Marks:


/100

Assignment: Write an Analytical Report

Learning Outcome

·




Apply an audience/purpose
analysis to a technical document.

·




Design documents using
headings, lists and other visual cues effectively.

·




Create


a technical definition and description of an object.

·




Prepare graphics that will best
support a written message.

·




Integrate research sources into
your own writing.

·




Create a relative merits
report.

Purpose

You will write a definition and description
of an object, and then compare three versions of that object in order to
determine which is the best for a given application. You will demonstrate the
ability to use concrete, precise language and to analyze data that you have
found using various research strategies.

Instructions

Complete this assignment individually and
outside of class time.

Assume that your employer has asked you to
replace a tool or piece of equipment that is used regularly by the company. Select
a tool or piece of equipment that is commonly used in your industry and that
has at least three versions available. These could be versions from the same
manufacturer or competitors’ versions.

Your job is to find several versions of
this item, and compare them on a number of criteria in order to determine which
the company should purchase. Before you buy the replacement, you must submit a
report that details your findings and recommends one particular item to
purchase.

One of the objectives of this assignment is
that you learn about data resources that are useful to your industry, which is
why it is important to write a report on tools and equipment that are specific
to your industry rather than on common household items.

If you have difficulty finding appropriate
objects to compare, consult with the instructor.

Include the
following in your report:

·




A formal, expanded definition
of the object you have chosen to research

·




At least one graphic showing
the object you are researching

·




A properly formatted and
analyzed data table

·




An introduction that declares
the purpose of the report and maps its contents

·




Body sections that use
appropriate headings, topic sentences and direct paragraph structure

·




A conclusion that summarizes
the findings of the report and makes a recommendation

·




An APA-style reference list or
an IEEE-style reference list with standard APA in-text citations or an
IEEE-style reference list throughout the report (this will depend on direction
from your instructor and which style is required for your course)

Your report
must also conform to the following requirements:

·




Make your report three to five
pages long, not including the cover page, table of contents and reference list.