English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
TO: English 219 Students
FROM: Maya Alapin
DATE: Spring 2015
SUBJECT: Analytical Report
This memorandum details the requirements for your second Major Writing Assignment:
Writing an analytical report and reflective memo.
Assignment: Write an Analytical Report (150-points possible) and Reflective Memo (50points possible)
Due Date: TBD
Submission of your Assignment: Submit via UNM Learn using Microsoft Word. Name
your report with your last name and report and your memo with your last name and
report-memo. For example: harris_report.doc and harris_report-memo.doc. I will deduct
points for not following this convention.
Instructions: Research and write an analytical recommendation report. Recommendation
reports examine a problem, study and analyze several options for solving the problem,
and determine which option is the best solution in terms of specific criteria, such as
current technology, economics-savings, safety, social needs, etc. Not only should your
report give a recommendation on what action to take, but it must also provide the
research and the reasoning behind that recommendation. Thus, you will need to develop a
research methodology, which includes defining the options you will study, the criteria
you have set, and an explanation of the research you conducted.
Guidelines
1. 

Sources: Include information from a minimum of six (6) sources,
including both primary and secondary sources. Use a consistent citation format,
such as MLA, APA, CBE, or CMS. Use a combination of in-text citations that
correspond to the concluding list of references/works cited 2. 

3. 
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Formatting: Use a 12-point professional font and single-spacing for body
text. Provide headings that show hierarchy, using a consistent style. Include
page numbers in a footer that also provides the name of the report. 4. 

Graphics: Create at least one chart, graph, or table to include in your
report. Include photos, illustrations, and/or diagrams as appropriate for your
report’s topic. . Parts to include in your report
Length: Approximately 8-10 pages long. 
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Title page with graphics (page 1) 
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Table of contents (page 2) English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
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Abstract: brief summary of the report (page 3) 
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Body (starting on page 4)
- Introduction: state the research problem and provide
background information to establish context - Methodology: describe the methodology/research
methods you used - Results: present the research you found, reporting the
information without bias - Discussion/Analysis: interpret and discuss the research
you found - Conclusion/Recommendation: recommend action(s) your
reader should take and provide concluding comments 

