6.1 Progress Report
Due by the deadline posted in the schedule and shared as a Google Doc with Dr. Harris.
Often in student research projects, I see that students begin with an excellent proposal, but then have difficulty or run into unanticipated problems in the course of completing the study they propose. Each obstacle should be seen as part of the assignment; we are learning to be professional communicators, and part of that learning involves confronting challenges in our research and working around them.
Because you will frequently be asked to report your progress as a professional communicating in your field, the next step in our process in completing the formal report is to complete a progress report. This report will inform me about where you are at in your scope of research for the final report. You will also use this opportunity to inform me about any issues and questions you have as your project evolves and any changes you have made to the initial proposal. The progress report should be formatted according to the guidelines on pp. 295-296 in the textbook (see the example on page 297 for guidance--do NOT use the example on page 298!).
Your main headings should include:
Often in student research projects, I see that students begin with an excellent proposal, but then have difficulty or run into unanticipated problems in the course of completing the study they propose. Each obstacle should be seen as part of the assignment; we are learning to be professional communicators, and part of that learning involves confronting challenges in our research and working around them.
Because you will frequently be asked to report your progress as a professional communicating in your field, the next step in our process in completing the formal report is to complete a progress report. This report will inform me about where you are at in your scope of research for the final report. You will also use this opportunity to inform me about any issues and questions you have as your project evolves and any changes you have made to the initial proposal. The progress report should be formatted according to the guidelines on pp. 295-296 in the textbook (see the example on page 297 for guidance--do NOT use the example on page 298!).
Your main headings should include:
- Work Completed: (your work completed should reflect the items listed in the "Scope of Research" in your initial proposal)
- Changes from Original Plan: (detail any obstacles you have encountered in the process of your research and solutions you have implemented as a result)
- Work Remaining: (again, your work remaining should reflect the items listed in the "Scope of Research" in your initial proposal)
- Bibliography: (cite all the primary and secondary sources you have located or completed up to this point in the process in the format you choose for the final report--APA, MLA, etc.).
Caution: At this point, you should have the research for your report completed and be ready to draft the report. The progress report informs me of how you are proceeding with the steps you indicated would occur in the "Scope of Proposed Study" section of your proposal. This progress report informs me as to how that process is progressing, and I should see a clear link between what you proposed in the proposal and what you have completed in the class so far. I should see that you are finished with the research you proposed at the beginning of the project, and, if you have deviated, an explanation of why you have needed to deviate.
Think About It
Audience Awareness
I am the audience for this progress report. As such, you will need to convince me that you have completed the work you initially proposed and that you can finish the work by the deadline for the final project. Consider me a supervisor at your place of employment--I have granted you permission to complete this task, and I expect a report from you regarding the task you are charged to complete.
Information Literacy
At this point in the project, your primary and secondary research should be complete. Highlight the research that you have completed in this report and indicate how that research will help you pose your recommendation for a solution in the final project.
Digital Literacy
You will write this report and submit it through Google Docs, sharing it with me. At this point, you should be familiar with Google Docs and be able to use that word processing software to work with me on the progress report. Be sure that you title the document with the specific name of this assignment.
Audience Awareness
I am the audience for this progress report. As such, you will need to convince me that you have completed the work you initially proposed and that you can finish the work by the deadline for the final project. Consider me a supervisor at your place of employment--I have granted you permission to complete this task, and I expect a report from you regarding the task you are charged to complete.
Information Literacy
At this point in the project, your primary and secondary research should be complete. Highlight the research that you have completed in this report and indicate how that research will help you pose your recommendation for a solution in the final project.
Digital Literacy
You will write this report and submit it through Google Docs, sharing it with me. At this point, you should be familiar with Google Docs and be able to use that word processing software to work with me on the progress report. Be sure that you title the document with the specific name of this assignment.