ENG 3060: Technical Communition II
Wayne State University
[Semester/Year]
Instructor: [instructor name]
Time: [class meeting time]
Location: [classroom location]
Office: [office number, 5057 Woodward]
Office Hours: [hours and/or by appt.]
E-mail: [Wayne State e-mail address]
Department of English Description
ENG 3060 prepares students for researching and developing technical proposals
and presentations as members of collaborative writing teams. Technical proposals
are a central genre in the workplace, often developed collaboratively and delivered
in presentation form to multiple audiences. Research-based technical presentations
incorporate both textual (written information) and visual (graphics, illustrations,
etc.) elements of design, often in digital environments (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi, wikis,
etc.). The main goals of the course are (1) to teach students to consider the
audience(s) and purpose(s) in developing proposals and presentations as members
of collaborative teams; (2) to teach students presentation delivery skills; (3) to
integrate research, design, and writing in the effective development of technical
presentations, including text, slides, visuals, format, and mechanics; and (4) to work
with current technologies for technical proposal and presentation design.
WSU Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Cr. 3. Instruction in basic technical presentation skills. Requirements include
informative presentations, oral briefings, needs assessments, progress reports, and
formal proposals. Topics include collaborative teamwork, audience and purpose
analysis, textual and visual aspects of presentation design, and formatting.
Course Prerequisite for ENG 3060
To enroll in ENG 3060, students must have completed ENG 3050 (or equiv.) with a
grade of C or better.
General Education Designation
With a grade of C or better, ENG 3060 fulfills the General Education OC (Oral
Communication) graduation requirement. More information on the General
Education requirements is available from the WSU Undergraduate Bulletin:
http://www.bulletins.wayne.edu/ubk-output/ubk%2009-11-wb-01-07.html
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Learning Outcomes
Writing and Presenting
As individuals and in teams, design and deliver effective documents and
demonstrate effective technical presentation skills for multiple audiences in
standard technical communication genres (including informative summaries, oral
briefings, needs assessments, progress reports, formal proposals, and performance
assessments), including the appropriate use of grammar, mechanics, and style.
Reading and Analyzing
Read/listen, analyze and evaluate the design, the audience(s), and purpose(s) for
technical proposals and presentations (including texts, slides, visuals, format, and
mechanics). Read effectively as teams in order to summarize, synthesize, and
respond to diverse readings in order to produce written work and presentations.
Collaborating and Planning
Design presentations using a collaborative process that includes coordinating tasks
and schedules within a team, developing a flexible process of generating and
organizing information and ideas, writing and designing, providing and responding
to feedback.
Researching and Documenting
Conduct primary and secondary research as individuals and in teams in support of
developing technical proposals and presentations, designing primary research and
finding, evaluating, and documenting sources.
Required Texts
Anderson, Paul V. Technical Communication. Wayne State custom ed. Boston:
Wadsworth/Cengage. ISBN: 1285900936
Wolfe, Joanna. Team Writing: A Guide to Working in Groups. 1st ed. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s. ISBN-13: 9780312565824
Assignments and Grading
This course will feature 6 major projects along with less formal in-class activities
and homework
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Written Informative Summary
Oral Briefing
Needs Assessment/Project Plan Memo
Technology Evaluation/Progress Report
Formal Proposal
Performance Review/Collaborative Evaluation
2
ENG 3060 Syllabus
3
Project Formats and Submission
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


Written assignments must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New
Roman typeface, with one-inch margins.
Please use APA format for citations.
Assignments must be submitted electronically through Blackboard.
Please insert page numbers in the top, right-hand corner of your written
assignments.
Grading
Grades on individual papers will be weighted as follows:
1. Written Informative Summary
* 1A: Informative Summary
* 1B: Informative Summary Presentation
2. Oral Briefing
3. Needs Assessment/Project Plan Memo
4. Technology Evaluation/Progress Report
* 4A: Technology Evaluation Memo
* 4B: Progress Report Presentation
5. Formal Proposal
* 5A: Formal Proposal Report
*5B: Formal Proposal Presentation
6. Performance Review/Collaborative Evaluation
125 points total
50 points
75 points
125 points
100 points
125 points
25 points
100 points
375 points total
150 points
225 points
150 points
Attendance Policy
Enrollment in ENG 3060 is capped at 24 students. Students must attend one of the
first two class days to stay enrolled in the course. Students who do not attend of the
first two class meetings may be asked to drop to avoid a failing grade.
Class attendance is required, and attendance will be taken at each class session.
Arriving more than 20 minutes late will count as an absence. Attendance,
preparedness, and active participation count as [X] percent of the final grade.
However, final grades drop by half a mark for each absence after three, and students
will fail the course after five absences.
Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is the act of copying work from books, articles, and websites without
citing and documenting the source. Plagiarism includes copying language, texts,
and visuals without citation (e.g., cutting and pasting from websites). Plagiarism
also includes submitting papers (or sections of papers) that were written by
another person, including another student, or downloaded from the Internet.
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. It may result in a failing grade for the
ENG 3060 Syllabus
4
assignment or the assignment or failing grade for the course. Instructors are
required to report all cases of plagiarism to the English Department. Information
on plagiarism procedures is available in the Department.
Other Course Policies





Students should ensure that all pagers, cell phones, watches, etc., won’t
sound during class time. Students should not take or make calls, text message,
or otherwise use electronic devices during class, except to access courserelated materials.
Students must contact the instructor in advance if work cannot be submitted
by the due date. No comments will be provided for late work. The instructor
will determine specific grade reductions based on timely prior notification,
whether revised deadlines are met, and similar factors. Late work will be
accepted and graded only if a new deadline is arranged with the instructor in
advance.
If a student misses the first two class sessions, s/he will be asked to drop the
course to avoid a failing grade. Students may add the course during the first
week of classes but not after that.
A grade of Incomplete will be issued only if the student has attended nearly
all of the class sessions, submitted an Incomplete Contract (using the English
Department’s recommended form) sign, and obtained the instructor’s
signature on it.
Additional resources include the Academic Success Center
<http://www.success.wayne.edu>and Counseling and Psychological
Services (CAPS) <http://www.caps.wayne.edu>.
Warrior Writing, Research, and Technology (WRT) Zone
The WRT Zone is a one stop resource center for writing, research, and technology.
The WRT Zone provides individual tutoring consultations, research assistance from
librarians, and technology consultations, all free of charge for graduate and
undergraduate students at WSU. Tutoring sessions are run by undergraduate and
graduate tutors and can last up to 50 minutes. Tutors can work with writing from
all disciplines.
Tutoring sessions focus on a range of activities in the writing process –
understanding the assignment, considering the audience, brainstorming, writing
drafts, revising, editing, and preparing documentation. The WRT Zone is not an
editing or proofreading service; rather, tutors work collaboratively with students to
support them in developing relevant skills and knowledge, from developing an idea
to editing for grammar and mechanics.