Reference List/Works Cited 

Optional: Appendices (survey results, transcripts of interviews,
etc.) To help you get started on your report, you will complete a topic memo that analyzes the
rhetorical situation for your report’s topic. This memo is due by Monday, April 15.
You will also complete a progress memo that discusses the options and criteria you are
researching, analyzes the research you have located and are using in your report, and
reviews your overall progress on the report. This memo is due by Monday, April 28.
Determining your report topic (I WILL BE CHANGING THESE FOR MY OWN
219!)
Below I describe several ideas that you can use as the subject of your report. You will
need to sign up for one of these ideas by using the sign-up lise. The earlier you sign up,
the more choice you will have. If you don’t sign up, I will assign you to a group that still
has openings. Although you will write your own report, you will work in discussion
groups to share your ideas and research.
Idea #1: Best SW City for College Graduates. The Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
is interested in gathering information that demonstrates how Albuquerque rates to other
cities in the Southwest in terms of encouraging college graduates to relocate to or stay in
the city after they graduate. You work for a research firm and the Chamber has asked
your firm to write an analytical report that shows how Albuquerque compares with these
English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
other cities given a set of criteria that are most important to college graduates. --- Your
first task will be to determine which cities in the Southwest to research in addition to
Albuquerque. You might consider Denver, El Paso, Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas, or
another Southwestern city. (You will need to defend in your Methodology section why
you chose the cities you did.) Your second task will be to determine the criteria to use to
compare the cities. These criteria can relate to the availability of jobs, pay rates,
recreational and cultural activities, schools (for those with or who are planning to have
kids), cost of living, taxes, crime, or other criteria you think are important to college
graduates. (You will also need to defend in your Methodology section why you chose the
criteria you did and not others.) Based on the cities and criteria you chose, you will
conduct research to locate up-to-date statistics and present them in the Result section.
You will then analyze the results in the Discussion, ranking the cities, and in the
Conclusion you will provide concrete recommendations Albuquerque might make to
become more attractive to graduating college students.
Idea #2: Allergy Treatment for College Students. Certain times of the year, UNM
students flock to the Student Health Center seeking treatment for allergies. While
chemical aids may work well for some students, the center wants to find out more on
alternative treatments for the typical symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, headache, etc.).
You work for a research firm and the Health Center has asked your firm to write an
analytical report that reviews alternative treatments that would be appropriate for college
students. --- Your first task will be to determine three or four alternative allergy
treatments to study. (You will need to defend in your Methodology section why you
chose the treatments you did.) You will also need to develop specific criteria to judge
each treatment, such as cost, effectiveness, side-effects or safety, ease-of-use, or other
aspects important to college students. (You will need to defend in your Methodology
section why you chose the criteria you did.) The staff at the Health Center is concerned
that the research used in the study be up to date and of the highest scientific quality. You
will do research beyond that found on consumer websites such as WebMD and present it
in the Results section. Once you have completed your research, you will analyze the
results in the Discussion, ranking the allergy treatments, and in the Conclusion section
you will provide final recommendation on the use of these alternative allergy treatments.
Idea #3: Alternative Energy Sources. Flexibility in energy sources is not only an
important issue for states such as New Mexico but also for individual residents. In
February 2011, residents of many communities in New Mexico learned the hard way that
depending on one energy source for heating is dangerous. The gas supply was cut off to
many small communities during the worst cold spell in decades. Thousands of New
Mexicans were left without a reliable source of heat in their homes and businesses—a
situation that led to more crises and economic as well as physical hardship as pipes froze
and broke. The Gas Company of New Mexico has admitted that this type of outage may
occur in the future and have contacted your firm to write an analytical report about
alternative energy sources that are practical options for individual home owners. --- Your
first task will be to determine three or four alternative energy sources to study. Some of
the possible choices include solar panels, wood stoves, electric systems, and roofmounted wind turbines. Research at least three alternatives. (You will need to defend in
English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
your Methodology section why you chose the energy sources you did.) You will also
need to develop specific criteria to judge each energy source, such as cost, heating
effectiveness, available products and companies to handle installation, ease-of-use, safety,
or other aspects important to ensure adequate heat. (You will need to defend in your
Methodology section why you chose the criteria you did.) You will do research on each
option you decide to study, looking at them in terms of each criteria you choose, and
present your research in the Results section. Once you have completed your research, you
will analyze the results in the Discussion, ranking the energy sources, and in the
Conclusion section you will provide final recommendation on the use of these alternative
energy sources.
Instructions for Reflective Memo
To ensure that you understand the information you have been studying, you will write a
reflective memo addressed to me. Your memo should be single-spaced and at least one
full page long. It may be longer but not longer than one and a half pages long. Begin your
memo by providing a short introduction that states the purpose and subject of your memo.
Then provide four paragraphs with headings that answer the questions listed below for
each of the course objectives. End your memo with a conclusion that summarizes the
most important things you learned while writing your analytical report.
Analyze the Rhetorical Situation: What is the subject of your report? Who are your
intended readers and why is this subject important to them? Who are secondary readers
who will be interested in the report and why would they want to know this information?
What political, economic, legal, ethical, or environmental contexts influenced your report
and how you presented the information in it? What action would you like your readers to
take as a result of reading your report?
Find and Evaluate Information: Describe specific examples of the research you used
to create your report, explaining from what sources (Internet, books, journals, magazines,
surveys, or interviews) you gathered your research. Describe why you think this research
was credible and sufficient to allow your intended readers to take specific action? (Be
specific. Don’t just say you gathered information from the Internet; describe at least two
sources and how you used them in report and why they are credible and useful.)
Compose Information: How did you generate the content for your report? Did you use
brainstorming, idea-mapping, an outline, etc.? Why did you find this method useful?
How did you organize the results and analysis in your report and why do you think that
organizational strategy was a good choice? What style did you use in the presentation of
the information in your report and why was that style appropriate for your topic?
Present Information: What kind of revision did you do to ensure your report meet
your reader’s needs? What kind of graphic elements did you create to improve your
reader’s understanding? Why were they useful? How did you use document design to
make your report easy to read?
Your memo should include specific examples from your report to show how you
English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
accomplished these objectives. Your memo should follow the guidelines we have studied
on writing a professional memo. Your memo is worth 50-points. Don’t wait till the last
minute to write the memo; take time to reflect carefully on your writing process.
Report Evaluation Checklist
I will use the following questions to grade your analytical report.
Does your reflective memo
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Use the standard memo format as shown in the textbook? 
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Include an introduction that states the purpose of your memo and the
subject of your report? 
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Provide four paragraphs with headings that analyze your use of each of
the course objectives (the rhetorical situation, finding and evaluating
information, composing information, and presenting information) and includes
specific examples from your report that show how you achieved each objective?


