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| Goals | Your first assignment in the big report package is to write me a letter in business format explaining the problem your big report is intended to solve. Your goal in this work plan is to convince me that I should let you write about this problem and its solutions. You need to convince me that you can solve it by the eleventh week of the term, so think about the details that can make me believe this. |
| Constraints | It
can be at most two pages long. Follow the arrangement
for a business letter illustrated in the text (p. 132
ff and note figure 4-11), and take your guidance for content
from the examples we will discuss. Submit it to me on your letterhead
stationery in your manila
envelope (see syllabus) or e-mail
it to me as an attachment if you can make the letterhead show; write your name and class time in
the upper left-hand corner of the envelope. |
| Make
Sure It Includes
|
1.
Statement of the Problem: I want you to describe clearly to me
what the problem is, including the context that calls forth the need for
it (i.e. the background, environment, corporate culture, etc.). 2.
Audience Identification: I want to know who your intended
audience will be (both primary and secondary). Decide this by
identifying who has the power to make your proposed changes happen
(which will probably be different from the audience who will benefit if the
proposal is enacted). 3.
Purpose of Work: I want to know what your report will accomplish
(its objectives); in other words, what jobs do you want your report to
fulfill (create a need, inspire action etc.)? What will happen if your
audience acts positively on your recommendations? 4.
Scope and Sources: I want to know your strategy for getting the
information for this report. What kinds of
primary
and
secondary
material will you
look for? Do you have any ideas where you will find it? Whom will you survey, and why?: 5.
Work Schedule: I want to know what your schedule is for
completing the work. I will expect a detailed
calendar,
Gantt
chart, or PERT chart as an appendix to your work plan.
Make sure
your schedule reflects the realities of when assignments will have to be
submitted as well as the tasks you will need to complete to finish the
report. 6. Writing Quality: Make sure you pay attention to organization, "you focus", and cutting lard. Since I am the audience for this assignment, tailor your presentation to me. The visual layout should meet audience expectations and add to the reader's understanding; the use of subheadings is optional but should not be undertaken casually (study the models to determine why). |
| Grading
|
Remember
that mechanical perfection is expected of a WRIT 465 paper. Your work
plan will be graded according to the Rubric
for WRIT 465. |
| Models | Follow this link to look at four early versions (before revisions) of student workplans. I've attempted to recreate the look of student letterhead and page layout on the web pages, but these won't look quite the same on the screen as they did on paper. These examples, like all examples in the class, are used with the original writers' permission and may have been edited to emphasize features for pedagogical reasons. |