Librarian and technology support is a walk-in service. Consultants will work with
students on a first come-first serve basis. Consultants provide support with the
library database system, finding and evaluating sources, developing research
ENG 3060 Syllabus
5
strategies, organizing sources, and citations. Consultants will also provide
technology support including, but not limited to: video editing, graphics creation,
presentation building, audio recording, MS Office support, and dissertation
formatting. The WRT Zone has several computers with the Adobe Creative Suite for
students who want to work on multimedia projects. Our location is also equipped
with two Whisper Rooms where students can work on multimedia projects in a
more private and sound isolated environment.
To make a face-to-face or online appointment, consult the WRT Zone
website: <http://wrtzone.wayne.edu/>.
For more information about the WRT Zone, please contact the Director, Jule Wallis
(email: au1145@wayne.edu).
Student Disability Services
Students who may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Additionally, the
Student Disabilities Services Office coordinates reasonable accommodations for
students with documented disabilities. The office is located in 1600 David Adamany
Undergraduate Library and can be reached by phone at 313-577-1851. Please
consult the SDS website for further
information: http://studentdisability.wayne.edu.
ENG 3060 Syllabus
6
Assignments
1A: Written Informative Summary
Introduction/Rationale
In your career, you will often be called upon to summarize information for various
audiences and purposes. Sometimes you will be summarizing information for a
professional audience, but you will often be required to summarize information for
a general, non-technical (lay) audience. The communication of summarized
information is often of primary importance in workplace communication, especially
at the beginning of technical documents and presentations.
Affordances and constraints, terms drawn from media theory, can ask us to think
about how users interact with assignments. In this first written assignment, you are
demonstrating your abilities to summarize potentially complex technological
information for a general audience using a written format.
The purpose of this assignment is twofold:
● To practice strategies for summarizing technical information for a nontechnical audience
● To learn to present technical information to a non-technical audience using a
written format
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment you will write a 1-2 page informative summary in memo form,
for a general audience. Assume your reader is well-educated and interested in the
topic.
Go to the one of the sites linked below in the Article Resources section. On these
pages, you will find a wide variety of articles reporting scientific and technical
information. Choose a 2-3 page article that interests you and write an informative
summary of it. An informative summary includes the purpose (or thesis) of the
article as well as its main points (Anderson, 2013, pp. 279, 282, 285). Your readers
should have a good sense of the article’s purpose and content after reading your
summary. Your summary should be no longer than two pages. Using APA style,
include a live link to your article in the Reference section on the second page of your
summary.
A summary must be written in your own words. Copying words or sentences
from the original article is plagiarism. See the Cheating and Plagiarism section on
the syllabus.
In the first line of your summary, cite the author of the original article using APA
style, and identify the main purpose of your source article (as in this example):
7
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Dubrow (2010) reports on recent research into the evolution of coral
colonies.
After the first line, do not cite the author again in your summary.
In the body of the summary, do not quote from the original article. Use your own
words to summarize the main points of the article.
At the end of your summary, document the original article as your source in a
section entitled References. In ENG 3060, we use APA style for citations and
references (Anderson, 601-6). This is the APA format for an article from an
organizational website:
References
Dubrow, A. (2010, June 24). As corals die off, scientists watch for signs of
evolution. In National Science Foundation. Retrieved from:
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117130&WT.mc_id
=USNSF_1
Learning Outcomes
● writing and presenting
● reading and analyzing
● researching and documenting
Minimum Requirements
1-2 page informative summary; memo format
Due Dates
Upload to Blackboard XXXX by
Grading
This first written assignment will be graded individually, and is worth a maximum
of 50 points toward your final grade. The following rubric will be used to evaluate
your written summary:
Factor
Audience &
Purpose
Description
Does the summary provide enough information for a
lay reader to understand the purpose and content of
the original article?
Possible
10
Does the summary clearly refer to the author and
publication date of the original article only once?
Content &
Does the summary clearly describe the original
20
Earned
8
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Organization
article’s purpose?
Does the summary include the main points of the
content of the original article?
Do the main points of the summary follow the
organization of the original article?
Does the summary meet the 1-2 page length
requirement?
Citation &
Is the summary written in your own words, not
Documentation plagiarized?
10
Is the original article correctly cited in the summary
and documented in the References section using APA
style?
Format,
Grammar &
Style
Is the document presented in standard memo format?
10
Are sentences grammatically correct, and the style
appropriate for a general audience?
TOTAL
50
Supporting Materials
Article Resources
● Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/)
● Science Magazine (http://news.sciencemag.org/)
● NASA (http://www.nasa.gov/news/index.html)
● Live Science (http://www.livescience.com/)
● Scientific American (http://www.scientificamerican.com/section/news/)
● Nature (http://www.nature.com/news/)
● Smithsonian Magazine (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/)
● New Scientist (http://www.newscientist.com/section/science-news)
Project Resources
● P1a Written Summary: P1 Sample W15.pdf
● National Science Foundation: Discoveries
● Purdue OWL Memos
● WikiHOW "How to Write a Memo"
● WikiHOW "How to Summarize a Journal Article"
● Rebecca M. Howard, "The Summary Essay"
ENG 3060 Syllabus
9
1B: Informative Summary Presentation
Introduction/Rationale
In your career, you will often be called upon to summarize information for various
audiences and purposes. Sometimes you will be summarizing information for a
professional audience, but you will often be required to summarize information for
a general, non-technical (lay) audience. The communication of summarized
information is often of primary importance in workplace communication, especially
at the beginning of technical documents and presentations.
Affordances and constraints, terms drawn from media theory, can ask us to think
about how users interact with assignments. In this second part of the summary
assignment, you are demonstrating your abilities to summarize potentially complex
technological information for a general audience using a presentation format.
The purpose of this assignment is twofold:
● To practice strategies for summarizing technical information for a nontechnical audience
● To learn to present technical information to a non-technical audience using a
presentation format
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment, you will design a summary presentation based on the same
article you used for the Written Informative Summary. You will present your
informative summary to a general audience of your instructor and classmates: once
again, assume they are interested in the topic of the article.
For this presentation, develop an outline of your summary on a PowerPoint, Prezi,
or Google Slides deck. Do not use any graphics or visuals other than your
outline. Prepare a 4-5 minute oral presentation based on your informative
summary. You will deliver your presentation in extemporaneous style (no reading
from a script).
Use the following presentation outline:
Introduction: 1 minute
Capture the attention of your listeners. Introduce yourself.
Convince the audience that you are qualified to speak on the
subject by stating your credentials.
3. Explain the purpose of your informative summary presentation.
4. Forecast the structure of your presentation on a separate slide.
1.
2.
