Assignment 1: The Work Plan
Due in class 
Required Revision Assignment--4% of total grade

Your first assignment in the Abig report@ package is to write me a memo in business format explaining the problem your big report is intended to solve. It can be at most two pages long. Follow the format for a proposal illustrated on p. 476 of Bovée, and take your guidance for content from the examples I will give you. Submit it to me in your manila envelope (see syllabus); write your name and class time in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope.

I=m looking for five specific elements as I grade your work plan:

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.

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 secondary material will you look for? 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.

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 late November, so think about the details that can make me believe this. I will also be assessing the writing quality, so make sure you pay attention to organization, Ayou focus@, and cutting lard. Remember that mechanical perfection is expected of a WRIT 465 paper.