WRTG394 2019 MAY All Assignments Latest

WRTG394 Advanced Business Writing

Week 1 Assignment

Communication Inhibitors Report

In Writing Assignment #1, you will identify various communication inhibitors in the context of your workplace or community, prepare a table with descriptions of the inhibitors, and write a brief summary rating the effectiveness of communication in the chosen context. The analysis you prepare for this report might pave the way for your final paper, the Research-Based Report.

Writing Assignment        #1          

Communication                Inhibitors             Analysis               

Summary             of            assignment        

• Task: For this assignment, you are asked to collect real-life examples of barriers

(inhibitors) to communication that occur in your work or community environment. You

will describe them, define them, justify them in a table, and then use them to rate your

organization’s communication effectiveness.

• Length: The assignment has four parts. Details on word count are provided below and

in the following pages.

o Part I of this assignment will be 200-250 words

o Part II is a list of definitions. The definitions in this section should be about 30-

40 words each.

o Part III is a table with short examples, names, and justifications. The word count

will vary.

o Part IV will be 175-250 words.

• Format: you will not cite sources in this paper, so you will not use any particular

citation style. In writing up the assignment, please follow the template given on page 2.

Reading                Material               to            Draw     Upon     for          this         Assignment:      

For this assignment, you will want to draw on the following reading materials about communication

inhibitors.

• “Management               Study    Guide:  10           Barriers                to            Communication”              by           the         MSG                Team    

• “Physical          Barriers                in            Communication”              by           Rahul     Pandita                

• “The   Barriers                to            Effective              Communication”              by           Rupal     Jain                       

The items are available as eReserves in our class in LEO.

You can access the articles by taking the following steps:

• click Content

• select Class Resources

• select eReserves

• select                the         icon        for          eReserves           in            the         middle  of            your       page.                    

• in         the         list          of            items     that        appears,              locate    the         articles  and        download           

them                    

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Template for this Assignment

Your text should be single-spaced and in 12-point font. Please use the following template when

completing this assignment. Details on each part of the assignment are provided on pages 3-4.

I. Description of community setting, including a description of the 3-4 communication

inhibitors that occur in that setting (200-250 words):

II. Definitions of the 3-4 inhibitors:

III. Table of the 3-4 communication samples and the inhibitors they represent:

The communication example

either as a direct quote or

paraphrase

The name of the inhibitor(s)

that the example represents

A justification of your

selection of the inhibitor

IV. Short paragraph rating the organization’s communication effectiveness on a scale of 1

to 100 and justifying the ranking (175-250 words):

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Details on Each Part of the Assignment

Part I:

Consider your work or community and come up with 3-4 real-life examples of barriers

(inhibitors) to written and verbal communication that occur in that environment. The

communication examples you come up with can be from documents, conversations (face-to-face

or digital), emails, or meetings.

Then write one or two detailed paragraphs of 100-125 words each in which you describe the

following:

• your workplace or community setting you have chosen to analyze

• the communication barriers in that setting that you are describing

• other details you think might be relevant to the context

Various types of communication inhibitors, and examples of them, can be found in the articles

that are available to you through eReserves. These communication barriers include but are not

limited to the following:

Attitudinal barrier

Avoiding the listener

Channel barrier

Cultural barrier

Different cultural level

Distance

Emotional barrier

Environment

Ignorance of medium

Ignoring the content

Impatience in the listener

Individual barrier

Interpersonal barrier

Language/Linguistic barrier

Low pitch and tone

Noise

Not confirming with the recipient

Not understanding the mood of the recipient

Not understanding the receiver

Organizational barrier

Perceptual barrier

Physical disability

Unorganized thought

Wrong interpretations

 

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Part II:

After you've collected at least 3-4 communication barriers and have identified the inhibitors they

represent, define the inhibitors in a bulleted list. When defining your inhibitors, the reading

material listed on page 1 may be used without citation.

The definition you provide should identify the general characteristics of the inhibitor and how it

works to impede communication. The definitions should not mention your specific work

environment.

Please consult the video on this assignment and the two sample student submissions to this

assignment in order to see a demonstration on how this part might be written.

Please use the three articles listed on page 1, which are in e-reserves, for this assignment. Use the

communication inhibitors suggested in those articles.

Part III:

Analyze these 3-4 communication inhibitors as they apply to your workplace or community

environment. List them in a table with three columns:

• the communication example either as a direct quote or paraphrase

• the name of the inhibitor(s) at work in the sample

• a justification of your selection of the inhibitor(s)

Again, please consult the video on this assignment and the two sample student submissions

to this assignment in order to see a demonstration on how this part might be written.

