Audience Awareness excellent
5 points good
4 points competent
3 points needs improvement
2 points weak
1 point
problem is defined
focused solution is proposed
report is written to a clear and focused audience
Specific Parts of the Report Level 4
4 points Level 3
3 points Level 2
2 points weak
1 point Level 1
0 points
transmittal letter or memo
table of contents
Introduction
Headings and subheadings
Outline submitted before report was submitted
Executive Summary excellent
5 points good
4 points competent
3 points needs improvement
2 points weak
1 point
thorough
concise, not more than one page
organized according to the instructions given in class
Conclusion good
5 points excellent
4 points competent
3 points needs improvement
2 points weak
1 point
thorough summary of findings
thorough summary of recommendations
organized
Body of the Report excellent
15 points good
13 points competent
11 points needs improvement
7 points weak
0 points
unified
coherent
well supported
Research and APA documentation — part I excellent
10 points good
8 points competent
7 points needs improvement
4 points weak
1 point
at least five sources used
sources woven into the paper effectively
sources listed correctly in the “references” page
Research and APA documentation — part II excellent
5 points good
4 points competent
3 points needs improvement
2 points weak
1 point
sources are current as appropriate
sources are cited correctly in the paper
Sentence skills and grammar excellent
5 points good
4 points competent
3 points needs improvement
2 points weak
1 point
punctuation accuracy demonstrated
word-form accuracy demonstrated
sentence accuracy demonstrated
Overall Score grade of A for the paper
148 or more grade of B for the paper
132 or more grade of C for the paper
115 or more grade of D for the paper
99 or more not passing
0 or more
Writing Assignment:
Your next assignment is to write an analytical report that addresses a problem or issue within an organization. For this assignment, you will write a report of 2000-3000 words on a problem or issue within your workplace or community.
You will identify a problem or issue within your organization. This may be a current place of employment or a community group, such as a church, school, homeowner’s association, daycare, recreation center, soccer team, or other group.
You will then accomplish the following in the report:
• define the problem persuasively and accurately
• propose a solution or solutions to the problem or issue
• present that solution to a decision-maker or group of decision-makers who can implement the recommendation.
The report will include the following components:
• title page
• transmittal letter or memo
• executive summary
• table of contents
• body of report, with headings and subheadings
• References page, with references listed in APA format

Your report must also include the following:
• At least one graphic in the text.
• A minimum of five sources cited within the report.
o At least one source must be a scholarly source.
o APA style should be used in citing and listing the sources.
The complete report should be 2000-3000 words, not including the list of references. The purpose of establishing a word count is to ensure the topic chosen is neither too big nor too small. Also, writing within parameters is a common requirement in professional communications.
The complete report, as stated above, should cite at least five sources. At least one of them should come from a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal. Your sources can also include interviews. The sources will be integrated into the paper to explain the problem, provide evidence of the problem, and support the solution. If you are having trouble locating scholarly sources for your topic, you can let me know during the weeks leading up to the due date for the report. I can try to help you or work with you on integrating sources.
An Excellent Resource on Analytical Reports:
The Academic Language Learning and Success Program at Charles Darwin University has an excellent guide to writing analytical reports. Click here to access it.
Other Helpful Guides on Report Writing:
-Victoria University of Wellington has a thorough outline and review of the components of this type of business report. Click here to access it.
-Queen Margaret University has an excellent guide for this type of report. Click here to access it.
-Murdoch University has an outstanding guide on writing this type of report. Click here to access it.
-Colorado State University presents excellent tips in organizing the report. Click here to access its site.
-Monash University has a sample case study report that you might find helpful. Click here to access it.

