ASSIGNMENT #5A: RESEARCH PLAN 1 (10 Points)

ENGLISH 3050

ASSIGNMENT #5a: RESEARCH PLAN[1] (10 points)

Rationale. The ability to answer research questions in a way that will make a particular communication both persuasive and usable will be a valuable skill in both your educational and career environments. This assignment will help you to learn how to identify, assemble and analyze the information you will need in order to complete your technical report project.

Assignment. Create a 1-2 page Research Plan in the form of a memo written to your instructor. Use the memo format provided in Anderson, Chapter 22 (pp.550-552). The purpose of the memo will be to convince your instructor:

that you have a viable project for your technical report,
that you have identified audiences---both primary and secondary---for your technical report,
that you have identified preliminary research resources toward the completion of your technical report,
that you have established a timetable for the successful completion of your project, including a required draft review by your instructor.

First, identify at least 3 probable audiences for your technical report project. These include your instructor as the audience for the memo and at least one primary and one secondary audience for the technical report. Make sure that you have identified at least one primary (decision makers) and one secondary (advisors or implementers) audience (Anderson pp. 76-78).

Second, identify the probabletypes of primary research that will help you write an effective, reader-centered communication (Anderson, Chapter 6). List at least 2 possible types of primary research and explain why they will be useful to your inquiry.

Next, describe probable types of secondary research that will help you write an effective, reader-centered communication (Anderson, Chapter 6). Be sure to include the use library tab for English 3050 in your search for sources. List at least 2 possible sources and explain why they will be useful to your inquiry.If your secondary sources come from the internet, they must be from credible professional sites (see Anderson, pp. 172-178).

Finally, establish a timetable for both your research and the completion of your project. Use a graphical illustration for your timetable (Anderson Chapter 13).

All research information must be correctly cited and documented using APA style (Anderson, Appendix A).

Format. Your Research Plan should be written in memo format (Anderson, Chapter 22, pp. 550-552). Your page design should be appropriate to each section of the plan: use headings, lists, parallel structure, white space, and visuals to present and interpret information.

Rubric. Assignment #5a will be worth a maximum of10 points toward your final grade in English 3050. The following rubric will be used to evaluate your Research Plan:

______Audience and Purpose -- 2 points

The appropriate audiences have been identified in both the memo and in the proposed project---your instructor as the audience for your memo and both primary and secondary audiences for the proposed project.

______Research -- 3 points

The Research Plan is solidly based on adequate research.
Research includes information aboutprobable primary research and credible secondary sources.

______Content and Organization --2 points

The Research Plan presents specific and usable information throughout.
Organization reflects a descending order of priority throughout and remains consistent throughout.

_____Format --2 points

Your document exhibits good page design in all sections.
Visuals are well-integrated with text in the sections of the plan.
Sources are properly cited and documented in APA style.

______ Grammar and Style --1 point

Grammar and mechanics are perfect, and style is appropriate to a professional audience.

[1] This assignment is based on Anderson, Chapter 6 (p.155-156).