1. Choose a problem, issue, or challenge that you know to exist in the
workplace or at school
Major Project One– Project GuidelinesFor the Midterm Exam, read Chapter 8 in the textbook
and any supplemental materials related to writing technicalreports.Writing Technical
ReportsAssignment:1.Choose a problem, issue, or challenge that you know to exist in the
workplace or at school. This can be a realproblem/concern that you have currently or can
be one that you believe strongly is real but others do not seem tobe aware of it. It needn’ t
be a life-altering theme, but as with everything in this course, you should considercovering
something that might be useful to you in your career (current or future). Obviously, you
needn’ t writeabout anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or get you into “ trouble”
should it be seen by your currentemployer/classmates/professors. Think about audience,
even a potential one that you didn’ t intend to see thework.2.Imagine you’ ve been asked by
your supervisor or a formal committee to explain and analyze the issue and towrite a
recommendation for your school or workplace to address the issue. This recommendation
will go to yoursupervisor/committee and to audiences higher than your
supervisor/committee.3.Write a technical report of at least five pages (more is ok, if
appropriate). This is including illustrations,but be sure to develop solid content overall.
Don’ t rely on a few graphs to do you work, for example. The bulk ofthis assignment should
be your writing. If you borrow illustrations or tables they need to be cited. If youcreate your
own, consider the ration of image to text, not only in terms of quantity but also in
size.4.Include research (with appropriate citations) as needed, which essentially means I
will assume most of yourprojects will need research of some sort, but I will not require a
certain amount. Cite sources. Not everyprofession uses MLA citations, so either look up
what is appropriate for you profession or otherwise provideclear, accurate attribution to
the sources you’ re using. Use the resources linked on Canvas and that are in yourbook.
Documentation And Style (Citations)5.Using the list on page 154 in ETC, choose which kind
of report is appropriate for what you’ re writing.Construct your document as
such.6.Summarize the issue, identifying key elements and the purpose for your
report.7.Offer your analysis of the issues, your conclusions and your recommendations
(which becomes a proposal ofsorts), etc.8.Don’ t forget to include elements such as costs or
materials needed, length of time to implement therecommendations, parties who
should/will be included in your recommendations, etc. Include any resources(materials,
links to websites, illustrations) that you might suggest be used in moving forward with

2. yourrecommendation. Explain what a link leads the reader to instead of simply dropping in
a link.In this technical report, you should also be employing the other elements we’ ve
covered so far in the class:audience awareness, ethical writing, readability, appropriate
word choice and sentence structure, documentdesign, etc. Feel free to consult the
supplemental resources I’ ve provided.Examples—
use these as ideas. You are not required
to use any of these but may do so if you wish:• A rise in student cheating and
plagiarism• Employee theft of office supplies• Unethical reporting of data among
colleagues• Unethical behavior at work• Poor employee morale• Student alienation from a
sense of campus community• Students are not recycling as they could• Co-workers sending
passive-aggressive email messages• Co-workers “ spamming” the office with cat videos
(aw! so cute!)• New hires or part-time workers are under-trained for their
positions• Classmates or co-workers are spending too much time on personal devices or
social networks, leading todistractions among the class/office/etc• Someone wears too
much cologne or perfume• Someone keeps stealing snacks from the honor box (jerk!)• One
or more supervisors are micromanaging to the point of hindering work for other
employees• Drug use on campus by students is obvious to other students but seems to be
ignored by campus security or staff• You need to decide on a location for employee training
or a retreat (if you choose this one, use real locationsthat you can visit. Don’ t make it all
up)• Disruptive behavior at your child’ s daycare or school• There’ s an Internet troll on
the loose