IT513
IT513
Research and Writing for the IT Professional
Module Preview
This guide contains a preview of the materials for all module courses in this series:
IT513M1 Using Professional Language
IT513M2 Preparing Research
IT513M3 Developing Research
IT513M4 Synthesizing Solutions
Be sure to follow the detailed directions found within the actual module course after you receive access. The content in this guide is only a preview and course content may have changed. For more information about taking module courses, visit the Traditional and Module Courses page (requires login).
Course Code IT513M1
Module Course Title Using Professional Language
Outcome(s) IT513M1-1: Illustrate information technology ideas with professional language and attribution.
Learn: Reading and Research
Here is your required reading for this module:
Module 1 Reading PDFThis will introduce you to formality and explain paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting from sources. There are also some things about plagiarism you might not already know, and you will learn how to get into the Purdue Global Library.
Library Reading
Part of the Assessment will send you to the Library for source material; this is explained in the Reading PDF and the Assessment instructions.
Take-Away PDF: Formal Writing and Common Writing ErrorsTake-Away PDF: Citation and ReferencingDownload both of these documents to your computer for safe-keeping, as the content explained therein will be important for all of this course and beyond. Make sure you check these before submitting any work for grading.
Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):
IT513M1-1:Illustrate information technology with professional language and attribution.
Module 1 Assessment:
Exercises in Formal Writing and Strategies in Using Source Material
Purpose
This Assessment will provide your professor with a basis to evaluate your formal writing abilities as well as your aptitude in organizing ideas in short narrative and descriptive essays. With an introduction to the online library, you will also practice various methods to use and identify source material, including quoting, paraphrasing, in-text citation, and full reference entries using 7th edition APA-standard procedures.
Assessment Instructions and Requirements
Complete the Module 1 Reading before beginning work. You will also want to review the Formal Writing and Citation-Referencing Take-Away PDFs.
Use the provided Worddocumenttemplate.Download this to your computer, fill it in, make sure your content input has been saved when you are done, and then submit to the Dropbox. Do not copy and paste the template content into a new document; use it "as is." Assessments submitted without use of the template as described here will not be graded.
For all parts of this Assessment:
Follow the rules forformal writingstyle as explained in the Formal Writing Take-Away PDF.
Do not use first person (I, me, my, myself, we, us, or our).
Do not use wording that may be considered emotional or opinionated.
Part 1: Writing a Short Narrative Essay(IT topic)
Topic:This essay must be something relating to computers, but due to the short nature of this part of the Assessment, it is recommended to choose an easy topic. Ideas include setting up your home Wi-Fi, cycling a modem, making your own PowerPoint template, applying a formula in Excel, editing a photo on your iPhone, completing a scan with your computer's antivirus software, setting preferences in a particular application, or some other technology-related task. Since the purpose is to use English, do not choose a topic that requires coding or programming instructions. Read the rest of the requirements below to ensure that your topic choice will meet expectations.
Title:Compose a title that is descriptive of your essay content. Use title case without final punctuation and without the words "narrative essay."
List:An ordered (numbered) list is one in which an order of actions must be followed; it explains a process. The list you provide for your topic will serve then as your outline for the essay itself.
There must be at least five steps, but no more than nine.
Use short phrases, not full sentences.
Make sure this list is numbered to indicate that there is indeed a prescribed order of events.
Do not include second-level items; keep the list simple.
Essay:
Write a narrative essay using the list as your outline. Do not directly refer to the list in the narrative; your essay must complete on its own.
Provide 200275 words. This is a strict requirement with the intent to provide adequate detail and at the same time to be succinct.
Start with a topic sentence and then provide details about each item on the list in the order you presented them in that list. Do not write a conclusion; the last instruction already gets you to the end of the instructions.
Use paragraphing only (do not insert lists or number the steps inside the narrative).
Write with sentence structure variety, not "First," "Second," etc.
Importantly, do not research; write from your current knowledge and use critical thinking skills and observation for this part of the Assessment.
