Formal Report Proposal
Weight: 15%
Due: Week 6, June 15th
Length: 500 words (excluding references page)
Purpose
In this assignment, you will use memo format to create a proposal that introduces your ENGL
250 formal report topic, provides details on the topic and the formal report methodology, and
requests your instructor’s approval of the proposed topic. This assignment must be completed
individually.
Instructions
1. Select a topic for your formal report. (For more details on your topic selection, consult
the relevant course documents and seek guidance from your instructor.)
2. Use memo format to write a proposal to your instructor.
3. Integrate research sources correctly and as required, using APA-style 7th edition
guidelines for in-text citations and references. (Your proposal will be submitted to
Turnitin to verify its originality.)
4. Include a title page, using APA-style 7th edition guidelines.
5. Use an appropriate tone and technical writing style.
Requirements/Outline*
The proposal should be approximately 500 words in length. It should contain the following parts:
1. APA-style title page
2. Summary
 This should summarize the proposal in 2-3 sentences.
3. Introduction
 This should provide background on the proposed topic.
4. Body
 This should include three sections:
 a problem statement/issue of approximately 50 words that provides
sufficient detail using specific engineering technology or applied science
concepts, techniques, or processes;
 a methodology section that describes the approach you will use to write
the report (note: this section MUST include the details of the course in
which you completed—or are completing—the project or lab such as the
course name, the professor's name, and the date of completion); and
 a brief hypothesis that states your anticipated solution to the
problem/issue.

Action close
 This should conclude the proposal and make a request of your instructor.
5. APA-style reference page
*adapted from OACETT’s Technology Report Guidelines
Formal Report Proposal
Weight: 15%
Due: Week 6, June 15th
Length: 500 words (excluding references page)
IMPORTANT:
When selecting the topic for your report, you should consider the following options (in this
order):
Option 1: Use the topic of a program-specific project (or lab) that was completed in a previous
semester at Centennial College and has not been used previously for a formal report.
Option 2: Use the topic of a program-specific project (or lab) that is being completed
concurrently (i.e., in the same semester) with ENGL 250.
Option 3: Identify an appropriate research topic through consultation with relevant faculty.
Students are encouraged to consult with faculty to assist with the selection of a suitable topic.
In order to use a topic of a lab or project completed in a previous semester (Option 1), you
must submit the original report that was submitted for that course. This will verify you as
the author. Please submit the original report to this Assignment folder: Formal Report - Report
from Previous Semester's Project or Lab.
Approval of your proposal is required before you can proceed with your formal report and
successfully complete the course. Proposals that do not follow the requirements or focus on an
appropriate topic will not be approved.
Prior to writing your proposal, you should refer the relevant sections of the textbook; in addition,
you should also be familiar with the OACETT Formal Report Guidelines and any other
resources specified by your instructor.
Proposals that include plagiarized content may receive a grade of zero.
*adapted from OACETT’s Technology Report Guidelines
Formal Report Proposal
Weight: 15%
Due: Week 6, June 15th
Length: 500 words (excluding references page)
Short Informal Report Rubric
Memo Format
8-10 points
Accurate subject line
Effective use of
graphic highlighting
(headings, bullet point
lists, white space)
5-7 points
Appropriate subject
line
Some attempt at
graphic highlighting
2-4 points
Acceptable subject line
Incorrect/confusing
graphic highlighting
0-1 points
Disorganized writing;
does not resemble a
memo report
Report Content
Technical Style
Grammar and
Mechanics
8-10 points
All report sections
(Summary,
Background, Facts,
Closing) achieve their
purposes
8-10 points
Strong control over the
6-C’s of technical
writing (clear, concise,
correct, courteous,
complete, and
concrete)
8-10 points
Minor grammatical
and/or mechanical
errors
5-7 points
Some control over the
6-C’s of technical
writing
5-7 points
Some grammatical
and/or mechanical
errors; faulty
sentence structures
5-7 points
Some elements of APA
format are followed
2-4 points
Limited control over the
6-C’s of technical
writing
2-4 points
Frequent
grammatical and/or
mechanical errors;
faulty sentence
structures
2-4 points
Few elements of APA
format are followed
0-1 points
Style errors impede
reader’s
comprehension
0-1 points
Majority of sentences
contain grammatical
and/or mechanical
errors
0-1 points
Many errors/does not
follow in APA format
Information presented
is detailed and
relevant to report’s
purpose
5-7 points
Some report sections
achieve their
purposes
Most information
presented is detailed
and relevant to
report’s purpose
2-4 points
Few report sections
achieve their purpose
Some information
presented is detailed
and relevant to
report’s purpose
0-1 points
Report sections do
not achieve their
purposes
Information is vague
and/or irrelevant
Report is off-topic
Total Mark
*adapted from OACETT’s Technology Report Guidelines
/50
APA Documentation
8-10 points
All elements of APA
format are followed