Discussion: 2-3 minutes
1.
Use slides to present three main points of your summary.
ENG 3060 Syllabus
2.
10
Present related content in extemporaneous style. Present
material clearly and logically in a descending order of priority
throughout. Your summary should have clear explanations and
good supporting detail. Use language appropriate for a nontechnical audience.
Conclusion: 1-2 minutes
Summarize points on slides.
End effectively. Remind the audience of the information you
would like them to remember.
3. Invite questions.
4. Repeat questions and answer them to the best of your ability.
1.
2.
Learning Outcomes
● writing and presenting
● reading and analyzing
● researching and documenting
Minimum Requirements
● 4-5 minute presentation
● Presentation visuals using PowerPoint, Prezi, or Google Slides; no graphics
allowed
Due Dates
Upload to...
Grading
This first presentation will be graded individually, and is worth a maximum of 75
points toward your final grade. The following rubric will be used to evaluate your
presentation:
Factor
Description
Introduction Does the introduction of the presentation capture the
audience’s attention?
Does the introduction of the presentation provide an
introduction and an overview of the speaker’s
credentials?
Does the introduction of the presentation describe the
purpose of article and presentation?
Does the introduction of the presentation forecast
Possible
15
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
organizational structure?
Discussion Does the presentation keep the audience’s attention?
15
Did the speaker use extemporaneous style?
Does the presentation followed organization of
outline?
Does the presentation emphasize main points?
Does the presentation provide sufficient, relevant and
appropriate detail for main points?
Conclusion Does the conclusion of the presentation summarize the
main points of article?
15
Does the conclusion of the presentation effectively end
with reminders of main point or central message?
Did the speaker ask for questions?
Did the speaker remember to repeat questions?
Did the speaker answer questions concisely?
Slides
Does the presentation engage design principles,
making attractive and appropriate use of relevant text?
5
Does the presentation demonstrate readable design,
exhibiting appropriate choices in font size, style, and
color?
Does the presentation demonstrate useful design,
supporting and enhancing users’ grasp of presentation
content?
Spoken
Delivery
Did the speaker speak at an audible volume?
10
Did the speaker use naturalistic delivery (neither
monotone nor too exaggerated)?
Did the speaker use appropriate pace?
Presence
Did the speaker make eye contact (with instructor and
auditors)?
Did the speaker posture effectively (avoids distracting
10
11
ENG 3060 Syllabus
movement; any movement is done to serve the
presentation)?
Did the speaker gesture (appropriate use of gesture for
emphasis/illustration; avoids distracting gesture)?
Did the speaker speak with confidence (Presents
persuasive, authoritative knowledge of subject)?
Run Time
Did the presentation run within the allotted time (4-5
minutes)?
TOTAL
Supporting Materials
●
●
Public Speaking Video Tip : Extemporaneous Speech
Impromptu or Extemporaneous Speaking
5
75
12
ENG 3060 Syllabus
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2: Oral Briefing
Introduction/Rationale
At work you will sometimes be called upon to present information regarding the
plan and process for a team project you may be working on. An oral briefing can
provide this information in a concise form so that stakeholders can understand how
a project will be completed and offer feedback.
The purpose of this assignment is twofold:
● to establish the team plan and process for the formal proposal, including
members’ roles, responsibilities, communication, and accountability in
fulfilling the objectives and schedule of the project
● to present this information to a workplace audience of stakeholders for
feedback
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment your team will present a 12-15 minute oral briefing for a
workplace audience: your instructor will be your supervisor, and your classmates
will be fellow employees of the imagined workplace for your project. One
important part of this presentation will be a description of the topic of your
formal proposal; another will be a description of your team plan and process
for this project.
Your final major assignment for this class is a proposal report. Your report will aid a
reader in solving a problem by presenting the results of research and your
evaluation of the significance of the findings. The recommendations will suggest
specific actions to solve the problem. In Project Two, your teams must propose a
research problem which will be the focus of your final formal report in our final
major assignment.
Project Two requires you to devote a significant amount of time and work toward
researching the processes of a particular organization. It also requires you to be in
contact with the "decision-maker" for your particular organization (i.e., the
individual or individuals who have the power to consider and/or implement the
recommendation you will make in P5: The Formal Proposal). As such, the
organization you choose for the project should be one that you belong to or at least
one with which you have some familiarity/contact.
Likely candidates include:
An organization that you belong to (such as the one that employs you
or the one that you volunteer for)
● An organization containing one or more members that you have
contacts with (such as a business run by a family member or that
employs a family member) (e.g., the former student projects involving a
cabinet-building company and a dental file manufacturer)
●
ENG 3060 Syllabus
●
14
Some segment of the University, including student groups (e.g., the
previous project on creating a wireless campus at Wayne State or
refashioning student government at WSU)
Your instructor/supervisor will need to approve your topic based on the
appropriate complexity of the topic and the skills and abilities of the members of the
team. Your classmates/fellow employees will provide constructive feedback about
the topic and process for the proposal project.
This is the first assignment requiring a collaborative effort, and it will be awarded a
team grade (every member of the team will receive the same grade). Students will
work in teams of four or five and choose a topic for their formal proposal (see
Assignments #3-#5). Choose your topic for the formal proposal project carefully.
The topic should be specific, technical, and appropriately complex. Anderson states
that “in a proposal, you make an offer and try and persuade your readers to accept
it” (Anderson 554). Additionally, he makes the point that a proposal, once accepted,
is a kind of contract. Therefore, you must be mindful to not offer more than you can
provide or more than you wish to provide (554). Simple or overly general topics
(e.g., a non-technical overview of alternative energy types) will not fare as well as
more complex and sophisticated topics (e.g., converting the College of Engineering
building to 50% alternative energy sources). Consider drawing a topic from your
programs or majors to develop a formal proposal for a professional audience.
Examples of topics might include: improving the campus shuttle system, improving
campus sustainability, urban farming, green alleys or roofs, etc.
Your team will give a 12-15 minute oral briefing presentation detailing the topic of
your project and describing the background of the team members and their
responsibilities in the project plan. Include the following kinds of information in
your briefing:
● Topic description with background information
● What is to be accomplished (objectives)?
● What problem are you attempting to resolve?
● Why is it important that this project go forward?
○ Background and qualifications of each team member for
this particular project
○ Brief summary of each team members’ proposed
contribution to the project
○ Description of how the team will communicate
○ Description of team accountability
○ Schedule of the project
You may use whatever presentation software you choose (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi,
etc.). You may also develop the structure and content of the presentation as you see
fit, but you should cover the information listed above. Include any graphics or
visuals that will help your audience understand the overview of the project (e.g., a
schedule timeline). You will decide which roles team members will play during the
presentation, but every member of the team must speak for at least 2-3 minutes.