Part 2: Writing a Short Descriptive Essay
Topic:This essay must be the description of a place or an object. Suggested topics: a household item, a pet, your garden, a room in your home, a neighborhood, your favorite restaurant, a vacation spot, etc. Do not choose an electronic item or vehicle. The purpose is to describe, so consider shapes, textures, colors, smells, tastes (where appropriate), sounds, location, movement, temperature, and other sensory-based portrayal. This is not to be a timeline of events; work on description without emotional or opinionated wording, as this will be good practice for the workplace. Read the rest of the requirements below to ensure that your topic choice will meet expectations.
Title:Compose a title that is descriptive of your essay content. Use title case without final punctuation and without the words "descriptive essay."
Essay:
There must be at least three paragraphs:
Introduction: Explain your essay's topic in the first sentence and then give a brief overview.
Paragraph(s) to provide detail.
Conclusion: Do not include any new ideas. Instead, provide a short summary of the essay.
Write 200275 words. This is again a strict requirement.
Your work for this section must be presented in paragraph form, without lists, tables, or images.
Take note of the following from the Module Reading PDF:
Do not refer the essay to itself with phrases such as "this paper will" or "in this essay."
Do not use wording that may be considered emotional or opinionated.
Do not write "In conclusion" or "In summary."
Do not write "transition" sentences (more will be explained later in the course).
Again, do not research; write from your current knowledge and use critical thinking skills and observation for this part of the Assessment.
Preparation for Parts 3 and 4
Locate the source material:Go to the More Tools section in the navigation above; choose Library. Once the Library search page opens, select the link in the left-side menu of the Library page that indicates Required Readings for this course.Choose any three articles from the list,depending on your interest or curiosity. Should a link not work, report it to your instructor and then choose a different one from the list.
Hint for the reference entries: Use the Library system to find the entryandthen make corrections if it is necessary as explained in the reading. You may have to look at the articles themselves for a more specific date, the volume, issue, and/or page numbers, and to verify authors' names.Do not use Word's citation tool or other citation generators;you are expected to learn to create entries on your own.
Part 3: Quoting
Required source: A professional journal article from the list presented in the Library section of the classroom as explained above. Do not look for quotes already presented in the article; your mission is to find direct statements in the article and quote them yourself.
Quotation 1: Parenthetical citation
Choose a meaningful statement of 2539 words from the article and quote it without introduction, using in-text citation after the end-quotation mark and before the final sentence punctuation.
Quotation 2: Narrative citation
Choose a different meaningful statement of 2539 words from the same article and quote it properly, starting your sentence with According to or a similar introduction, and inserting proper citation as explained in the reading.
Required adjustment:
Edit just one of your two quotes by correctly using brackets, an ellipsis,or[sic]. These techniques are explained in the reading.
If the original does not have an error, you cannot use [sic] and must instead employ either brackets for a clarification or an ellipsis to delete words. Note that British English spellings are not considered errors.
Reference entry:
Provide a full 7th edition APA-standard reference entry for this journal article.
Part 4:Paraphrasing from Two Other Articles
Choose two other journal articles from the same Library list. It is recommended that you pick articles that are relatively easy for you to understand, especially if you are new to the technology field. Find a section of each article that interests you and write paraphrases.
For each of your two paraphrases, separately:
Compose a descriptive title (a phrase) in your own words. Use title case.
Write a paraphrase of 170220 words. If it is difficult to meet the minimum length or to avoid writing more than the maximum, then a more suitable section (or section size) from the original article must be chosen.
Do not include any quotes.
Write the paraphrases in paragraph form (no lists).
Include proper citation as explained in the reading.
Provide a full 7th edition APA-standard reference entry.
After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
Course Code IT513M2
Module Course Title Preparing Research
Outcome(s) IT513M2-1: Prepare high-level research into information technology concepts with critical assessment and proper attribution.
Learn: Reading and Research
Here is your required reading for this Module:
Module 2 Reading PDFThis will explain additional writing conventions you will be required to follow, how to evaluate sources found on the web, and introduce you to some teamwork concepts. In addition, you will find direction in choosing a topic, writing appropriate research questions, and developing an annotated bibliography. Additional library guidance is also given.
