- Time Required
- 12–15 hours, including reading time
This module focuses on making plans that will keep your Recommendation Report organized. In addition, you should complete your research and begin work on your report’s introduction.
Friday, June 11 marks the halfway point in the course, so this week you will also write a progress report that evaluates the work you have done so far in the course.
Connections to the Recommendation Report
You will work directly on your Recommendation Report by creating a tentative outline for the document and brainstorming ideas for your introduction.
Based on the feedback from your classmates and me, you can revise your instructions as well. As a reminder, your instructions will described in the Methods section of your Recommendation Report and included as an Appendix in your Recommendation Report.
Thinking Ahead to Next Week
Next week will be busy. You’ll compose the body of your report and begin slotting the content into place as you develop it. Be sure to allow plenty of time. Read all of Chapter 18 this week if you want to get a head start on the work for the Week of June 14.
What You Will Learn & Practice
- How to analyze your audience and purpose so that you can choose supporting material that is convincing to your readers and decide the best way to present information clearly and effectively. [CLO 1]
- How to find and evaluate ethical evidence in secondary sources, such as books, articles, podcasts, and videos, and through primary research, such as observation, inspection, experiment, and interview, that supports your position, that supports your position. [CLOs 2 & 3]
- How to write documents you may encounter in the workplace, such as letters, memos, instructions, proposals, reports, and presentations. [CLO 4]
- Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information. [CLO 5]
- How to use colors, layout, and formatting that make your documents understandable and easy to read and how to take advantage of design principles, including contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity, to communicate your ideas effectively. [CLO 6]
- How to choose words, phrases, sentences, lists, and other text features to communicate effectively with readers. [CLO 7]
Tentative Schedule for Activities
I have added suggested due dates and firm dates for this week’s work to the schedule. Do your best to meet the Suggested Due Dates so that you don’t fall behind. That said, if something comes up and you need more time, be kind to yourself and take it.
| Date | What’s Due |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, June 9 |
Firm Due Dates (no Grace Period):
|
| Friday, June 11 |
Firm Due Date:
Suggested Due Dates: |
| Monday, June 14 |
Firm Due Date (no Grace Period):
|
| Wednesday, June 16 |
Firm Due Dates (no Grace Period):
|
| Friday, June 18 (Links will be added when available) |
Firm Due Date:
Suggested Due Dates:
|
| Monday, June 21 |
Firm Due Date (no Grace Period):
|
| Thursday, July 1 | End of Grace Period for all course work not noted elsewhere |
Activities to Complete
📚 To Read This Week
- Markel & Selber, Chapter 7: “Organizing Your Information”
- Markel & Selber, Chapter 9: “Emphasizing Important Information”
- Markel & Selber, “Writing Progress and Status Reports,” from Chapter 17, “Writing Informational Reports,” pp. 468–478
- Markel & Selber, Chapter 18, “Writing Recommendation Reports”—skim as needed. Read fully next week.
- Effective Report Titles
- Checking for Specific Details in Your Progress Report
- Strong Subject Lines
📝 To Write This Week
- Talk about the readings in the Chapter 07 Review and in the Chapter 09 Review.
- Outline Your Recommendation Report.
- Brainstorm Your Report Introduction.
- If work remains, complete your secondary and primary research on your topic based on the previous activities.
💬 To Discuss This Week
You can participate in either of these discussions, depending upon when you have a draft ready to share. If you want, you can participate in both of them as well. It’s completely up to you. Just remember that if you post a draft, you will assigned two texts to add feedback to.
Report Outline Feedback Discussion
- Follow the directions in the Report Outline Feedback Discussion to share what you have created with the class for peer feedback.
- After peer review partners are assigned (Saturday, June 12), read drafts from your classmates and offer feedback on how to revise.
Second-Chance Report Outline Feedback Discussion
- If you need more time to write your Instructions draft, follow the directions in the Second-Chance Report Outline Feedback Discussion.
- After peer review partners are assigned (Thursday, June 17), read drafts from your classmates and offer feedback on how to revise.
📓 To Track This Week
- Track and reflect on the work you have done for the week in your Work Log for the Week of 06/07, reviewing the Weekly Work Log Guidelines if needed.
- Evaluate the work that you have done so far in the course by completing the Course Progress Report.
Photo credit: null by Beryl Chan on Flickr, used under public domain.