ENG 3060 Syllabus
15
DO NOT FORGET TO REHEARSE YOUR PRESENTATION, SEPARATELY AND
TOGETHER.
Use the following presentation outline:
Introduction for entire presentation: 2-3 minutes
1. Introduce the members of the team.
2. Convince the audience that you are qualified to speak on the
subject by stating credentials of each team member.
3. Explain the purpose of your presentation, including a topic
description.
4. Forecast the structure of the presentation: briefly describe
what each member will discuss.
The subsequent presenters should then follow the outline for a
successful presentation while presenting their parts of the oral
briefing:
Introduction: 1 minute
1. Forecast the structure of your presentation.
Discussion: 3 minutes
1. Use slides to present no more than four major points.
2. Present related content in extemporaneous style. The oral
briefing should have clear explanations, plausible claims, and
good supporting detail. Present material clearly and logically in
a descending order of priority throughout.
3. Use language appropriate for a professional presentation to
supervisors and fellow employees.
4. Hand off to the next presenter.
5. Repeat as needed.
Conclusion for entire presentation: 2-3 minutes
1. Summarize what each presenter discussed.
2. End effectively. Remind audience of the information you would
like them to remember.
3. Invite feedback.
4. (All presenters) Repeat questions and answer them concisely
and effectively.
Learning Outcomes
● Writing and Presenting
● Reading and Analyzing
● Collaborating and Planning
● Researching and Documenting
Minimum Requirements
● Each member of a team speaking for 4-5 minutes
Due Dates
ENG 3060 Syllabus
16
● Week 3 (Day 1): Form groups, brainstorm, define objectives for
communication
● Week 3 (Day 2): Project management and team dynamics
● Week 4 (Days 1 & 2): Team Conferences
● Week 5 (Day 1): Working on team charter
● Week 6 (Days 1 & 2): P2 presentations
Grading
This presentation will be graded collaboratively (each member of the team will
receive the same grade), and it will be worth a maximum of 125 points toward your
final grade. The following rubric will be used to evaluate your presentation:
Factor
Introduction
Description
Does the presentation’s introduction capture the
audience’s attention?
Possible
20
Does the presentation’s introduction describe the
credentials of the presenters?
Does the introduction describe the purpose of the
presentation?
Does the presentation clearly identify the topic;
research site/organization; and the decisionmakers involved in proposed research project?
Does the presentation’s introduction forecast
organizational structure?
Discussion
Do discussion sections open with forecasts of
internal structure?
Does the presentation emphasize main points?
Does the presentation provide sufficient, relevant
and appropriate detail for the main points?
Does the presentation provide appropriate
background to the proposed project?
Does the presentation clearly identify objectives of
proposed project?
Does the presentation clearly explain the research
methods and collaborative plans for the project?
35
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Does the presentation effectively transition
between speakers?
Conclusion
Does the presentation’s conclusion effectively
summarize the presentation’s main points?
20
Does the presentation’s conclusion effectively end
with a strong close reminding audience of main
point/key takeaway?
Does the presentation’s conclusion invite
feedback?
Did the presenters remember to repeat questions?
Did the presenters answer questions concisely and
effectively?
Quality of Slides Does the presentation contain an engaging design
balancing appropriate use of both text and
graphics?
20
Does the presentation demonstrate readable
design exhibiting appropriate choices in font size,
style, and color?
Does the presentation use design supporting and
enhancing user's grasp of presentation content?
Spoken Delivery Did the presenters speak in an audible volume?
10
Did the presenters speak with a naturalistic
delivery (neither monotone nor too exaggerated)?
Did the presenters speak with an appropriate
pace?
Presence
Did the presenters make eye contact (with
instructor and auditors)?
Did the presenters demonstrate minimal reliance
on slideware?
Did the presenters demonstrate effective posture
(avoids distracting movement; any movement is
done to serve the presentation)?
10
17
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Did the presenters use gestures effectively
(appropriate use of gesture for
emphasis/illustration; avoids distracting gesture)?
Did the presenters speak with confidence
(presents persuasive, authoritative knowledge of
subject)?
Run Time
Did the presentation run within the total time
allotted (12-15 minutes)?
10
Did each team member speak for an appropriate
length of time?
TOTAL
Supporting Materials
● Managing Tasks for P2
● Working on Team Management
● Team Prep
● Team Charter Worksheet
● Give Winning Briefings--Kline.pdf
125
18
ENG 3060 Syllabus
19
3: Needs Assessment/Project Plan Memo
Introduction/Rationale
At work, you may be called upon to present information addressing preliminary
issues related to the team project you are working on. This information can be
based upon a needs assessment conducted by your team to more fully understand
the background, problem, and possible solutions to the problem of your project.
Needs assessments uncover gaps -- gaps in the initial definition of the problem, gaps
in information that can be filled through research, gaps in the set of possible
solutions to the problem, and others.
The purpose of this assignment is twofold:
● to prepare a needs assessment memo answering a set of preliminary
questions about the project;
● and to continue team planning, based in part on feedback to the oral briefing.
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment your team will write a 5-6 page single-spaced needs assessment
memo detailing your project and your plans. The memo should be written for a
workplace audience: your instructor will be your supervisor for the project. Use
the memo format in Anderson, Chapter 23 (478-9; 480). Based on the information
in the memo, your instructor/supervisor must approve your project plans.
Use the following outline to conduct your needs assessment and write your memo.
Introduction (1 page): You will want to write your introduction last, after
drafting the rest of the document. Include a statement of problem, a
statement of planned research methods to investigate the problem, a
statement of potential solutions known at this time, and a statement of team
planning. (Much of this will likely be adapted from P2.)
Discussion: Needs Assessment (3-4 pages): Preliminary questions for a
needs assessment:
●
Identify and describe objectives
○ What is to be accomplished in the project?
○ What is the central problem of the project?
○ What are some possible solutions to the problem?
●
Identify audiences and stakeholders
○ Who are the relevant stakeholders in this project? (Who
is affected by the situation your team is studying? Who
will be affected by implementing/failing to implement
your proposed solutions?)
ENG 3060 Syllabus
20
Who are your likely audiences, both primary and
secondary?
○ Who are you in relationship to your primary and
secondary audiences? (What is your role with regard to
the organization you're studying?)
○ What do my audiences need to know?
○
●
Identify and describe research methods
○ How you will investigate the problem and possible
solutions?
■ primary research (interviews, surveys, etc.)
■ secondary research (library and internet
sources)
■ Describe at least one primary research
activity and at least one credible
secondary source to be undertaken or
discovered by each team member. For each,
be sure to identify the objectives of your
research (ie, How you will conduct that
research? What you will be doing research
on? Why are those the relevant methods?)
■ Properly cite and document your sources in
APA style
○ Adapt the table from Example 14-3 from The Reports for
Decision Making (page 511) to show how your possible
criteria and research methods fit together.