Both Library and Online reading
You will be directed to the online library and your favorite search engine to locate suitable sources for the Assessment. This will include searching, evaluating, choosing, and then reading content on IT topics that interest you.
Take-Away PDF: Formal Writing and Common Writing ErrorsTake-Away PDF: APA 7th Edition Citation and ReferencingTake-Away PDF: APA 7th Edition FormattingDownload these documents to your computer for safe-keeping, as the content explained therein will be important for all of this course and beyond; make sure you read through them before submitting any work for assessment.
Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):
IT513M2-2:Prepare high-level research into information technology concepts with critical assessment and proper attribution.
PC-3.2:Interact with others in a professional manner using appropriate communication and presentation skills.
Module 2 Assessment:
Summarizing, APA Formatting, the Annotated Bibliography, and Exploring Teamwork
Purpose
The first part of this Assessment focuses on IT news and includes writing strong introductions and conclusions, using deductive paragraphing, producing mostly active sentence structure, and creating a format that meets APA 7th edition standards. A separate document will uncover a variety of sources through academic research focused on a strong research question. The final part of this Assessment in an exploration into teamwork in the workplace.
Assessment Instructions and Requirements
Document 1: Summary Paper
Find a suitable news article on the web about an information technology topic that interests you. This must have beenpublished within the last 2 years. Look for trusted news sources; do not choose a journal article, "white paper," vendor sales article, ebook, or online encyclopedia entry. If, after doing the reading, you are not sure your choice is appropriate, ask your instructor for additional guidance.
The source must have the following:
Human author names identified (both first and last names, and not obvious pseudonyms)
A date of publication (not the copyright date as explained in the reading)
For all parts of this paper:
Do not use first person (I, me, my, myself, we, us, or our).
Do not directly quote from the article.
Do not include mathematical formulas, code, computer commands, images, tables, or other figures.
Content responsibilities:
Write a suitable descriptive title for your paper.
Do not name it with the course or module number; describe the content instead.
Do not use the article's title as yours; doing so is a form of plagiarism.
Use title case (except in the header).
Write an introduction paragraph.
Include the article's title (in double quotes) and full author's name (or authors' names) in the paragraph. You may also include the name of the news site, which would be in italics as explained in this module's reading.
Include a very brief overview of the main ideas.
As explained previously, do not refer the paper to itself ("this paper will examine," etc.).
After the introduction paragraph, write 23 more paragraphs explaining main ideas from the article.
Use deductive paragraphing and write mostly in active voice.
Include in-text citation in each of these paragraphs to acknowledge the origin of the ideas. The first sentence in each paragraph must have citation at the very least (see the Citation/Referencing PDF for further details about citation frequency).
Write a conclusion.
Avoid "in conclusion," "in summary," and similar statements as explained in the reading.
Write a 7th edition APA reference entry for the source and place it on a References page in the same document.Do not use Word's citation tool or any other citation generator;you are expected to learn to create entries on your own.
Be careful that you have adequately cited your source, and check the Citation-Referencing PDF for assistance. Inadequate citation can result in charge of plagiarism.
The body (introduction, details, and conclusion) must contain 380-500 words.
Formatting responsibilities are to use 7th edition APA formatting:
Begin with a new (blank) Word document and complete this formatting completely on your own, without the help of any templates or developer tools.Use the instructions found in the Formatting Take-Away PDF (found in the Reading section).
You must have a title page, body pages, and a reference page.
Do not write an abstract.
Do not include subheadings; this paper is too short to benefit from them.
Name this document using the following convention:IT513-M2-Summary-LastName-FirstName
Document 2: IT-Topic Annotated Bibliography
Topic: Choose a technology topic that interests you. It may take some searching the Purdue Global Library and the Internet to know exactly what topic you wish to choose, so plan your time accordingly.
Identify your research question. The discussion board in this module is a nice place for your professor to help you focus your efforts as you choose the most interesting and appropriately written open-ended question.
Research: You need exactly four sources as listed below. To locate appropriate works, reference the module reading. Sources used for previous Assessments may not be chosen again; look for all new materials.
