P R O J E C T # 4: Collaborative Research Project

Worth 300 points
Draft due for Peer Review 6/11
Presentations 6/12
Final Draft due 6/16 BY 10am to Avery 309 (under door) or to English Office

Overview of Assignment
This project involves completing research on a problem related to your professional field or related to an issue that your professional experience can address. In a research-based, fully cited proposal or report, you will outline the parameters of the problem, consider the possible solutions to the problem, and provide a persuasive conclusion that sets out the best solution to the problem. This project asks you to research and report on the best methods/options/alternatives for solving the problem.

In order to know what to recommend as a solution to your problem, you will need to rely on library/secondary research methods. It's okay to do some informal primary research, such as talking to a salesperson, consulting a friend, or observing a public site. For example, say you choose to do a comparative analysis on the following topic: Is hardwood or laminate a better surface for a kitchen floor in your home? Your research might include a visit to your local home improvement store to look at samples of various products and pick up vendor literature. You might also talk to your brother-in-law who installed “Pergo” last year to see if his experience with that product compares to your own experience with hardwood floors. Next, you might go on-line to search public newsgroups in order to observe what other folks “out there” might be saying to one another about the pros/cons of each product.

 

Requirements:

  1. As a group, you are required to write a long report (causal, comparative, or feasibility) or a proposal. Your proposal/report must conform to the conventions stated in the text. For the report, see 267-282. For the proposal, see 282-290.

    2. If you write a report, it must include the following:

    • a title page
    • transmittal letter
    • table of contents
    • list of tables and figures
    • abstract or executive summary
    • introduction
    • body
    • conclusion
    • list of references
    • Project be at least 10 pages single-spaced (doesn't include title page, TOC, list of figures, and appendices)
    • Project must utilize both primary and secondary research
    • Project must cite at least five sources (not all primary sources) in-text and either on references page.

    If you write a proposal, it must include the following:

    • a title page
    • transmittal letter
    • table of contents
    • list of tables and figures
    • abstract or executive summary
    • introduction (see 289, not all steps needed depending on project)
    • body (see 289, not all steps needed depending on project)
    • conclusion (see 289, not all steps needed depending on project)
    • list of references
    • Project be at least 10 pages single-spaced (doesn't include title page, TOC, list of figures, and appendices)
    • Project must utilize both primary and secondary research
    • Project must cite at least five sources (not all primary sources) in-text and either on references page.

    All group members must be involved in this in this proposal/report creation process in some substantial way.

  2. As a group, you are required to present your report information in a 10 minute class presentation during the final week of class. Attendance at all presentations is required.

    3. The presentation must include a description of each section from your proposal/report, yet you do not need to give equal weight to each of these sections--consider what your audinece will be interested to hear and tailor your presentation accordingly. Your goal with the presentation is to 1) convince us that there is a problem to be solved, and 2) convince us that your solution/s are feasible and or the *right * choice (depending on your project).

    All members DO NOT need to be involved in the presentation (but can be). Those not taking part in the presentation, however, MUST be involved in some substantial way in other portions of the project.

  3. Individually, you will evaluate your group members on the last day of the presentation. These evaluations will be confidential.

 

Grading:
This assignment is worth 30% of your grade (300 points), and you will be graded on three components of the assignment.

  1. Proposal/Report (150 pts)
  2. Presentation (125 pts)
  3. Individual Grade (25 pts each):  You will be graded on how well you address the three areas required above (job descriptions, audience analysis, and rhetorical analysis).
  4. GRADING RUBRIC (.pdf)