In the previous two steps, you performed searches

Step 3: Writing your Research Paper

In the previous two steps, you performed searches, first to identify industry trends, and then for information about an issue in one of those trends that you consider to be important to your industry. Now you should be ready to draft your paper. This would be a good time to review organization in writing and paragraphs. You might also review the Effective Writing Center’s Online Guide to Writing, a valuable reference to students who seek to improve their writing.

Review your task. You are to provide a research paper that provides a summary of the three top trends in your industry (with associated NAICS codes). Supply sufficient background for your reader that the trend is clear and supported by resources you have found. Review resources in References and Citations to ensure that you are using “in text” citations to give credit for the ideas of other authors and to build your credibility as a researcher, neither ignoring sources nor quoting excessively.

You will develop a paper that accomplishes two objectives:

• It will identify the three top trends in your industry and your rationale, based on the resources you have found, for your choices;
• It will discuss the issue within one of the trends that you deem important, based on the current state of the industry, and will be supported by your analysis of facts and a well-reasoned conclusion of what it means to the industry.

Start with an outline and flesh out the main themes with supporting statements. This will become your roadmap to an organized paper. Draft, sleep on it, and edit. Repeat.

Your paper will be 5-7 pages, not including your cover page and References page(s), double-spaced and set up in APA standards. It does not require an abstract.

Your citations, both “in text” and in References will be in accordance with theAPA Style Manual Sixth Edition .

Your headings will follow this general pattern:

I. Introduction

II. Findings

A. Top Trends of the _____ Industry

B. An Important Emerging Issue in a trend and what it means in context to the industry

III. Conclusions

IV. References

MILESTONE: Many students are asked to re-submit their papers based on incomplete or inaccurate citation formats. This milestone will get you off to a good start with APA citations.By the end of Week 2, please submit a draft of your References page. Please use the APA style guide or References and Citations to draft your complete citations. This is an opportunity for you to get feedback before your project is graded. When you submit your draft References page for review, your faculty member will provide feedback on your citation format so that you can correct for your project submission at the end of Week 3.