Include a conclusion that describes what you learned while working on
this assignment? Content: Does your report 

Include a title page (including the name of the report, your
organization’s name, possibly the name of the organization you are writing the
report for, and the date) that incorporates design elements? 

Include a specific table of contents that provides easy reference to the
various parts of the report? 

Include an abstract (summary) of the report that is concise yet specific so
the reader will have a basic understanding of the report’s subject and purpose,
methodology, major results, major conclusions, and recommendation? 

Include an introduction that specifies the subject, purpose, sufficient
background information to make it clear why the report was written, as well as
an overview of the report contents? 

Provide a methodology that describes the options being explored and the
criteria used to judge the options and the methods you used to obtain data that
shows how the sources are adequate and trustworthy? 

Provide a results section that includes credible research (from at least six
different sources) on each option according to the criteria you set in order to
make an informed analysis? English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2


Provide a discussion/analysis section that provides a thorough analysis
of the results in order to make logical recommendations? 
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Provide a conclusion/recommendation section that provides one or more
options for action based on the results and discussion and concludes the report?

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Include a list of references that use a standard source of citation
correctly? 
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Optional: include an appendix for additional support materials that
would be overwhelming if included in the body of the report? Presentation:
Does your report Use a clear organizational structure (headings and subheadings) to make it easy for
your reader to locate information?

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Include page numbers and document information in a footer on each
page? 

Include a chart or table that you created to help the reader better
understand the subject, data, or recommendation? 

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Include at least 4 full single-spaced pages for the body of the report (not
including the title page, table of contents, abstract, reference list, or appendices.
Was your report 
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Named correctly? 
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Submitted on time? Employ correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics? English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
OVERALL PROJECT GRADING RUBRIC
A+ I can tell that you read the prompt several times, and that you have
understood what is being asked of you. You have a well-designed, organized and
well documented project which you executed excellently.
A I can tell that you read the prompt several times, and that you have understood
what is being asked of you. You have a well-designed, organized and well
documented project. The execution could be taken one step further.
A- I can tell that you read the prompt several times, and that you have
understood what is being asked of you. You have a well-designed, organized and
well documented project. The execution is well considered, but it has not been
fully carried out.
B+ I am not entirely sure if you read the prompt carefully. The project is not
exactly what was asked of you, though it is well presented, organized and
interesting to read. The execution is good.
B I am not entirely sure if you read the prompt carefully. The project is not exactly
what was asked of you, though it is well presented, organized and interesting to
read. It needs more supporting evidence. The execution is good.
B- I am not entirely sure if you read the prompt carefully. The project is not
exactly what was asked of you, though it is well presented, organized and
interesting to read. It needs more supporting evidence. The execution could be
taken further.
C+ I don’t feel confident that you understood the project. The project barely
meets the requirements. The execution is acceptable.
C I don’t feel confident that you understood the project. The project barely meets
the requirements. The execution is acceptable but not appealing.
C- I don’t feel confident that you understood the project. The project barely meets
the requirements. The execution is not acceptable.
F ALL PROJECTS WHICH ARE MISSING REFLECTIONS RECEIVE AN F. So
do missing ones.
English 219: Technical & Professional Writing MWA #2
Rhetorical
Situation:
audience/
medium/
purpose
Coherence
Ethos
50-40 points
39-25 points
24-0 points
The project speaks to a
The composition responds The composition does
specific audience that you to the audience you
not show understanding
have specified in your
selected, but needs further of the choice of
reflections. The choice of
revision to be effective.
audience, medium or
audience makes sense. The The medium/purpose purpose. The project
choice of mediums
are not entirely clear.
needs significant revision.
addresses the audience you
selected. The purpose of the
project addresses BOTH the
audience AND the purpose.
25-20 points
19-10 points
9-0 points
Ideas are presented clearly
and coherently so that the
reader can easily follow the
writer’s vision. Effort is clear.
Ideas are presented clearly,
but the organization needs
development. Effort is
lacking.
25-20 points
19-10 points
The composition strongly
The composition supports
supports the author’s ethos or the author’s ethos or
credibility. Ethos includes
credibility, but needs
such elements as an effective further development.
tone and style, careful editing,
and citing sources according
to accepted conventions.
The composition lacks
clarity due to flaws in
structure and
organization. Effort is not
evident.
9-0 points
The composition does
not seem credible and
needs substantial revision
to support the author’s
ethos.