■ What evaluation criteria will be relevant to
evaluating your solutions?
■ How will solutions to the problem be
evaluated (e.g., costs, ease of
implementation, etc.)?
■ How will your criteria drive the research
methods you select?
●
Describe team schedule
○ What is the timetable for the project?
■ Provide a timeline graphic.
○ What is the expected completion date?
●
Describe team responsibilities
○ What are the specific duties for each team member?
■ Who will be project manager?
■ How is each team member qualified for
his/her role?
○ How will each team member take a leadership role over a
section of the work?
ENG 3060 Syllabus
○
21
How are individual members accountable to the team?
■ What if a team member is habitually absent
or late to meetings?
■ What happens if a team member does not
finish his/her work?
■ What happens if a team member submits
poor quality work?
Conclusion (1 page): Summary of problem and main findings of the needs
assessment. Preliminary statement of the most likely solution(s) and
recommendation(s) for the formal proposal.
Learning Outcomes
● Writing and Presenting
● Reading and Analyzing
● Collaborating and Planning
● Researching and Documenting
Minimum Requirements
5-6 page needs assessment, memo format
Due Dates
● Week 5 (Day 2): P3 Orientation/Creating the Task Schedule
● Week 7 (Day 1): Planning Research
● Week 7 (Day 2): Revising With Others
● Week 8 (Day 1): P3 Peer Review Workshop
● Week 8 (Day 2): P3 Feedback memo submitted by midnight
● Week 8 (Sunday): P3 due to course wiki by midnight
Grading
This memo will be awarded a team grade (each member of the team will receive the
same grade), and it will be worth a maximum of 100 points toward your final grade.
The following rubric will be used to evaluate your needs assessment memo:
Factor
Description
Introduction Does the introduction provide a concise statement
describing the central problem for the project formal
proposal?
Does the introduction provide a concise statement of
research methods to investigate the problem?
Does the introduction provide a concise statement of
potential solutions to the problem?
Possible
20
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Does the introduction forecast the team planning for
the project?
Needs
Are the audiences and stakeholders for the project
Assessment proposal clearly identified?
50
Are the objectives of the project clearly stated?
For each team member, does the research plan
establish research methods, objects, and objectives
for at least one primary research activity?
For each team member, does the research plan
establishes research methods, objects, and
objectives for at least one secondary research
resource?
Does the research plan identify relevant criteria and
coordinate them with planned research activities
and present them in an appropriate tabular format?
Is the project plan detailed and feasible, with
members’ responsibilities set out?
Does the project plan/task schedule assign
reasonable contribution values to each necessary
task and show total values for every team member?
Does the team have a plan to maintain members’
accountability to the team?
Conclusion Does the conclusion summarize the problem and
main findings of the needs assessment?
10
Does the conclusion present the most likely
solution(s) and recommendation(s)?
Format
Is the needs assessment presented in standard
memo format?
10
Are the graphics and visuals clear and effective?
Is the reference section in correct APA style?
Grammar & Are grammar and mechanics perfect?
Style
Is the style appropriate for a professional audience?
10
22
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Total
Supporting Materials
● Task Schedule Spreadsheet (in .xls)
● Data Collection Methods – Advantages & Challenges (in .pdf)
● RevisionsSamples3a.docx
● Needs Assessment Samples
● P3 Sample ("Glucose Testing") (in .pdf)
● P5 Report Structure (for planning purposes)
100
23
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Example 14-3: Matching Criteria & Methods
24
ENG 3060 Syllabus
25
4A: Technology Evaluation Memo
Introduction/Rationale
In many ways, Garr Reynolds' Presentation Zen is a book about figuring out the
affordances and constraints of working with PowerPoint and other slideware
applications. In this context, affordances and constraints are terms drawn from
media and design theory that offer ways to think about how users interact with
technology. As media theorist Matthew Fuller puts it, these theories should make us
think about technology critically; specifically, we should ask of a given technology
"what it blocks and makes possible in front of us" (2005, p. 48). That is, discourses
about a technology's affordances and constraints ask us to consider what we can
and can't do with a given technology.
In Project 4, you've been asked to construct your progress reports without relying
upon PowerPoint or Google Slides (or, in some cases, Prezi) for your visual
elements. In this assignment, you are asked to analyze your chosen presentation
software and evaluate its usefulness.
The purpose of this assignment is twofold:
1.
2.
to foster a critical engagement with presentation technology;
to write a persuasive evaluation of your team's chosen presentation
technology.
Assignment Prompt
For this project, your teams will need to compose a brief (one- to two-page) memo
analyzing and evaluating the presentation software your team will be using for your
P4 presentations. Throughout your memo, be sure that you are answering the
following questions with appropriate details drawn from your team's own
experience with your chosen presentation technology.
Introduction
In this section, you will explain the topic and purpose of the memo and
forecast the findings of the following sections.
Technology Analysis
In this section of the memo, your team will need to respond to the following
questions about the technology under review:
What software did you use? How did you find it? Why did you choose
this software?
● What makes this software unique? What does it allow you to do that
other software does not?
● What are the limits of this software? What does it not do that other
software options allow?
● What would be the best possible application of this software?
●
ENG 3060 Syllabus
26
Technology Evaluation
In this section of the memo, your team will need to respond to the following
questions about the technology under review:
Did your team find this software easy or difficult to use? Why?
Was your team satisfied by the appearance and usefulness of your
final presentation? Why?
● What are the best features and worst features of this software? Why?
● What changes would you recommend to the developers of this
software? Why?
● Finally, decide whether you would recommend this software to other
presenters, or whether you would caution them about using it. Justify
your recommendation or critique with reference to the material
discussed elsewhere in the memo.
●
●
Learning Outcomes
● Writing and Presenting
● Reading and Analyzing
● Collaborating and Planning
● Researching and Documenting
Minimum Requirements
1-2 page technology evaluation, memo format
Due Dates
● Week 8 (Day 2): Intro P4/Begin mapping out project
● Week 11 (Days 1 & 2): Team conferences
● Week 12 (Sunday): P4a due to SafeAssign by midnight
Grading
This project is worth a possible 25 points and will be scored collaboratively; every
member of the team will earn the same score. The following rubric will be used to
evaluate your work in this exercise:
Factor
Description
Technology Does the memo clearly respond to all questions listed
Analysis above?
Does the memo make use of appropriate detail in
responding to questions?
Does the memo show clear understanding of
technology under review?
Possible
10
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Technology Does the memo clearly respond to all questions listed
Evaluation above?
10
Does the memo make use of appropriate detail in
responding to questions?
Does the memo make a reasonable argument in
recommending or critiquing technology under review?
Memo
Format
Does the memo appropriately introduce the topic and
findings of the document?