Part IV:

Using a scale of 1 to 100 (with a score of 75 considered average), rank your organization's

communication effectiveness. Justify and explain the score you award. Your justification should

be one to two paragraphs, about 175-250 words total.

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Submitting the assignment:

You will submit a draft of the assignment to the assignment folder. The instructor will provide

comments to it and work with you on a second draft if necessary.

 

WRTG394 Advanced Business Writing

Week 2 Assignment  

Synthesis Literature Review

For this assignment, you will select a topic from a list provided, conduct secondary research (or “find literature”) on that topic, and then provide a 1000-1400 word background review and synthesis of the literature that you find.         

Background        Review and                       

Synthesis             of            Literature           

Summary             of            assignment        

• Task: You will complete the following:

o Select a topic for writing assignment #4

o Research that topic in OneSearch

o Locate at least seven articles from scholarly or credible trade journals on the topic

o Write a synthesis of the articles.

• Length: 1000-1400 words.

• Format: APA

• Sources: At least seven sources from scholarly or credible trade journals

• Writing Process: You will submit a first draft of the essay to the assignment folder. The

first draft will not be graded. The instructor will provide comments to it. After

receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a revised draft. The final draft

will be graded.

Continue to the next page

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How This Assignment Informs Future Assignments in WRTG 394

This assignment is designed to help you prepare for the final paper in WRTG 394. Keep in mind

that your final paper in WRTG 394 will be a report in which you define a problem in your

workplace or community persuasively and accurately and propose a solution or solutions to the

problem or issue.

For writing assignment #2, consider the problem you will address and conduct research in the

library on the topic.

For example, let us assume that you are considering writing a report to the Dean of The

Undergraduate School at to recommend that move from LEO as its learning

management system (LMS) to a different learning management system. In preparing to write

this type of report, you might complete the following for writing assignment #2: Conduct library

research on the topics of learning management systems for schools, online teaching, and

effective teaching in an online environment.

What do We Mean by Synthesis?

In a background review and synthesis of the literature, you don’t take a stand on an issue. You

review what the articles say on the issue, dividing the arguments in the articles into themes.

For example, let us assume that you conduct library research on the topic of learning

management systems for schools, online teaching, and effective teaching in an online

environment. You might find that three major themes emerge from your perusing of the seven

articles:

• common reasons for resisting the move to a new LMS

• impact on faculty members when transitioning to a new LMS

• impact on students when transitioning to new LMS

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Selection of Topics

Examples of Topics for Writing Assignment #4, the Research-Based Report

A student could write a report on a number of topics. The following are some examples. Please

note that these are examples of topics. You are not required to choose any of them. They are

provided here to help illustrate this assignment.

• a report to your supervisor at work suggesting that email be used less frequently for

communication and that another application be used to improve communication

• a report to your city council suggesting a new smart traffic light system for parts of the city

• a report to the program chair of your major at to suggest changes to one or more of the

classes required in the major

• a report to the manager of your unit at work noting that recycling facilities in the workplace

should be improved

Examples of Topics for Writing Assignment #2, the Background Review and Synthesis,

Based on the Suggested Topics Above

In any report of this nature, some background research is necessary. For example, consider the

following strategies when collecting background research for the topics mentioned above:

• For a report to your supervisor at work suggesting that email be used less frequently for

communication and that another application be used to improve communication, some scholarly

literature or articles from credible trade journals on transitioning to alternative electronic

communication would be beneficial. In addition, articles that demonstrate the problems with

email communication would add to the argument.

• For a report to your city council proposing a new smart traffic light system, some trade journal or

scholarly literature on such systems would augment the report considerably.

• For a report to the program chair of your major at , some scholarly or trade journal articles

on the skills that a graduate of that major needs in the workplace would be very effective. This

information would greatly enhance the credibility of a report that suggests changes to the

curriculum.

• For a report to the manager of your unit at work arguing that recycling facilities in the workplace

should be improved, some scholarly articles or studies on the challenges of and benefits to

implementing recycling facilities in organizations would be persuasive. Of course, there are

varieties of recycling programs. The articles you find would help define what type of recycling

program you would propose.

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Length of Your Paper

As noted above, your background review of the literature on your topic should be 1000-1400

words in length.

The sources should be cited throughout the paper in APA format and listed in a References page

at the end of the paper in APA format.

You will find that your synthesis will be a helpful component of your final research-based report.

In fact, if your synthesis is well written, you might be able to take parts of it and copy them into

sections of the final report. The skills and strategies you gain from writing the background

review and synthesis of literature will be very valuable in writing your final research-based

report.

Guides to Help You in Writing this Assignment:

Please read the sample paper in our class from Tom Student.