Two peer-reviewed professional journal articlesfrom the Purdue Global Library.
You must be able to access the full article, not just the abstract.
When you look in the Library, make sure you have chosen work identified as "Academic Journal" articles, not magazines or other types of sources.
One ebookfound in the Purdue Global Library, either from Skillsoft, EBSCO ebooks, or O'Reilly.
This must have human authorship specified.
One website articlewith identified human authorship and specified publication date.
This may be an informational site or news; do not use a white paper, journal article posted online, or vendor sales site.
Check the Citation-Referencing Take-Away PDF to verify the formula and use of italics depending on the type of web source you ultimately choose.
While there are other means to locate the journal articles and ebook, your professor must have easy access to your materials, and therefore use of the University Library is required for those items. Additional source parameters:
All sources chosen must have been publishedwithin the last 6 years.
Remember that website copyright dates do not indicate when the content was published; look for a specific publication date.
Your instructor will have access to the Purdue Global Library to validate journal and ebook choices. While you may have a subscription to some specialized online resources, any non-Library works chosen for your Assessment document (for the web-based source) must be readily available to the professor for review without login. This means the web source for this document must be easily accessed by a simple click on the URL.
All sources must be appropriate for master's-level work. Do not include Wikipedia or other encyclopedias or dictionaries, user-input sites, forums, casually written blogs, etc. If the appropriateness of any source is in question, email your instructor well before submitting the work to ask for guidance.
Writing: foreachof your four sources:
Provide a complete 7th edition APA-standard reference entry.
Follow the entry with an annotation of 150180 words:
Paragraph 1: A summary of the source's content, without adding opinion, quotes, or citation.
Paragraph 2: An evaluation of the source itself (not of the technology). Include commentary about the following:
Author and/or sponsor credentials and reputation (follow links if possible)
Writing clarity, organization of ideas, and/or readability
Appropriateness of links and/or sources listed, or lack of source information
Optional: imagery, writing style, currency of information, any noted shortcomings
Additional requirements:
Include your research question.
Write the annotations in paragraph form (no lists, tables, or images).
Do not quote from your sources. Write entirely in your own words (paraphrase and cite).
Do not include in-text citation; the formatting of an annotated bibliography makes it clear which information comes from each source.
Your writing must follow the rules forformal writing. Do not use first person (I, me, my, myself, we, us, our). Avoid wording that may be construed as emotional or opinionated.
Your document's title must be brief and descriptive of your topic.
Do not use your question as the title; it will be far too long.
Use title case.
Option: Follow a very short title with a colon and the words An Annotated Bibliography. For example,Technologies for Voting: An Annotated Bibliography
Alphabetize the sources by the first letter of each entry.
Formatting
Start with a new Word document. Use of a template or reuse of previously used formatted documents is not allowed.
Review the Formatting Take-Away PDF and look for the section that specifically addresses annotated bibliographies.
Check the example in the Module Reading PDF.
Do not include an abstract; this is not a paper.
Do not include a separate reference list; this is a reference list.
Do not use Word's citation tool or other citation generators; you are expected to learn to create entries on your own.
Name this document using the following convention:IT513-M2-Research-LastName-FirstName
Document 3: Teamwork
There are various methods of accomplishing work as a team, and Bruce Tuckman's teamwork theory is explained in the Reading. Email is one way in which teamwork can be accomplished, so will be the format for this part of the Assessment.
Scenario: Imagine you have been assigned to a team with the responsibility of developing a set of rules about company email use and subsequently sending a report that will be sent to all employees. You arenotactually writing the email rules; this exercise is for you to explain how you would go about the process of getting this task completed using Tuckman's theory.
Write an email to a colleague in which you explain how you would useForming,Storming,Norming, andPerformingto accomplish this team task. Make sure all four of these terms appear in your paragraph and demonstrate an understanding of what they mean as well as how they could apply to the specific situation. Do not quote from sources; simply write from your understanding of Tuckman from the reading and use your critical thinking skills.
Include in your email:
A salutation
Your explanation of how Tuckman could work for this scenario (80-110 words).
