Formal Report Assignment:
You will research a topic of interest to you and write a formal. You will need to conduct your research on the internet and cite your sources in footnotes. You will find the FOOTNOTES function on the dropdown menu of the INSERT menu item and then choosing the REFERENCE option. For example if I was writing a research paper on the best connecting rods I might reference Manley Performance’s Tech Reports[1]. Notice where the footnote reference number is located and where the website is located (at the bottom of the page with the same number) and that the date I found the information.
If I were writing my paper on connecting rods I would read about how they are made and the material that is used. I would consider the product in relation to the application. I would think about my needs. While I am searching and researching and researching to find the product that I need for my application, I will take s notes in Microsoft Word, or I might copy and paste and cite the information in Word, or I might create a list on links to refer back to.
After I have searched and then researched I would start an outline by clicking on know I would create an outline using the outline function by clicking on FORMAT, NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS, OUTLINE NUMBERED. The first paragraph will be your introduction what are you trying to find out in your research? The next paragraphs should discuss your options to solve your problem or discuss product or some other comparison criteria.
The next Section will identify the similarities and differences of your solution options in at least one paragraph. The next paragraph in this paragraph should discuss the comparison of these solutions.
In your conclusion you need to need to state your conclusion clearly and carefully state why/how you came to that conclusion. You must refer back to what you said earlier.
You need to be mindful to try to first write and write and write; just get your thoughts on the paper. Then go back after you start your research and add info. Then go back and fix your writing so it is clear, concise and at your grade level or above. To find out what grade level your writing is at click on TOOLS, OPTIONS, SPELLING & GRAMMAR, SHOW READABILITY STATISTICS, and OK. Now spell check your document. See how many words, sentences, paragraphs you wrote and note the grade level you are writing at. As you re-write and revise your paper over this three week period make sure you are writing at your grade level. Also try to increase the easibility of your writing and decrease the number of passive sentences. Review this information and your paper with your English teacher. Ask for their help and input. Go to after school tutoring.
By now you should certainly be able to write a five page paper, double spaced. If you are a senior going into college you should be capable of writing a 10-page report and be prepared to start producing more of them, quickly and soon enough 20-page papers are coming your way. If you are going straight into a business environment you should be able to research any topic given to you by your boss, research and present your findings very quickly and very thoroughly. You will need to articulate information in a professional, clear and concise manner and answering questions before they are asked of you regarding your research. Therefore this research paper should be somewhere between 5 and 20 pages, depending upon your grade level and where you are headed in your life.
To double space your document, after you are all done writing, select a paragrgh, click on FORMAT, PARAGRAPH, SPACING, choose DOUBLE. Repeat this for all paragraphs. We don’t select the entire document because the spacing after a heading and before the paragraph has been set through the outlining featuring you used. There should be two empty spaces at the end of each section, before the next heading. Take some time on formatting, saving often.
As you write, share with others. Get their input, answer their questions. For grading purposes a rubric will be provided and needs to be filled out by you and two other students.
Go get ‘em – solve a problem….I know everyone has a desire in them … let me see it.