In addition, the following links provide access to guides on writing a research-based business

report. While the guides provide instruction on writing a research-based business report, for the

purposes of writing assignment #2, you might focus on how each guide instructs you on the use

of sources and secondary research for the report.

• Victoria University of Wellington

• Queen Margaret University

• Murdoch University

• Colorado State University

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Additional Topics that Previous Students Have Used

Some possible workplace research topics are the following. These are examples to help you get

started. Please contact your instructor to have other topic ideas approved.

• Making a change in the computer infrastructure at your workplace

• Establishing a drug policy

• Establishing an employee leave donation program

• Establishing an equipment donation program for used computers, etc.

• Establishing a company recycling program (paper, etc.)

• Education/retraining for your employees

• Recommending the purchase of standing desks for employees

• Designing a training program for workplace safety issues

• Redesigning employee performance evaluations

• Establishing on-site day care or providing other child care benefits

• Providing gym membership or creating an on-site workout facility

• Creating or revising a charitable contribution policy

• Creating or improving a tuition assistance program

• Accommodations needed for employee/s with specific health issues (for example, migraines)

Some students have chosen topics outside of their workplaces, such as the following:

• Getting additional lighting in the neighborhood

• Changing traffic patterns around your child’s school

• Starting a PTA website for your child’s school

• Constructing a crying baby room at your place of worship

• Offering ESL courses at your church

• Increasing participation in a military Family Support Group

• Introducing a youth sports program to a school or community

• Changing the design of a class for your university

• Changing the learning management system for online classes for your university

Submitting the assignment:

You will submit a first draft of the essay to the assignment folder. The first draft will not be

graded. The instructor will provide comments to it.

After receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a revised draft. The final draft

will be graded.

 

WRTG394 Advanced Business Writing

Week 3 Assignment  

Memo to Decision-Maker

For this assignment, you will compose an 800-1100 word memo—a specific kind of business writing. You will address your memo to someone whom you would have to persuade to take action on the problem you want to solve.

Writing Assignment        #3          

Proposal              Memo  to            the         Decision-maker               

Summary             of            assignment        

• Task: You will complete the following:

o Identify the decision-maker or group of decision-makers to whom you will write

this memo.

o Consider the secondary research you conducted on your topic for writing

assignment #2.

o Consider what primary research you will need to conduct for your research-based

report.

o Write a proposal memo to your decision-maker asking for permission to conduct

this research.

• Length: 800-1100 words

• Format: A template for the memo is provided on page 2.

How       This        Assignment        Informs                Writing Assignment        #4          

This proposal memo is a preliminary step you take prior to writing your final paper, which is the

research-based report (writing assignment #4). Your final paper in WRTG 394 will be a report

in which you:

• define a problem in your workplace or com

2 Template for Submitting Your Memo

Note: Please use the format outlined below, including the headers provided in bold, for the

memo.

To: [Decision Maker Name(s) and title(s)]

From: [Your Name and title]

Date: [Today’s Date]

Subject: Request to Conduct Research on […]

Summary

[Write one or two sentences in which you mention why you are writing this memo.]

What the Problem Is and Why It Needs to Be Investigated

[In a series of paragraphs, describe the problem to which you are going to propose a solution and

explain why you think this problem is important.]

What Secondary Research I Have Conducted about the Problem

[In one paragraph describe secondary research you have conducted on the problem and solution.]

What Primary Research I Will Conduct about the Problem

[In a series of paragraphs, describe primary research you will conduct on the problem and

solution.]

Why We Will Benefit from My Research and Recommendations

 [In one or two paragraphs, describe your recommendations to the problem/situation you are

describing. Include a description of the potential benefits that your organization or community

will incur by authorizing your research and considering your recommendation.]

Conclusion

[In one or two sentences, conclude your memo by repeating the request for authorization and

reminding of the benefits of your conducting the research and considering your

recommendations.]

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Advice on Conducting Primary Research

When considering primary research, consider the strategies outlined in the following material

from weeks 3 and 4:

• “Strategies for Qualitative Interviews – Harvard University” (from week 3)

• “Designing Effective Questions and Questionnaires” (from week 3)

• “Writing Interview Protocols and Conducting Interviews” (from week 4)

Consider the following examples:

• If you are proposing that email be used less frequently for communication and that another

application be used to improve communication, you might interview fellow employees on the

situation, and you might take screen captures of alternative communication tools to illustrate how

they work and would improve communication in your office.

• For a report on proposing a new traffic light, you might take pictures of the intersection where

such a traffic light could be built, and you might interview residents to get their perspective on the

traffic light idea.

• For a report to the program chair of your major at suggesting changes to the curriculum,

you might interview or survey fellow students, interview or survey hiring managers in the field,

and/or interview or survey students who are majoring in the same field at another institution.