Examples of Analytical Reports:
-For an example of an analytical report on a problem at a college campus, click here.
-For an example of on analytical report a transportation problem, click here.
-For an example of analytical report on a topic related to economics, click here.
-For an example of an analytical report on a technical topic, click here.
Topics to Help You Come Up with Ideas on this Assignment:
Some possible workplace research topics are the following. These are just examples to help you get started. Please do not feel that you have to select one of these topics.
The following topics are specific to UMUC:
• the effects of the move from WebTycho to LEO for UMUC students
• the effects of the move from WebTycho to LEO for UMUC instructors
• methods for helping UMUC instructors become acclimated to LEO
• methods for helping UMUC students become acclimated to LEO
• methods for improving online instruction at UMUC
• the feasibility of UMUC’s offering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
• the feasibility of UMUC’s offering credit to students who complete a MOOC

The following topics have been borrowed from Lannon, J.M, Gurak, L. J, and Daemon, D. (2011). Instructor’s resource manual to accompany Technical Communication, 12th ed. Boston: Longman:
• the long-term effects of a vegetarian diet
• comparison of two or more brands of equipment
• the adequacy of veterans’ benefits
• the influence of a stadium or civic center in your city or community
• the best computer to buy for a specific need
• the best type of computer (desktop, laptop, Chromebook, tablet) for a specific need
• the best location for a new business
• the effects of budget cuts in public education in your area
• the effects of legalized gambling in your state
• the causes of low morale in your workplace
• methods of improving productivity in your workplace
• analysis of benefits from organic farming practicesmethods of dealing with discarded computers and other types of electronic waste
• the pros and cons of taking writing classes online
• the pros and cons of taking classes online in ____ (fill in the blank with a field of study of your choice)
• the adequacy of police protection in your town or city

The following topics are ideas that have been used in previous classes:
• going to a wireless network
• going to a paperless office
• switching from Windows to Linux (or other similar switch)
• installing/upgrading company firewall
• establishing a drug policy
• establishing an employee leave donation program
• establishing an equipment donation program for used computers, etc.
• establishing a company recycling program (paper, etc.)
• education/retraining for your employees
• establishing a program for millennial workers (e.g., training on certain aspects of etiquette, on understanding other generations, etc.)
• designing a training program for workplace safety issues
• redesigning employee performance evaluations
• developing a work-at-home (telecommuting) policy
• developing a flex-time policy
• establishing on-site day care or providing other child care benefits
• providing gym membership or creating an on-site workout facility
• creating or revising a charitable contribution policy
• creating or improving a tuition assistance program
• accommodations needed for employee/s with specific health issues (for example, migraines)
• establishing a Habitat for Humanity (or other group) chapter at your organization

Some students have chosen topics outside of their workplaces, such as the following:
• betting additional lighting in the neighborhood
• changing traffic patterns around your child’s school
• installing a tot lot in your neighborhood
• constructing a crying baby room at your place of worship
• offering ESL courses at your church
• increasing participation in a military Family Support Group

Length:
2000-3000 words, not including the list of references. In other words, the text of the paper should be 2000-3000 words. The sources should be cited and listed in APA style.

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Analytical Report
Guffey suggests that your value to an organization “rises considerably” if you can draw reasonable conclusions and make sound recommendations (p. 386). You’re being asked to do some hands-on research with two principal providers of online survey software and share conclusions and recommendations about their usefulness. In familiarizing yourself with research tools you may want to use for the business proposal, you will be prepared to discuss choosing online survey software among your team.

Situation
Your team has been discussing what primary research you need to support your business proposal project, and you all have decided to use interviews and a survey. After some discussion, you determine what you want to find out by using a survey and which individuals or groups you want to solicit as participants. The last task is to select an online survey client, and you have been volunteered to research what’s available and produce a report to distribute to the team before your next regular meeting. The report, in a memo format, should inform the team about two finalists, with your recommendation included.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Sign up for the free, basic plan for two online survey clients. Two suggestions are Survey Monkey at http://www.surveymonkey.com and QuestionPro at http://www.questionpro.com/. You may use others if you like, but just use two.
2. For each of the two clients, choose the option to create a new survey and produce an instrument intended for customer feedback.
3. Using each client, create the same three survey questions: one should be a multiple-choice question with one response possible, one a rating scale question, and the third a question type of your choosing. Use the available templates if you wish. The point is to sample how each software client works for three kinds of questions.
4. Print out a copy of the survey instrument you create to turn in with the report.