A closure line and signature
Formatting:
Present your email in a Word document. All content should be left-aligned. Single-space with a blank line between paragraphs or parts. Choose a readable font style and size.
Name this document using the following convention:IT513-M2-Teamwork-LastName-FirstName
After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
Course Code IT513M3
Module Course Title Developing Research
Outcome(s) IT513M3-3: Develop academic research, idea organization, writing, and formatting standards for a professionally written outcome on an information technology topic.
Learn: Reading and Research
Here is your required reading for this Module:
Module 3 Reading PDFThis will help you complete this module's assessment, with direction in developing an appropriate alphanumeric outline, writing an abstract, and more.
Both Library and Online reading
You will be directed to the online library and your favorite search engine to locate suitable sources for the Assessment. This will include searching, evaluating, choosing, and then reading content on IT topics that interest you.
Take-Away PDF: Formal Writing and Common Writing ErrorsTake-Away PDF: APA 7th Edition Citation and ReferencingTake-Away PDF: APA 7th Edition FormattingDownload these documents to your computer for safe-keeping, as the content explained therein will be important for all of this course and beyond; make sure you read through them before submitting any work for assessment.
Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):
IT513M3-3:Develop academic research, idea organization, writing, and formatting standards for a professionally written outcome on an information technology topic.
Module 3 Assessment:
The Informative Research Paper
Purpose
The Assessment in this module is an informative (expository) paper on an information technology topic of your choice. An abstract is included, and paragraphs will be organized in deductive style. Organization with an alphanumeric outline is also required; 7th edition APA formatting and referencing will be applied. Complete the Module 3 Reading before beginning work.
Assessment Instructions and Requirements
Required sources
Two peer-reviewed professional journal articlesfrom the University's online Library.
You must be able to access the full article, not just the abstract.
When you look in the library, make sure you have chosen work identified as "Academic Journal" articles, not magazines or other types of sources.
One ebookfound in the University's online library, either from SkillSoft or EBSCOhost.
This must have human authorship specified.
One or two website articleswith identified human authorship and specified publication date.
This may be an informational site or news; check the Citation/Referencing Take-Away PDF to verify the formula and use of italics depending on the type of web source you ultimately choose.
All sources chosen must have been publishedwithin the last six years.Remember that website copyright dates arenotan indication of when the content was published; look for a specific publication date.
All sources must be appropriate for master's-level work. Do not include Wikipedia or other encyclopedias or dictionaries, user-input sites, forums, casually written blogs, etc. If in doubt regarding the appropriateness of any source, email your professor to ask for guidance.
Research Question and Outline
Identify your research question and develop an academic-style (alphanumeric) outline. The discussion thread in this module is an excellent practice space to help you focus your efforts and receive feedback from your professor. Suggestions there may be considered as you choose the most interesting and appropriate open-ended question and a solidly constructed outline. Make sure you do the Module reading to know more.
Place your final alphanumeric outline in a Word document. It may be single-spaced or double-spaced but must show proper numbering/lettering and indents. Name this document using the following convention:IT513-M3-Outline-LastName-FirstName
Writing
Keep in mind that this paper's intent should beto informthe reader about a technology topic. It is not an opinion piece nor intended to persuade (beyond providing facts, of course).
Your reading audience understands quite a bit about technology but is not an expert in your specific topic. This statement is provided so you understand the depth and kind of vocabulary that are appropriate to use.
Write a descriptive title for the paper (do not use the entire research question). You may reuse the title from your annotated bibliography.
The body of the paper must be 8001000 words in length.
The body includes the introduction, conclusion, and all content in between. The title page, abstract, and reference entries are not part of the body and not considered in the length requirements.
Write completely in your own words; no quotes are allowed.
Your work must be presented in essay/paragraph form, without lists, tables, or images.
Your writing must follow the rules forformal writing.Please review the rules in the Formal Writing Take-Away PDF.
Check the Reading for more writing guidance.
Paper Organization
An abstract is required (check the reading for details).
Your introductory paragraph must include your topic sentence either as the first sentence or the last sentence of the paragraph.
Avoid the use of "the hook." Simply provide facts.