• For a report on recycling facilities, you might take pictures of the office environment to show that

current recycling facilities are inadequate, and you might interview fellow workers about whether

they find it easy to recycle materials at your office.

Examples of How to Make Topics Specific for the Final Report in WRTG

394

• If you wish to write a report to your supervisor at work suggesting that email be used less

frequently for communication and that another application, such as texting, be used to improve

communication, you cannot simply prepare a report on the benefits of texting in the workplace.

You must establish that your specific office has problems in communicating by email and

indicate the benefits of using alternative communication systems, such as texting, for your

workplace environment.

• If you write a report to your neighborhood community association that a traffic light be posted at

a particular intersection, you cannot simply prepare a report on the benefits of traffic safety. You

must show that the specific intersection in your neighborhood needs a traffic light in order to

improve safety.

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• If you write a report to the program chair of your major at recommending changes to the

curriculum, you cannot simply prepare a report on the benefits of a certain class. You must show

that the specific curriculum for your major at lacks something that your suggested

adjustment will provide.

• If you write a report on recycling facilities at your workplace, you cannot simply prepare a report

on the benefits of recycling. You must show that the recycling facilities at your specific

workplace are inadequate or need improving.

Submitting the assignment:

You will submit a draft of the memo to the assignment folder. The instructor will provide

comments to it and work with you on a second draft if necessary.

 

WRTG394 Advanced Business Writing

Week 4 Assignment  

Research-Based Report

You will begin a 2000-3000 word, research-based business report to a decision-maker. The report will identify a problem in an organization or community and propose a solution to that problem.

Writing Assignment        #4          

Research-Based               Report                 

to            a              Decision-maker               

Summary             of            assignment        

• Task: You write a report that does the following:

o defines a problem persuasively and accurately

o proposes a solution or solutions to the problem or issue

o presents that solution to a decision-maker or group of decision-makers who can

implement the recommendation

• Topic: You will choose the same topic on which you wrote the memo for writing

assignment #3.

• Length: 2000-3000 words

• Format: Your sources will be cited and listed in APA format.

• Writing Process: You will submit a first draft of the report to the assignment folder.

The first draft will be given comments by the instructor. After receiving comments from

the instructor, you will submit a revised draft. The final draft will be graded.

If you do not submit a second draft, the first draft will be graded.

• Components of the report:

o title page

o letter to the decision maker (this should be a business letter, not a memo)

o executive summar

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Primary and Secondary Sources

The report must incorporate the results of your own primary research. When integrating primary

research, you must explain the method(s) you used to gather that research and insert a copy in

your report’s appendices of any collection instrument you used. For example, if you interviewed

some people for the report, you would put the list of interview questions you asked in the

appendix. If you arranged for a group of people to take a survey, you would put the survey in the

appendix.

The complete report should also cite at least seven secondary sources. At least three of these

secondary sources should come from peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

As noted above, your primary and secondary sources will be integrated into the paper to

explain the problem, to provide evidence of the problem, and to support the solution.

Please note that, if you interview people for your research, you must cite the interviews in your

paper. In the paper, you cannot simply write that you “spoke with employees.” A URL that

shows how to cite an interview in APA citation style is provided in the list of components

for the report.

You might have taken WRTG 393 at . In WRTG 393, the final paper is a white paper.

This assignment is different from the white paper in WRTG 393. In this paper for WRTG 394,

you are writing to a specific decision-maker about a specific problem in your workplace or

community. The audience is much more focused than that for the white paper in WRTG 393.

Graphics

Your report might benefit from graphics. As mentioned above, pictures of your workplace or

community situation might help illustrate the problem you are trying to address. Graphs, tables,

or charts might help show trends that will persuade your decision-maker that the problem exists.

Please do not incorporate a graphic for the sake of incorporating a graphic. Include a graphic

only if it helps communicate a message in your report.

Due Date

Your instructor will notify you of the due date. You will write a first draft, your instructor will

comment on the first draft, and you will submit a second draft using the comments as your guide.

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Guides to Help You in Writing this Assignment:

• Victoria University of Wellington

• Murdoch University

• Colorado State University

Topic Selection:

For this report, you will write on the same topic on which you wrote the memo for writing

assignment #3. In addition, it should be related to the topic on which you wrote writing

assignment #2. The secondary research you conducted for writing assignment #2 should be

usable in some form for this report.

You must contact your instructor for approval before changing your topic from writing

assignment #3. In addition, if you do so, you must re-submit a memo for writing assignment #3.

Submitting the assignment:

You will submit a first draft of the essay to the assignment folder. The first draft will not be

graded. The instructor will provide comments on it.

After receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a revised draft. The final draft

will be graded.