5
Does the memo meet standard expectations for memo
format?
Does the memo make appropriate use of headers and
section breaks?
Does the memo text meet standard expectations for
technical prose?
Total
Supporting Materials
Student example (PDF): http://goo.gl/pvD8x7
25
27
ENG 3060 Syllabus
28
4B: Progress Report Presentation
Introduction/Rationale
In the workplace, you will often be called upon to present the progress your team
has made on a project. A progress report summarizes work that has been
completed, discusses issues and problems that have emerged, and sets out work yet
to be completed. A progress report presentation also provides an opportunity for
feedback from stakeholders.
The purpose of this assignment is threefold:
to inform stakeholders about the work you have completed and expect
to complete on your formal proposal
● to receive feedback from stakeholders about the project
● to experiment with presentation approaches
●
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment your team will present a 10-15 minute progress report for a
workplace audience: your instructor will remain the supervisor for the project, and
your classmates will be fellow employees of the imagined workplace for your
project. Your supervisor/instructor will need to approve your project plan. This is
the third assignment requiring a collaborative effort, and it will be awarded a team
grade (every member of the team will receive the same grade).
Additionally, students will be required to gain some familiarity with a more informal
presentation technique known as an elevator test or pitch. An elevator test or pitch
is a succinct presentation of material for a particular audience. An elevator
test/pitch is generally only 45 seconds to a minute in length and is used to deliver
very specific content for a very specific purpose. It often is used as an introduction
with the purpose of capturing an audience's interest in a company or product.
For this assignment, students must choose to either have a team leader or the
project manager deliver an elevator test as an introductory mechanism for the
progress report. In other words, in 45 seconds to a minute, deliver the introductory
material the audience might need in order to establish a clear context for the
progress report. Alternatively, students might elect to each give an elevator test as
an introduction or overview of their portions of the progress report. This exercise
will give students some practice with concision.
In your presentation, describe the progress your group is making toward the
completion of your final project. We will be adapting the progress report
superstructure shown in Anderson (2013, p. 563):
Introduction (overview of the project)
○ What work does your report cover?
ENG 3060 Syllabus
○
29
What is the purpose of the work?
Discussion (past and future work)
○ Is your work progressing as planned or expected?
○ What results have you produced?
○ What progress do you expect during the next reporting
period?
Discussion (team work)
○ provide a project timeline, including the expected
completion date
○ list the specific duties of all team members
○ mention any issues that emerged in collaborative work
Conclusions/Recommendations
○ How do things stand overall?
○ What do you think we should do?
For this presentation, you may not use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or (if your
team has used it before) Prezi. You must include any graphics or visuals that will
help your audience understand the progress report. You will decide which roles
team members will play during the presentation, but every member of the team
must speak for at least two minutes. DO NOT FORGET TO REHEARSE YOUR
PRESENTATION, SEPARATELY AND TOGETHER.
Your team should adapt the outline included below. For this presentation, I'm
interested to see how your team might create something unique to your team
members' interests and your skills as presenters. Rather than expect you to follow a
certain outline, then, I'll offer five guidelines that I'll look for while leaving your
team to develop the structure and organization of your talk in the ways you think is
best:
Presentation Guidelines
1. Progress report must clearly answer all questions listed above.
2. Structure of the report must be forecast early on.
3. Team members must be introduced at some point in the presentation.
4. Presentation deck must contain no more than six words per
screen/slide.
5. Project must be introduced with a 45-60 second elevator test
description.
Introduction for entire presentation: 2-3 minutes
1. Introduce the members of the team.
ENG 3060 Syllabus
30
2. Convince the audience that you are qualified to speak on the subject by
stating credentials of each team member.
3. Explain the purpose of your presentation, including the central
problem of the project.
4. Forecast the structure of the presentation: briefly describe what each
member will be discussing.
Subsequent presenters should then follow the outline for a successful
presentation while presenting his or her part of the progress report:
Introduction: 1 minute
1. Forecast the structure of your presentation.
Discussion: 3 minutes
1. Use slides to present no more than four major points.
2. Present related content in extemporaneous style. The progress report
should have clear explanations, plausible claims, and good supporting
detail. Present material clearly and logically in an order of descending
priority throughout.
3. Use language appropriate for a professional presentation to
supervisors and fellow employees.
4. Introduce the next presenter.
Conclusion for the entire presentation: 2-3 minutes
1. Summarize what each presenter discussed.
2. End effectively. Remind audience of the information you would like
them to remember.
3. Invite feedback.
4. (All presenters) Repeat questions and answer them concisely and
effectively.
Learning Outcomes
● Writing and Presenting
● Reading and Analyzing
● Collaborating and Presenting
Minimum Requirements
● At least one presenter introducing with a 45-60 second elevator test
● Subsequent members speaking at least 3-5 minutes
● Employ an alternative presentation technology
Due Dates
● Week 8 (Day 2): Intro P4/Begin mapping out project
● Week 9 (Day 1): Extra Credit Elevator Test Battledome
● Week 11 (Days 1 & 2): Team conferences
● Week 12 (Days 1 & 2): P4 Presentations
ENG 3060 Syllabus
31
Grading
This presentation will be awarded a team grade (each member of the team will
receive the same grade), and it will be worth a maximum of 100 points toward your
final grade. The following rubric will be used to evaluate your presentation:
Factor
Description
Introduction Does the introduction make strong use of elevator test
description of project?
Possible
15
Does the introduction introduce team members?
Does the introduction provide a clear overview of the
project as described above?
Does the introduction forecast organizational
structure?
Discussion Does the presentation use extemporaneous style?
20
Does the presentation provide sufficient, relevant and
appropriate detail for the main points?
Does the presentation clearly account for past and
future work and details of teamwork?
Does the presentation convincingly argue that
progress has been made on the semester project?
Does the presentation transition effectively between
team members?
Conclusion Does the conclusion summarize the current status of
/Q&A
the project and next steps?
Does the conclusion close strong with reminders of the
central message or takeaway?
Did the team members invite feedback?
Did the team members remember to repeat questions?
Did any team member answer more than one
consecutive question?
15
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
Did the team members answer questions concisely and
effectively?
Visuals
Was the presentation developed using presentation
software other than PowerPoint /Google Slides/Prezi?
20
Does the presentation rely on images or graphic
elements more than text?
Does the presentation use appropriate or evocative
images to complement spoken material?
Spoken
Delivery
Did the team members speak at an audible volume?
10
Did the team members speak using naturalistic
delivery (neither monotone nor too exaggerated)?
Did the team members speak with appropriate pace?
Presence
Did the team members make eye contact (with
instructor and auditors)?
10
Did the team members demonstrate minimal reliance
on slideware?
Did the team members effectively posture (avoids
distracting movement; any movement is done to serve
the presentation)?
