what other organizations in similar circumstances have done to find the advantages and disadvantages of each. Based on your research and conclusions, offer recommendations to your management.
6. Your organization needs to upgrade its computer equipment. A suggestion has been made that leasing this equipment could be more advantageous than purchasing the equipment. You have been asked by management to investigate these options. Research both purchasing and leasing computer equipment, noting the advantages and disadvantages of each. Based on your research and conclusions, offer recommendations to your management.
Format Guidelines:
Required Components (All pages are double spaced except cover letter page):
Cover page/Letter format* (in place of “cover page” in graphic below)
(page break)
Title page (pagination should start here)
(page break)
Summary (see rubric, one paragraph for each bullet)
(page break)
Table of Contents (one page)
(page break)
[Your 6-10 pages of content should begin here in the body of your report:]
Introduction (see rubric for included components—include thesis statement)
*Discussion (The main body of your report) [Technical illustration component belongs IN the discussion section]
Conclusions/Recommendation (See rubric for what this should include)
*Technical Illustration (at least one, original, belongs within in the discussion area)
[Page breaks within the body are not necessary, but headings/subheadings are helpful]
(page break)
[End of 6-10 page content calculation]
Works Cited (separate page) [or reference list if using APA]
(page break)
Appendix (at least one item and be sure to refer to it in the body of your report.) Goes after Works Cited—on a new page.
Sample Student Report
https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/attachment/289242/Assignments/f23505e3-e42f-44e8-b384-68b7005e03b9/sample%20student%20formal%20business%20report.pdf
Grading Rubric
ENGL225 | Tot. Pts. Possible | Tot. Pts. Earned | |
Week 7: Final Formal Report | 100 (15%) | ||
Gradable Items | Pts. Possible | Pts. Earned | Comments |
Cover Page (letter format)
Summary, Background, Details, Action—Four paragraphs in MS Word Business letter format. |
3 | ||
Summary: • Identifies the purpose and most important features of the report • States the main conclusions • Sometimes makes a recommendation |
5 | ||
Table of Contents (TOC): TOC lists the correct section names and page numbers. (If you have Word 2007, and you have properly applied Word’s paragraph “Styles,” you can have Word create a TOC automatically. Go to the “References” tab and select “Table of Contents” on the left side of the screen.) | 3 | ||
Introduction (includes the following): • Purpose—Explains why the project was carried out and the report written. This is the thesis. • Scope—Defines the parameters of the report, describes the ground covered by the report, and outlines the methods of investigations. If needed, discusses limiting factors. • Background—Includes facts readers must know if they are to fully understand the discussion that follows. |
10 | ||
Discussion (should include the following): • Facts • Arguments • Details • Data • Results Organization of the evidence must be built in one of three ways * Chronological Development * Subject Development * Concept Development |
15 | ||
Conclusion and Recommendations (Note that a conclusion is required, but a recommendations section may or may not be part of the report, depending on whether the discussion and conclusions indicate more work needs to be done.) Conclusion: • States the major conclusions that can be drawn from the discussion. • Base them entirely on previously stated information. • Does not introduce new material or evidence to support your argument. • If you have more than one conclusion, state the main conclusion first and follow with the remaining conclusions. Put them in decreasing order of importance. Recommendations: • Recommendation is written in strong, definite terms to convince readers that the course of action is valid. Use first person and active verbs. • No new evidence or new ideas are introduced. Relies only on previously presented evidence in the discussion and conclusions. |
15 | ||
Technical Illustration (At least one ORIGINAL):
•simple & uncluttered • depicts one main point • positioned close to narrative • labeled with at figure or table number and title, caption, or comments located beneath • referred to at least once in report |
15 | ||
Appendix: Contains related data not necessary to an immediate understanding of the discussion. • Placement is determined by which is mentioned first, second, third, etc. • Each document is separate and is paginated separately. • Appendices are paginated separately from the report with the first page labeled “1.” (The first appendix is labeled “Appendix A.” The next set becomes “Appendix B,” and so on.) **Called out in the body of the report to alert reader it is present |
7 | ||
In-Text Citations & Works Cited page: Works Cited page contains each source that is used in the in-text citations (parenthetical documentation); there are in-text citations for each piece of information in the report that is not common knowledge. Both the References page and the in-text citations must be correct in MLA (or APA upon approval) content & format. | 10 | ||
Writing Style and Correctness of Expression: Report uses effective technical writing techniques, such as parallelism, unity, coherence, primarily active voice, etc. (The Six Cs); There are no grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. errors | 10 | ||
Format: Pages of the report are formatted and organized according to the posted criteria. | 7 | ||
TOTAL POINTS | 100 |
The PowerPoint Grading criteria include
PPT PowerPoint Presentation Grading Rubric
100 points/15% of grade Score/comments
The slides support the main points /15 | |
…enhances the writer’s written report /12 | |
…contains parallelism in writing and formatting, /13 | |
…uses an easy-to-read font, /13 | |
…does not use slides full of sentences, /12 | |
…uses visuals. /15 | |
The presentation reflects a correctness of expression/20 | |
Total out of 100 points 15% of total grade |
Scroll down to next page to see overall layout schematic:
This graphic, from the book, Technically Write offers a good visual overview of the layout of your format report. Do put a page break between each item in the rubric. Replace the “front cover” with the “Cover Letter”. Have a page break between your conclusions/recommendations and Works Cited page as well.
**The Cover Letter (SINGLE SPACE and use any MS Word or professional style business letter template that you can find) serves to explain to your readers why they are receiving the main document, such as a résumé or Formal Report, that you are sending them. It will be placed on top of your Course Project document to introduce it to your reader.
For a Cover Letter to be effective, the following four distinct sections should be featured:
Summary Section: Introduce yourself and your report using its Thesis Statement.
Background: In this section, briefly explain why you decided to research and write the enclosed report. Explain the report’s relevance to your job, company, industry, city, country, or the world. Most importantly, explain why your reader should be interested in this report.
Details: Here, re-state some of your report’s major findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Action: In this section, invite your reader to first read your report and then take appropriate action, such as contacting you for a follow-up discussion or implementing your recommendations.
You can have four small/short paragraphs in your cover letter to accomplish covering these items. It is possible to have three paragraphs, but simply be sure that your letter addresses these components.