Length: around 2,500-3,000 words

Audience: Instructor and Peers (Academic)

In business, reports are often based on significant research and are commonly packed with critical details and data. These documents deliver substantive information and analysis that organizations need to plan, produce, evaluate, and advance their work, including major projects. The task for these reports is to study the topic, analyze it, and present the readers the details of your analysis. They are written in objective, impersonal (yet readable) style. This project asks you to write a report for your fellow peers in which you discuss and analyze the current debate or conflict in the business field you researched for Project 1 and provide conclusions about its history, current state, and future.

Project 2 serves many purposes. First, it is intended to give you practice in writing toward a particular audience and working in a particular genre. Second, it aims to build upon the awareness and knowledge of the current state of your discipline. Third, it gives you practice with researching, analyzing sources (critical reading and thinking), and citing in APA format. Fourth, it aims to give you practice digesting large amounts of information into smaller, more succinct sections (something commonly associated with writing in the business professions).

Your research report will need to include the following elements:

• It must be in report format, with a targeted audience of the class. (I will supply you with a template report by which to follow with required formatting elements.)
• It should be cited using APA documentation style.
• It must be around 2,500-3,000 words.
• It should include a variety of sources from scholarly journals (at least 2), trade/profession publications, and popular press (newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc.). It must contain a minimum of 10 sources.
• It should be written in a tone that is conversational and objective, as well as positive.
• It must use correct grammar, punctuation, usage, spelling and mechanics.
• It should use sources from 2016-present. Limit pre-2016 sources to background issues.

The report should begin with a title page and be organized as follows (again, see template report for formatting specifics):

Introduction:

• State the issue or problem that the report addresses.
• Provide brief background information and the big picture.
• Preview the report’s content, and relate the report’s scope.

Findings:

• Organize your findings section by addressing the background/history, the current state, and the future of your topic.
• Analyze the findings completely, accurately, and appropriately, including all relevant data and excluding all irrelevant data.
• Interpret the findings (discuss their importance and implications) rather than just present them.
• Present the findings using informative, parallel headings to signal the contents of sections.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points of the findings and key facts about the problem, issue, or need.
• Draw conclusions that are supported by the evidence in your findings.
• End the report with a sense of completion that conveys an impression that the project is important for your readers—this is known as purpose.

Back Matter:

• At the end of your report include a properly formatted (APA) reference page.
• Include an appendix with additional information, if called for (e.g., figures, tables, etc.).

Your work from Project 1’s Annotated Bibliography will greatly help in preparation for the drafting of the research report. Additionally, you’ll create an outline to help transition from Project 1 into the writing of Project 2. The outline follows the above organization but works in a very simplistic fashion. We will discuss some examples and tips when the time is appropriate.

Project 2 attempts to give you practice with the genre of the report. However, the report we work on in class won’t necessarily be exactly the same as ones you may work on in co-op or in your professional careers. This is intentional, as the assignment here should help build skills that you can then translate and use later in other rhetorical situations. There are many kinds of reports for many specific purposes, so keep this in mind. This is why I provide student samples to help you better understand requirements and expectations. As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or its purposes.

Criteria and Grading for the Research Report:

• Demonstrates an intimate current understanding of scholarship around the chosen topic/field of study in a critical and analytical way.
• Shows appropriate organization of information (background, current state, history)
• Incorporates tone, vocabulary, and writing style appropriate to audience
• Demonstrates fair and responsible attitude toward a variety of source types/positions
• Demonstrates careful crafting in regard to interpretation of source material
• Demonstrates successful use of appropriate APA citation conventions and follows the necessary formatting shown in student samples
• Places priority on polished, proofread writing
• Fulfills length and genre requirements

• A C-range grade means that the project is doing an acceptable job of fulfilling the assignment and is working at a college level. For example, a C project is often a summing up of a limited number of sources, some of which are dated. C projects frequently contain errors in organization and formatting that compromise the presentation.

• A B-range grade means the project is doing a very good job of fulfilling the assignment, although B projects often don’t add much beyond what the assignment calls for. For example, B projects frequently do a nice job of recapping information but don’t add anything significantly new or in depth. They rely on an adequate number of sources to address the topic. A B project has limited formatting errors and an adequate organizational pattern.

• An A-range grade means the project is doing an outstanding job—A projects go beyond merely fulfilling the assignment. They add new and interesting insights. In other words, A projects don’t simply summarize a source, they analyze and interpret as well. They place sources into conversations with one another, leading to engaged and layered analysis. The variety and range of sources in an A project lead to a complex and detailed response to the assignment. An A project is free of formatting errors and has a highly effective organizational pattern.

A plus or a minus attached to a grade has more to do with surface-level issues than it does with the content. A project filled with distracting grammatical and stylistic errors (subject-verb agreement, changes in voice, unclear references, comma splices, lack of transitions, etc.) will usually receive a minus. A project that has a few errors that can mostly be ignored will receive a full letter grade, while a plus goes to a project that is not only error-free, but uses style and expression that enhances the overall effect.

this requirement is for the final draft. the one you gived me is first draft and this assignment is second draft

which means it needs to be improved but do not have to mach all the requirements( leave some room for find draft)

here are some commons from peers

You should add background history of each technology solution to provide more depth. I think you provide great examples of different technology solutions and how they improve the workspace but each paragraph seems too short and doesn’t contain as much information as it can! I would try to go expand more on each heading.

I also think your essay can benefit from success stories of companies implementing these software and how they’ve improved the operations! It seems like there’s more analysis and interpretations that can be going on in your report; there’s more summaries of the software and descriptions of what they do, rather than how the technology enhances or fails to provide value for the company.

I believe your report is an argumentative essay to convince your readers that working remotely is a huge benefit to companies. There’s very little information that goes against remote working and the challenges businesses have with implementing or keeping track of work productivity through this new system. Fo instance, in the first paragraph after the introduction, you start off by stating that companies should promote working remotely, which isn’t the appropriate tone for a report.

I would encourage you to go back to your outline and separate your ideas a little more! Your research is really good but with proper headings and subheadings your readability will increase exponentially. For instance, you mention a possible future trend of businesses that completely run with remote employees; however, this is in the middle of your report and should instead be near the end, before your conclusion. By separating your essay with headings and subheadings, readers will better understand your information and overall organization!