Avoid referring the paper to itself ("This paper will introduce," etc.) and instead be direct, as you have learned previously.
Use first-level descriptive subheadings to show the paper's organization:
Include at least three subheadings that are descriptive of your content. While you might consider the main ideas as shown in your outline, do not include any numbering/lettering and do not actually include your outline in your document.
7th edition APA does not allow forIntroductionas a subheading, butConclusionis important to identify the final wrap-up of ideas.
Titles and subheadings must be in title case (except in the header).
Do not use second-level subheadings.
Use deductive paragraphing (main idea and then details).
Do not include "transition" sentences.
Formatting and Citation/Referencing
All sources used must be cited within the body of the paperandincluded on the reference page. Do not list any sources without citation or cite sources that are not in the reference list. Please remember that insufficient source attribution can lead to charges of plagiarism.
Create 7th edition APA formatting on your own, without the use of a template or a citation generator. Include the following, and remember to include the header content:
Title page
Abstract of 150250 words (keywords not required)
Body pages
References
Name this document using the following convention:IT513-M3-Paper-LastName-FirstName
After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
Course Code IT513M4
Module Course Title Synthesizing Solutions
Outcome(s) IT513M4-4: Synthesize solutions to clients' technology problems using research, appropriate writing styles, and a suitable business format.
Learn: Reading and Research
Here is your required reading for this Module:
Module 4 Reading PDFThis will help you complete this module's assessment, with information about writing for various audiences, presenting information in the workplace, and more.
Both Library and Online reading
You will be directed to the online library and your favorite search engine to locate suitable sources for the Assessment. This will include searching, evaluating, choosing, and then reading content on IT topics that interest you.
Take-Away PDF: Formal Writing and Common Writing ErrorsTake-Away PDF: APA 7th Edition Citation and ReferencingTake-Away PDF: APA 7th Edition FormattingDownload these documents to your computer for safe-keeping, as the content explained therein will be important for all of this course and beyond; make sure you read through them before submitting any work for assessment.
Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):
IT513M4-4:Synthesize solutions to clients' technology problems using research, appropriate writing styles, and a suitable business format.
Module 4 Assessment:
Writing for Different Audiences and Purposes
Purpose
This Assessment focuses on workplace research reports for different audiences/readers and two subtypes of expository essays: compare/contrast and cause-and-effect. There is also an examination of other kinds of workplace documentation. Complete the Module 4 Reading before beginning work.
Assessment Instructions and Requirements
Part 1: Two Short Reports
Each formal report for this part will synthesize ideas from two sources and be presented in a work-like format but will still use 7th edition APA citation and referencing.
Choose a different technology topic for each of your two reports; these must be different topics and sources than what you chose for previous coursework. Your choices should be based on personal interest as well as appropriateness to meet the requirements of comparing and contrasting concepts for the first report and the cause-and-effect message for the second.
Topic ideas are explored in this module's Learning Activity, and some additional ideas are below. Try to choose technology topics you can learn about rather than ones you already know well. It will be easier to research and write and can introduce you to concepts you will need to know in future classes. If you are not sure your topics are appropriate, email your professor well before submitting for guidance.
Client report:A cause-and-effect report for the lay reader (a non-technical client).
Topic ideas: Consequences of data breaches, insecure wireless, web accessibility not met, lack of firewalls, effects of not securing social media accounts, etc.
Tech report:A compare/contrast report for the expert reader (a technology team).
Topic ideas: Cloud vs. traditional downloaded software, comparisons of biometrics, Android vs. iPhones, tablets vs. laptops, traditional marketing vs. Search Engine Optimization, etc.
Requirements for each:
Writing:
Each report must have a body of 350450 words in length.
Make sure the intent of the report (compare-contrast or cause-and-effect) is clear by the title you write for the cover page and/or your first statements in the document. Again, use sentence case for titles. Examples:
Consequences of Phishing Attacks
A Comparison of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome
You may include a maximum of one short quote (less than 40 words) in each report. If you choose to quote, you must treat the quote correctly per 7th edition APA standards as learned previously. You do not have to quote.
