Assignment Overview
Before you begin writing your final Recommendation Report for this class, you must first plan your project and inform me of your plans in a Proposal.
In many professions, large scale projects require a detailed project plan. These proposed plans usually describe the tasks that must be undertaken to investigate potential conclusions or solutions, plot out a realistic schedule to complete the assignment, and identify the resources required for completing the project. You will complete and turn in such a plan in the form of a Proposal to me.
As this is an academic exercise, part of your proposal will need to detail the theoretical case study you have fabricated. You will need to create a fictional audience, purpose, and context appropriate and consistent with the rhetorical situations particular to your own future profession. The situation you present will be subject to my approval, and if necessary, you will need to revise and resubmit your proposal until it is approved.
After I review your proposal, I will inform you of any concerns I have for the final project, so you may make necessary changes before turning in the final report.
For the proposal project, you will write a document that presents your theoretical case study, proposes your project plan to me, and requests permission to proceed with the project as planned.
In order to present an acceptable Case Study, you will need to fabricate a fictitious professional entity (management, company, program, etc.), and present a plausible case describing a rhetorical situation requiring a choice between two alternatives. You will need to describe your audience(s) and your purpose in recommending one thing over another.
You will need to complete three Project Planning Worksheets, which will help you develop your plans for this project. The Project Planning Worksheets can be found here ().
For your project to be approved, I will need to be convinced of
the suitability of your project topic and rhetorical situation,
the availability and accessibility of the information required to investigate and present a recommendation, and
the feasibility of your plan for conducting the investigation and writing the report.
To familiarize yourself better with this major assignment, carefully review the following sections:
General Requirements for the Project Proposal
Content Requirements for the Project Proposal
Remember, your Proposal is worth 200 points (20% of your overall grade for this class).
General Requirements for the Proposal Project
Your project proposal should meet the following general requirements:
Format the proposal as a memo to me.
Present the case study or rhetorical situation you have fabricated (audience, purpose, and context), and the two alternatives you propose to analyze.
Use appropriate visuals, including a Gantt or project chart for project tasks and schedule (see below).
Use headings and talking headings for your major sections and subsections.
Prepare the task list and work schedule as a Gantt chart or project schedule chart.
Include at least three (3) citation entry samples representative of the documentation style you intend to utilize in your report project.
Be four to six pages, single-spaced, with spaces between paragraphs.
Content Requirements for the Project Proposal
You must convince me that
You have fabricated a realistic situation, similar to one you could face in your professional future.
You understand the clients problem or need to choose between alternatives.
You understand the clients criteria or goals for a successful solution, or choice.
You have an effective, well thought-out plan for researching the alternatives and writing a recommendation report based on your findings.
You have developed a comprehensive task analysis and realistic schedule for completing the work on time.
You are proficient in the citation style appropriate for your report project.
You are qualified to perform this work.
To receive approval for your project plan, your proposal must include the following elements:
Introduction
Description of Proposed Case Study
Analysis of the Clients Problem/Situation and Choices
Audience Analysis of Client
Work Plan with Schedule
Qualifications (Optional)
Resources Required to Complete Project
Citation Requirements
Closing