Write a report in which you compare the two products, addressing your team members to inform a decision about which one your team should use for the business proposal project. For example, you might discuss ease of use, visual appeal, screen load times, usefulness of the basic plan versus premium features, etc. You might include a decision matrix such as the example in Figure 12.3 of the Guffey text (p. 385). Perhaps you’ll use bullet points, something like the condensed findings shown in Figure 12.4 (p. 387). Use the memo format as Guffey illustrates in Figure 11.3 (p. 342).

There are two reasons to write your analysis and recommendations in a memo. First, with a memo in hand several days prior to the next meeting, team members will have time to read and digest the report so they can come to the meeting already briefed, ready to discuss the information and make a decision. Second, the memo can be included as archival information for your project’s post mortem, providing useful information for you or others the next time a similar project comes along.

The report can use a direct approach, because the topic is not controversial and the audience is receptive. Consider a plan for organizing: do you compare the two clients feature by feature, or do you fully discuss one and then fully discuss the other?
Requirements: For all drafts and the final version, use 12-point serif type with block paragraphs, left-justified and ragged-right. The initial draft should be double-spaced, approximately three pages long. The developed draft should be single-spaced, approximately one and one-half pages long. The final version should be single-spaced, approximately one and one-half pages long. Follow APA protocol. The paper copy of the final version should be neat, attractive, mechanically correct, grammatically sound, professional, clear, and concise. Follow the ten design tips from Guffey on page 396 and the techniques for readability on pages 170-172.

Analytical Report
Guffey suggests that your value to an organization “rises considerably” if you can draw reasonable conclusions and make sound recommendations (p. 386). You’re being asked to do some hands-on research with two principal providers of online survey software and share conclusions and recommendations about their usefulness. In familiarizing yourself with research tools you may want to use for the business proposal, you will be prepared to discuss choosing online survey software among your team.

Situation
Your team has been discussing what primary research you need to support your business proposal project, and you all have decided to use interviews and a survey. After some discussion, you determine what you want to find out by using a survey and which individuals or groups you want to solicit as participants. The last task is to select an online survey client, and you have been volunteered to research what’s available and produce a report to distribute to the team before your next regular meeting. The report, in a memo format, should inform the team about two finalists, with your recommendation included.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Sign up for the free, basic plan for two online survey clients. Two suggestions are Survey Monkey at http://www.surveymonkey.com and QuestionPro at http://www.questionpro.com/. You may use others if you like, but just use two.
2. For each of the two clients, choose the option to create a new survey and produce an instrument intended for customer feedback.
3. Using each client, create the same three survey questions: one should be a multiple-choice question with one response possible, one a rating scale question, and the third a question type of your choosing. Use the available templates if you wish. The point is to sample how each software client works for three kinds of questions.
4. Print out a copy of the survey instrument you create to turn in with the report.

Write a report in which you compare the two products, addressing your team members to inform a decision about which one your team should use for the business proposal project. For example, you might discuss ease of use, visual appeal, screen load times, usefulness of the basic plan versus premium features, etc. You might include a decision matrix such as the example in Figure 12.3 of the Guffey text (p. 385). Perhaps you’ll use bullet points, something like the condensed findings shown in Figure 12.4 (p. 387). Use the memo format as Guffey illustrates in Figure 11.3 (p. 342).

There are two reasons to write your analysis and recommendations in a memo. First, with a memo in hand several days prior to the next meeting, team members will have time to read and digest the report so they can come to the meeting already briefed, ready to discuss the information and make a decision. Second, the memo can be included as archival information for your project’s post mortem, providing useful information for you or others the next time a similar project comes along.

The report can use a direct approach, because the topic is not controversial and the audience is receptive. Consider a plan for organizing: do you compare the two clients feature by feature, or do you fully discuss one and then fully discuss the other?
Requirements: For all drafts and the final version, use 12-point serif type with block paragraphs, left-justified and ragged-right. The initial draft should be double-spaced, approximately three pages long. The developed draft should be single-spaced, approximately one and one-half pages long. The final version should be single-spaced, approximately one and one-half pages long. Follow APA protocol. The paper copy of the final version should be neat, attractive, mechanically correct, grammatically sound, professional, clear, and concise. Follow the ten design tips from Guffey on page 396 and the techniques for readability on pages 170-172.