Illinois at Chicago

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Individual Final Report Assignment

Situation

The University of Illinois at Chicago allows professors to use whatever means they feel is appropriate for communicating with their students. Examples of communication methods include but are not limited to Blackboard, Skype, E-mail, Text Messaging, and traditional methods such as F2F Office Hours and telephone calls. Some professors use only one method while others provide a combination to communicate for their students.

The UIC administration is considering changing this policy in what they feel will promote improved and more consistent communication between professor and student. After much debate (based on personal beliefs and no research), the administration has decided that E-mail will be the sole form of professor and student communication allowed. All other options (including those mentioned above) will no longer be allowed effective with the first day of classes, Spring 2015 term.

Your Task

The Faculty Senate (the highest non-administrative UIC governing body) seeks your opinion on this new policy. They have requested from you an analytical/informative recommendation report evaluating the new policy (to include your opinion of the policy) and your recommendation of support of or rejection of (to include an alternate policy) of this new policy. Unlike the administration, you are required to include justification for your evaluation and recommendation through the citing of at least six (6) credible and reliable sources. It is recommended that you begin this task by first determining your personal position of support or rejection of the new policy and to proceed with your written evaluation and recommendation based on this position.

Requirements

 Format: Report (format follows)

 Length: Approximately 2 – 4 Pages (Excluding Bibliography/Source Page and Appendix)

 Set-up: Single Spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman, MLA Format

 Margins: Top and Bottom: 1”, Left and Right: 1 ¼”

 Sources: 6 Minimum, MLA Format (footnote citations will not be required. Cite within the document and appropriately in the Bibliography)

 Plagiarism: All papers will be electronically reviewed for plagiarism. Individuals who plagiarize all or part of their final paper will receive a “0” for the assignment and will be referred to the Judicial Review Board within the Student Services Department of UIC for further sanctions. If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, contact Professor Corte immediately.

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 Due: Upload your report by NOON on Friday, December 5, 2014.

Report Format

Cover Page

Centered … to include title of paper, your name, class and time, date.

Executive Summary

One paragraph … brief overview of situation … states problem(s) … summary of recommendation and justification.

Introduction

One paragraph … includes the purpose of the report, tells methods of data collection (not sources), and previews the organization (what follows) of the report. The Introduction avoids revealing the recommendations. The easiest way to begin an Introduction is with the words “The purpose of this report is to… .”

Significance and Evaluation

Cover the following information within the Significance and Evaluation section…

 Situation/Problem Statement. In one sentence, specify the situation, problem or need that motivated the report.

 Background. Briefly describe events/circumstances surrounding the problem or need.

 SWOT Analysis.

Provide a SWOT analysis of the current method of communication. List the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Alternatives

 Based on your SWOT analysis, identify alternatives that may improve professor and student communication. Alternatives may include the administration proposed method, modifications

of the proposed and/or current method of communication, or completely new approaches to communication. Include at least three possible alternative solutions.

 Identify a list of criteria (factors) for determining the best method of communication between professor and student. Consider the who, what, when, where, how, and anticipated outcome when creating this list. The results of your SWOT Analysis and the use of primary and secondary research will be useful here.

 Compare the pros and cons of the current method of professor and student communication, the administrations proposed recommendation and the remaining alternatives you identified.

Recommendation

 The recommendation requires an appropriate introductory sentence, such as the research

(findings and conclusions) in this study support the following recommendation.

 State the recommendation that makes a precise suggestion for action(s) to solve the report problems. This recommendation will be determined based on your analysis of your alternative

comparisons.

 Recommendations are most helpful when they are practical and reasonable.

 Include justification (citing) for your recommendation(s).

 Do not introduce new background information in the recommendation sections.

Conclusion

This section tells what the findings mean in terms of solving the original problem. Include a specific request for action and a response due date as necessary.

Appendix

The appendix will contain support information that in its entirety may not be appropriate for placement within the report. Portion of and/or reference to is necessary within the report and will include a reference to the appropriate appendix (i.e. See Appendix 3) for further details and review. If no document or item is scheduled as part of the appendix, this section will not be included in the final report.

Bibliography

You are required to cite within your report and included in your Bibliography or Source Page at least five (6) valid and reliable published sources of information in MLA Format.

Your written document must include the headers, subheaders and information requested above.

Report Template

COVER PAGE

(The following headers and sub-headers must appear in your report.)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION

SIGNIFICANCE AND EVALUATION Situation/Problem Statement Background

SWOT Analysis ALTERNATIVES RECOMMENDATION CONCLUSION APPENDIX (if needed) BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rubric (See Page 5)

Individual Final Report Assignment	Exceeds Expectations 6 Points	Meets Expectations 4.5 Points	Needs Work 3 Point	Not There 0 Points
ORGANIZATION Exceeds Expectations … Writing is concise and clear; info is easy to understand; focus and direction obvious to audience and/or perfect structure. To the Point – No Fluff Meets Expectations … Writing is generally focused and direction acceptable and does not interfere with audience understanding; minor errors in cohesion and/or some structural issues. Minimal Fluff Not There … Verbose writing – rambles; lack of direction interferes with audience’s understanding of purpose; lacks clear topic sentences and/or many structural issues. Excessive Fluff	☐	☐	☐	☐
OPENING, BODY, CLOSING Exceeds Expectations … Opening establishes main idea/purpose and subtopics as appropriate; Body provides understanding and support of subtopics; Conclusion provides appropriate summary or final thought and includes necessary call for action. Transitions are clear. Meets Expectations … Opening, Body and/or Conclusion are generally developed satisfactory, but lacks at least one important element. Not There … Does not have satisfactorily developed Opening, Body or Conclusion main ideas, purposes and/or subtopics. Lacks more than one important element.	☐	☐	☐	☐
GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION & SPELLING Exceeds Expectations … Writing is error-free with no item that distracts from the message. Meets Expectations … Writing contains no more than 5 grammar, punctuation, spelling errors that affect the meaning or clarity. Not There … Writing contains numerous and/or significant errors that distract from the message.	☐	☐	☐	☐
SENTENCE STRUCTURE, TONE Exceeds Expectations … All sentences are clear, well developed and express concise ideas. All aspects of the tone and language lend to audience’s verbal and non-verbal understanding. Meets Expectations … Most sentences are clear, well developed and express concise ideas. Tone and language are acceptable. Not There … Sentence structure lacks readability/ is awkward; connection between topics, ideas or arguments not clear; lack clear transitions. Tone and language are inappropriate.	☐	☐	☐	☐
LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS (Micro and Macro) Exceeds Expectations … Overall, the document has complete logical connection and is easy to follow. All arguments/statements are supported with references or relevant facts/evidence; strong originality shown throughout the message. Meets Expectations … The documents overall logic is generally acceptable. Arguments/statements are generally supported with references or relevant facts/evidence, some individual original ideas expressed. Not There … The document has broken logic that is difficult to follow. Ideas lack support or are expressed as unconvincing personal views; no original thoughts to reflect critical thinking	☐	☐	☐	☐
TOTAL POINTS EARNED

Corte BA 200 – Online Fall 2014