Project #3: Recommendations Report

100 points

Topic:
You did such a good job on your last project that your boss has asked you to complete a
recommendations report on the best way for the company to improve their corporate giving.

Purpose:
Your company is interested in giving back to the local community, but the leadership team
disagrees on an approach. As a result, they’d like to read a recommendations report on the best
cause to support in the most effective manner. They are open to many different kinds of support,
such as direct funding, research, volunteer time, etc. However, they want to see multiple options
and your research on those options before you make a recommendation. Walk them through your
thinking. If you do a good job, you might be asked to assist with this project. Keep in mind that
two other people have been asked to create a recommendations report as well.

Audience:
Your direct supervisor, the funding/development team, and the CEO/Executive Director will all
be reading your report. (Continue to use the organization you selected for Projects 1 and 2 as you
create this report. You are imagining how this actual company might engage in giving back to
the community.)

Content:
• Include an introduction that identifies your research purpose
• Indicate how you went about your research (methodology)
• Provide results (facts, evidence, and data collected)
• Discuss these results (analysis)
• Conclude by stating your main points and making your final recommendation
• Include your sources

Design/Layout:
You have some freedom here. You want a clean design that enhances your research and the final
recommendation you make. Be sure to include:
• A title page
• A table of contents
• At least one table or graph
• At least one image
• Headers and sub-headers as you deem necessary

Helpful Hints:
• Be sure to refer to Chapter Eleven on Formal Reports and Chapter Seventeen on design
in Technical Communication if you need a refresher
• What kind of research will you do? Will you contact any actual organizations?
• Think about how you can keep your document balanced
• Will you use columns? If so, how many?
 • Try to be consistent
• Use active voice
• Don’t forget to label your images, graphs, etc.
• Decide if you will need back matter (appendixes, glossary of unfamiliar terms,
calculations)

Reflections. For this project, you will need to write a one-page reflection accounting for your
choices. This reflection will help me evaluate and grade your project, so make sure you
carefully consider the following questions and answer ALL of the questions:

1. Discuss your process for creating the content of this report. How did you begin your
research? What happened next? How did you take it from that point to the final
product?
2. Discuss your design choices and why you made them. How did audience impact
your choices? What did you find most challenging about creating the layout you
envisioned? What is your favorite design choice that you made during this project?
3. What worked about imagining your affiliation with a company this semester? What
could be improved?

Project SLOs:

By completing the assigned readings, activities, and assignments in this project unit, you will
learn the following SLOs for UNM professional writing. Think about these as you work through
this unit, reflecting on how they pertain to your coursework. Then add a section to your Google
Site discussing these SLOs.

▪ Organizational Design - Practicing strong research skills with primary and secondary
sources to generate appropriate content. Generating strong research questions and
developing clear research practices
▪ Visual Communication - Using visual design principles to develop audience-friendly data
displays, including charts, tables, infographics, line graphics, and presentations
▪ Content Management - Gaining knowledge of the organization and management of
digital and textual information and receive an introduction to information architecture,
web content management, and social networking.
 Grading Rubric:

Points Available Points Earned Qualities

Ethos The report does not contain many grammar,

5 points punctuation, or spelling errors.

Addresses Intended The writer clearly understands the needs of the

Audience intended audience and has adapted the writing to
10 points that audience.
Professional Format and Report adheres to the required formatting conventions.
Layout The layout adds to the experience of the report. It is
25 points pleasing to the eye with no glaring design flaws.
Content All elements of the report are present and well-written.
30 points The writer has recommended a feasible option that makes
sense for the audience and offers insight into the
company’s values and practices.
Reflection Writer has written a reflection addressing the specific
30 points questions asked and accounted for their learning of the
course outcomes. Writer provides insight into their
learning.
100 points Comments: