Assignment: Researched Purchase Proposal
Research project, page 2 of 9
Formal Research Purchase Proposal Report Assignment with Checklist, Organization Template, Evaluation Form, and Weekly Planne
Point Value: 175
Minimum Requirements: Basic Report (Intro. to conclusion) at 10 pages with 6 bo
owed, credible sources, all documented in either MLA or APA style.
The research paper assignment and related assignments will develop and demonstrate the following skills:
Objectives:
· Deliver a written deliverable that meets an identified need to satisfy the expectations of an identified decision maker.
· Produce a coherent, purposeful, and persuasive proposal that methodically a
ives at a logical, reasonable recommendation.
· Demonstrate your understanding of document design, including graphics, page layout, and page editing.
· Document your secondary sources consistently, using either APA or MLA formatting.
· Present the finished deliverable in accordance with formal requirements, including all necessary front matter appropriate to business/technical style.
Requirements:
XXXXXXXXXX1. Use either MLA or APA style (never both); refer to our
XXXXXXXXXXhandouts from Course Documents or The Owl at Purdue for details:
XXXXXXXXXXhttp:
owl.english.purdue.edu/owl
esource/560/01
XXXXXXXXXX2. first page with student name and complete assignment and course
XXXXXXXXXXinformation.
XXXXXXXXXX3. header with student name and page numbers.
XXXXXXXXXX4. expository essay structure: introduction with thesis, body and
XXXXXXXXXXconclusion.
XXXXXXXXXX5. secondary research (bo
owed) to be 6-source minimum,
XXXXXXXXXXincluding graphics that are refe
ed to and labeled.
XXXXXXXXXX6. Refer to page 5 of this file for all requirements.
The following are your Due Dates for the research paper and related assignments, all due on Saturday Midnight of the week listed:
Regular Term:
XXXXXXXXXXWeek Four – Final draft due of research proposal memo.
XXXXXXXXXXWeek Eight – Annotated bibliography due.
Week Ten – Final draft of research paper due.
Summer Term:
Week Two– Final draft due of research proposal memo.
XXXXXXXXXXWeek Four – Annotated bibliography due.
Week Five – Final draft of research paper due.
From the two possible scenarios, select one that best applies to your own present circumstance to write about:
· At home, you would like to co
ect a pre-existing problem, prevent possible future problems, improve living conditions, or develop a new area of interest in ho
ies or leisure activities. You have standards (criteria) that a product must meet, such as safety, comfort, convenience, health, cost-efficiency, financial gain, or improved morale. Because you want the approval of your domestic partner (spouse, roommate), you will need to research and compare similar product models, and ultimately recommend for purchase the model that you feel best suits the household’s needs and standards.
· At work, you would like to co
ect a pre-existing problem, prevent possible future problems, improve working conditions, or develop a new area of interest in operations or marketing. You have standards (criteria) that a product must meet, such as safety, comfort, convenience, health, cost-efficiency, financial gain, or improved morale. Because you require the approval of your manager, you will need to research and compare similar product models, and ultimately recommend for purchase the model that you feel best suits the company’s needs and standards.
Caution: Do not research one-of-a kind subjects that are not manufactured products and cannot be reasonably compared; this will include, but is not limited to, flora, fauna, art, music, antiques, relics, or services.
Services may support products but cannot be the topic of the purchase proposal as individual results will vary as individual humans (fauna) deliver the services.
Proceed as follows in drafting your report:
Introductory Paragraph(s):
First, identify a real-life issue of personal or professional interest and consider a manufactured product that will co
ect, improve, or develop your interest, directing the discussion to a directly involved audience. Then set forth and define 3 specific criteria; regard criteria as priorities or standards that you require of a product. For example, if you want to purchase a mid-size SUV, you may prioritize cost, safety, and performance as issues that will most influence your purchase decision. Next, na
ow your research to 3 or 4 manufacturers’ makes or models, comparing similar products. For example, you might compare Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Jeep Liberty.
Body:
Organize the research using a criterion-based structure, one criterion at a time. First, define each criterion, and then present research of makes or models relevant to criterion, followed by findings of how individual makes or models measure up to criterion. Your research should be a combination of primary and secondary sources, properly cited in MLA or APA form.