Your work must be presented in essay/paragraph form, without lists, tables, or images. (Images are allowed on the cover page of the documents, however.)
Remember to cite your sources; lack of citation can lead to charges of plagiarism.
Your writing must follow the rules forformal writing.
Importantly, write to provide information, not to give instructions.
Organization:
Cover page content must include your name, date, and an appropriate title to describe the content.
Your content for each report must start on the second page.
Organize each report with a basic introduction-body-conclusion format.
Write subheadings that are descriptive of your content. Note: the use ofIntroductionis okay, since these documents are not APA-formatted.
Use deductive paragraphing (main idea and then details). Do not include "transition" sentences.
Avoid first person and as usual, write formally, without questions, dialogue, a "hook," etc.
Remember that the concepts for the lay reader may need to be simplified; be careful with use of jargon and difficult terminology.
Sources:
Locate exactly two appropriate sources for each report, with at least one of the two found through an online University Library search.
All sources must be readily accessible by the professor.
Do not reuse any of the sources used in previous coursework or "double-up" by using the same source(s) for both of these reports.
All sources require 7th edition APA in-text citation in the body and a complete 7th edition APA reference entry in a reference section at the end of the report. If any source is a magazine article or another kind of source not previously studied (journal article, ebook, and online news), check the Citation-Referencing Take-Away PDF for an appropriate referencing formula. Note that italics and punctuation are still required to follow APA rules.
Formatting:
Find or create a business-like template.
Your professor may offer links to suitable templates; check the announcements for guidance.
Templates must be 8.5x11" portrait-oriented Word documents. Look for "report" style documents without sidebars.
Do not use your employer's templates or logos. These are proprietary and should never be used for non-work documentation, even if you receive permission.
Use the same template for both of your reports. This means that you will have two documents with the same design.
Any imagery on the cover should be appropriate to technology or generic (such as shapes). Since you must use the same template for both documents, make sure you use the same image, too; this is part of business "branding."
Use business-style "block" formatting by applying single spacing for paragraphs with a blank line between paragraphs. Do not indent the first line of paragraphs.
Headers and footers are allowed but not required. If you use a header, do not make it look like a school paper.
Color, text, and readability:
Color for headings is allowed, but make sure the colors are not so light as to cause readability issues.
Keep the body of your work as black text on white background for readability. Do not place text in text boxes (with exceptions made for the cover page).
Use a readable font of your choice, but avoid overly "fancy" fonts and ensure that text size is reasonable for easy reading.
You may use "justified" alignment only if readability does not suffer.
Name these documents using the following convention:
IT513-M4-ClientReport-LastName-FirstName
IT513-M4-TechReport-LastName-FirstName
Part 2: Other Workplace Documentation
The IT professional will prepare many different types of documentation in the workplace. For this part of the Assessment, explain anytwoof the following types of documents as it applies to the IT workplace.
You need at least one suitable source; it can be found through a simple online search. Note that much of your submission must be supported by research, even if you already have personal knowledge of the type of documents you choose.
Acceptable use policy (AUP)
Communication plan
Disaster recovery plan
Employee software training materials
Issue logs
IT Incident response plan
IT Project proposals
Request for proposal (RFP)
Standard operating procedures (SOP)
Technical manuals
User manuals
Foreachof your two chosen document types, write two paragraphs that together total 100-150 words:
In a first paragraph: identify the type of document and explain its purpose. Include main content ideas that would normally be included in such a document.
In a second paragraph: write about difficulties someone might have in writing the content for this type of document, problems that could be encountered if it was not well-organized, and/or share your experiences in writing or reviewing them in your workplace (if applicable).
Cite your sources per APA standards, and provide full reference entries for all sources used.
Formatting:
Place both descriptions in the same document.
Use the type of document (such asRequest for Proposal) as a subheading.
You may choose to present this in APA 7th edition format (see the Formatting Take-Away PDF) or to use the same business format that you use for the client and tech reports. Either method is acceptable for this document.
Name this document using the following convention:
IT513-M4-WorkDocuments-LastName-FirstName
After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