Did the team members effectively gesture (appropriate
use of gesture for emphasis/illustration; avoids
distracting gesture)?
Did the team members speak with confidence
(presents persuasive, authoritative knowledge of
subject)?
Run Time
Did the presentation run within the total allotted time
(10-15 minutes)?
10
Did each team member speak for an appropriate
length of time?
Total
Supporting Materials
● Elevator test handout (courtesy of Pepperdine University)
100
32
ENG 3060 Syllabus
● Is Your Elevator Pitch Ready?
● Project Four tasks handout (Optional)
33
ENG 3060 Syllabus
34
5A: Formal Proposal Document
Introduction/Rationale
Formal proposals in document form are also an essential part of technical and
professional business. Such proposal documents are often written to multiple
audiences, including executives, consultants, managers, and employees.
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment, your team will develop an 18-20 page formal proposal
document for a professional audience, including executives and employees. Each
member of the team will receive the same, collaborative grade for the proposal
document.
Use the feedback from your presentation to strengthen the formal proposal
document.
The formal proposal should include the front matter of a formal business document
as described in Anderson (2011, Chapter 12), including a letter of transmittal, title
page, abstract, table of contents, and list of figures and tables. The formal proposal
should be based upon the material presented in the proposal presentation, again
selecting the relevant sections of the superstructure described in Anderson (2011),
Chapter 23, p. 557, such as an executive summary, introduction, qualifications,
statement of problem, objectives, research, solution(s) and recommendation(s),
resources, schedule, costs, and management of the proposed project as it goes
forward. You do not have to consider costs in your proposal, although you should
not propose something that is obviously unrealistic.
Your proposal document should be effectively designed, with careful attention to
text and visuals. Your team may develop the structure and content of the
presentation as you see fit, but you should cover the relevant information listed
above, here and in the presentation assignment. Include any graphics or visuals that
will help your audience understand the proposal. Each member’s section should
include at least two visuals. All research sources should be properly documented
using APA style. Each member’s section should include at least two primary and
two secondary quotes. The proposal should be carefully edited and proofread for
grammar and mechanics.
Submit your formal proposal to your instructor in both paper and electronic form.
ENG 3060 Syllabus
35
Learning Outcomes
● Writing and Presenting
● Reading and Analyzing
● Collaborating and Planning
● Researching and Documenting
Minimum Requirements
● 18-20 page document for a team of 4
● 2 visuals per team member
● 1 primary quotation per team member
● 1 secondary quotation per team member
Grading
Each member of the team will receive the same grade which will be collaborative
and based collectively on all sections of the proposal document. The following rubric
will be used to evaluate the formal proposal document:
Factor
Audience &
Purpose
Description
Is the proposal written to a professional
audience?
Are the different sections of the proposal
written appropriately for specialized
audiences (executives, decision-makers,
employees)?
Is the purpose of the proposal clearly stated?
Content &
Organization
Does each section of the proposal lay out
clearly specified objectives?
Does each section of the proposal provide
sufficient background information?
Does each section of the proposal focus on a
Possible
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
problem and solution?
Does each section of the proposal discuss the
criteria used to evaluate alternatives?
Is each section of the proposal based on
adequate primary and secondary research?
Is segment of the Solutions driven by its
author’s voice and is not a mere compilation
of research?
Is section of the proposal clearly and logically
written, following a descending order of
priority throughout?
Is each section of the proposal persuasive?
Does each section of the proposal state
specific conclusions?
Are the final conclusion(s) and solution(s)
specific and feasible?
Collaboration Is effective collaboration evident throughout
the composition process?
Is effective collaboration exhibited in all
sections of the final proposal?
Have problems related to collaboration been
kept to a minimum as is evidenced in both
performance review documents and project
manager’s reports?
Format
Does document exhibit good page design in
all sections?
Are the graphics and visuals clear and
36
ENG 3060 Syllabus
effective?
Does the proposal include properly
formatted front material?
Are in-text citations properly referenced?
Is the reference section in correct APA style?
Grammar &
Style
Are grammar and mechanics perfect, and is
the style is appropriate for a professional
audience?
37
ENG 3060 Syllabus
38
5B: Formal Proposal Presentation
Introduction/Rationale
Proposal presentations are an essential part of technical and professional business.
Such presentations are often the deciding factor in decision-making, both internal in
terms of jobs and assignments and external in terms of contracts and projects.
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment, your team will develop a formal proposal presentation for a
professional audience. Your final presentation will be a 20-25 minutes, and it may
be video recorded so that future ENG 3060 classes can watch examples of proposal
presentations. Each member of the team will receive an individual grade for the
presentation.
Although your actual audience for the final presentation will be a mixed one,
including professionals and educators as well as family and friends, you should
prepare the presentation primarily for a professional audience. All team members
must dress professionally for the occasion.
In your presentation, choose the appropriate parts of the proposal superstructure
described in Anderson, Chapter 24, (487), such as an introduction, qualifications,
statement of problem, objectives, research, solution(s) and recommendation(s),
resources, schedule, costs, and management of the proposed project as it goes
forward. You do not have to consider costs in your proposal, although you should
not propose something that is obviously unrealistic.
You may use whatever presentation software you choose (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi,
wikis). Your team may develop the structure and content of the presentation as you
see fit, but you should cover the relevant information listed above. One suggestion
might be to have the project manager introduce the team, the backstory of the
project as well as the forecast for the presentation before giving way to the first of
the researchers. The researchers might then give each of their sections, primarily
consisting of their research findings and conclusions. The project manager might
then return to discuss the timeline, qualifications and management of the project
before summarizing and concluding.
Include any graphics or visuals that will help your audience understand the
proposal. You may decide which roles team members will play during the
presentation (e.g., project manager, researcher, etc.), but every member of the team
must speak for at least 5 minutes. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO REHEARSE AS A
TEAM AND TO CONTINUE PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO ONE ANOTHER
You may find the following outline helpful in preparing your presentation:
Introduction for the entire presentation (2-3 minutes)
1. Introduce the members of the team and state credentials.
ENG 3060 Syllabus
39
2. Explain the purpose of the presentation, including topic, problem, and
objectives.
3. Provide relevant background information.
4. Forecast team solutions(s) and recommendation(s).
5. Forecast the structure of the presentation: briefly describe what each
member will discuss.
The subsequent presenters should then follow the outline for a successful
presentation while presenting their part of the proposal.
Introduction: (1 minute)
1.
Forecast the structure of your presentation.
Discussion (4-5 minutes)
1. Use slides to present no more than four major points.
2. Present related content in extemporaneous style. The proposal should have
clear explanations, plausible claims, and good supporting detail. Present
material clearly and logically in a descending order of priority throughout.
3. Use language appropriate for a professional presentation to supervisors and
fellow employees.