Conclusion:
Summarize findings, and ultimately, if a particular product satisfies your criteria, you should recommend it, and persuade your audience to approve of its purchase.
Appendices:
Finally, present supplemental research materials and a Works Cited page in MLA or APA form.
Researched Purchase Proposal Check List:
The Researched Purchase Proposal is a formal report, and therefore, will also include supplemental details. The final complete report should be presented in this order with these additional requirements:
I. Front Matter (elements that precede the body of a formal report):
1. ______ Letter of Transmittal in memo form
2. ______ Title page with audience specified
3. ______ Informative Abstract/Executive Summary
4. ______ Table of Contents, from Summary to Appendices, as well as list
XXXXXXXXXXof tables and/or illustrations
II. Body:
5. ______ Introductory paragraph describes need, proposal, criteria, and models.
6. ______ Criterion-based structure. Organize the paragraphs by your 3 criteria, devoting one section to each criterion. Begin each section with a definition paragraph for each criterion, proceeding with the criterion-relevant information paragraphs of the 3 or 4 models/makes you are comparing, and concluding with a findings paragraph for each criterion, summarizing the makes/models that measured most favorably in the comparison. Organize your report and label by headings and subheadings.
Criterion X
¶ Definition of X.
¶ Research of model 1 according to X criterion.
¶ Research of model 2 according to X criterion.
¶ Research of model 3 according to X criterion.
¶ Findings of best model according to X criterion.
Criterion Y
¶ Definition of Y.
¶ Research of model 1 according to Y criterion.
¶ Research of model 2 according to Y criterion.
¶ Research of model 3 according to Y criterion.
¶ Findings of best model according toY criterion.
Criterion Z
¶ Definition of Z.
¶ Research of model 1 according to Z criterion.
¶ Research of model 2 according to Z criterion.
¶ Research of model 3 according to Z criterion.
¶ Findings of best model according to Z criterion.
XXXXXXXXXX. _______ Bo
owed sources to include a personal interview.
XXXXXXXXXX. _______Conclusion paragraph(s). Summarize findings and present
XXXXXXXXXXproduct recommendation to intended audience.
III. Back Matter (elements that follow the body of a formal report):
XXXXXXXXXX_______ Appendix B Logic Box or Decision matrix
XXXXXXXXXXSee student examples.
XXXXXXXXXX11. _______ Works Cited in MLA. See student examples.
XXXXXXXXXX13.________ Research paper evaluation form---See next page.
XXXXXXXXXXResearch Paper Ru
ic
Bonus for On-Time Submission+ 20
Needs Work
Mastery
Total
/175
1. Front Matte
a. Letter of Transmittal in
XXXXXXXXXXmemo form
05
b. Title page with audience
XXXXXXXXXXIdentification.
05
c. helpful Table of Contents.
05
d. informative, complete Abstract/Executive Summary
05
2. Composition, Research & Back Matte
a. The intro ¶ reveals background, criteria, and scope, updated from original proposal.
10
b. consistent organization throughout. Headings and subheadings are labeled with unified, relevant paragraphs, following the criterion-based structure, including
definitions and sub findings.
15
c. The conclusion provides a summary of findings, decision box, and offers a persuasive explanation of recommendation.
10
and expression are co
ect, formal, literal, concise and contribute to clarity.
20
e. Report meets the length & source requirement.
20
f. Bo
owed information is substantial, and sources are cu
ent, credible, relevant.
20
g. All sources used are properly cited and consistently documented in either MLA or APA form.
50
h. Graphics images and appendices are provided and co
ectly labeled.
10
Regular & Summer Term Weekly Planne
XXXXXXXXXXRegular Term Planne
Week
indicate completion
(
List topic in Generating Ideas for Research
Submit 4 ideas to instructor by Week Two.
Look at the student example research proposals in Course Documents for example.
One or Two
Select Topic. Become familiar with your topic.
Conduct general background reading on topic, which you will mention in your proposal, so take notes of titles. Na
ow/modify focus. Consider who your primary