4. Summarize and present the conclusions of your section.
5. Introduce the next presenter.
Conclusion for the entire presentation (3-4 minutes)
1. Present the team solution(s) recommendation(s).
2. Summarize main supporting points.
3. End effectively. Remind audience of what you would like them to remember.
4. Invite feedback.
5. (All presenters) Repeat questions and answer them concisely and effectively.
6. Thank the audience.
Learning Objectives
● Writing and Presenting
● Reading and Analyzing
● Collaborating and Planning
● Researching and Documenting
Minimum Requirements
● Each team member should speak for 5-7 minutes
● Each team member should include at least two visuals
Due Dates
Upload to...
ENG 3060 Syllabus
40
Grading
Each member of the team will receive an individual grade based on his/her section of
the presentation. The following rubric will be used to evaluate the presentation:
Factor
Introduction
Description
Does the introduction capture the
audience’s attention?
Does the introduction provide the team
members’ credentials?
Does the introduction provide relevant
background information?
Does the introduction forecast team
solutions(s) and recommendation(s)?
Does the introduction forecast
organizational structure?
Discussion
Does the presentation use
extemporaneous style?
Does the presentation keep the
audience’s attention?
Does the presentation forecast structure
and follow its organization?
Does the presentation emphasize main
points?
Does the presentation provide sufficient,
relevant and appropriate detail for main
points?
Does the presentation contain details that
contribute to persuasiveness?
Conclusion
Does the conclusion present team
solution(s) and recommendations(s)?
Does the conclusion summarize main
Possible
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
supporting points?
Does the conclusion end effectively?
Did the team members invite feedback?
Did the team members repeat questions
and answer questions concisely and
effectively?
Did the team members thank the
audience?
Quality of Slides
Does the presentation use effective
design, including text and visuals?
Is the presentation readable?
Is the presentation useful?
Is there a good balance between text and
visuals?
Verbal
Communication
Did the team members speak with
appropriate volume?
Did the team members speak with
appropriate pace?
Did the team members speak with
appropriate presence?
Nonverbal
Communication
Did the team members dress
professionally?
Did the team members make eye contact
with the audience?
Did the team members use posture
effectively?
Did the team members use gesture
effectively?
41
ENG 3060 Syllabus
42
6: Performance Review Memo
Introduction/Rationale
At work, you will often be asked to account for your own performance on projects,
or to account for the performance of others. Such performance reviews are often
used to determine promotion and compensation decisions. In this assignment, you
will be asked to make a similar assessment of your team's performance throughout
this semester--including your own performance. Please note: the performance
assessments you make in this memo will be kept confidential; I expect that you will
further not discuss your work on this memo with other members of the team (ie, I
should not see coordinated performance reviews where all team members give each
other flawless reviews).
The purpose of this assignment is twofold:
to establish opportunities for improving participation in future
collaborative efforts
2. to offer a candid accounting of how effectively your team worked
together this semester
1.
Assignment Prompt
For this assignment, you will write a 3-4 page single-spaced performance review
memo assessing individual and team performance this semester. This memo should
be written with attention to the interests and values of your instructor/supervisor
in mind. Use the memo format in Anderson, Chapter 23 (478-9; 480).
Use the following outline to conduct your performance review and draft your memo.
Introduction (1-2 paragraphs).
Provide an overview of the topic of the memo and the points you will
discuss in the body of the document. The introduction should serve to
orient the reader to the purpose of the memo and your main points or
conclusions. Again, it may help to compose the introduction after the
rest of the memo.
Performance review (1-2 pages).
The body of this document will be based around an assessment of your
team's overall performance as well as providing assessments of
individual members' contributions. Use the following guide to
structure the body of your memo:
Team Performance
* How well did your team work together? What were the main
problems your team faced in collaboration (other than scheduling,
meeting times, etc)?
ENG 3060 Syllabus
43
* What use did your team make of the team charter's provisions
regarding quality of work and penalties for poor work, missed
deadlines, etc?
* List everything that each member of the team contributed to the
semester project (P5), including your own contributions. Be as
specific as possible.
Self Performance
* How effectively did you fulfill the course learning objectives as
specified in the course syllabus? Which learning objectives were most
important to your own goals for this course?
* How effectively did you fulfill your individual objectives as specified
in the team charter? Which projects or tasks most contributed to the
fulfillment of those objectives?
* What was your single most valuable contribution to the team? What
made this contribution valuable?
Member Performance
* For each member of the team, identify their single most valuable
contribution to the semester project. What made this contribution
valuable?
* For each member of the team, assign a score from 0-50 points.
Explain why you think each member of the team earned his or her
score. The scores assessed by your fellow team members will be
averaged and entered as your Collaborative Assessment score for
this semester. Remember however that you must evaluate your
own work as well; if you don't give yourself a score, you will earn
zero points for your CA score.
* Where necessary, identify where any group member became a
negative contributor (see Wolfe 32) to the team and explain how the
team adapted to or counseled the team member in question.
Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs).
In your conclusion, you need to do two things. First, consider whether
you would want to work with this same team again on a future
project--why or why not? Second, identify two to three lessons,
findings, or strategies drawn from this semester's work that you
might apply to future collaborative projects, whether these lessons
might be about your own performance or about making team
performances more effective.
Learning Outcomes
● Writing and Presenting
● Researching and Documenting
Minimum Requirements
ENG 3060 Syllabus
44
● 3-4 page, single spaced memo
Due Dates: [insert due date]
Grading
This memo will be awarded an individual grade, and it will be worth a maximum of
100 points toward your final grade. The following rubric will be used to evaluate
your needs assessment memo:
Factor
Description
Introduction Does the introduction provide a concise overview of
the material covered in the performance review
discussion?
Possible
15
Does the introduction forecast the main points of
discussion in the body of the memo?
Does the introduction forecast the main conclusions or
findings of the memo?
Performanc Does the performance review offer a thorough
e Review assessment of team dynamics and performance?
50
Does the performance review offer a thorough
assessment of individual performance (including your
own)?
Does the performance review offer a candid (i.e.,
honest and transparent) assessment of team and
individual performance?
Is the performance review supported with detailed
reference to project work or relevant incidents?
Does the performance review assign appropriate
Collaborative Assessment scores to each team
member?
Conclusion Does the conclusion present a convincing final
argument for how well the team performed together
this semester?
10
Does the conclusion present a persuasive set of lessons
or findings that stem logically from the performance
review offered in the memo?
Format
Is the performance review presented in standard
15
Earned
ENG 3060 Syllabus
memo format?
Does the document design make effective use of
headings, section breaks, etc., to effectively organize
the document?
Grammar & Are the grammar and mechanics perfect?
Style
Is the style appropriate for a professional audience?
10
Total
100
Supporting Materials
● P6 Sample Draft (Names have been changed to protect confidentiality)
45