Usf Student Feessustainable Plastic Research Summ

By /

Usf Student Feessustainable Plastic Research Summ

Research in the workplace addresses a workplace problem. Tasked with a problem in the workplace, you may be asked gather the information necessary to fully understand the issue at hand. Doing this work requires different types of research that go beyond simply querying a library database or using Google. You often will need to speak directly to target populations and audiences, and directly contact resources and experts in different professions and in the community. You also may need information in addition to or instead of scholarly resources. Local and national journalism may add context and perspective. Professional experts, government agencies, state and local authorities all may be relevant sources, as are individuals in target populations. Essentially, research in the workplace requires you to think critically and creatively about

  • The type of information you need; and
  • The best way to get that information.

Your job as a researcher is to address and explain the problem using the most relevant and applicable methods and resources. If a resource can supply information you need, then it is the right resource for the job.

It’s also important when thinking about a problem you’re researching to keep in mind that you probably aren’t the first person or organization to deal with this issue. Look at other organizations, groups, or communities negotiating the same (or a similar) issue. Research how those groups describe and deal with the problem. The perspective of experience is invaluable to your work.

ASSIGNMENT

This project asks you to do workplace research into a local problem impacting USF or the surrounding community. Your goal for this project is to describe a local problem in detail using as much information as you can gather from as many different sources as are useful. That means you are looking at research gathered by others (e.g., government agencies, non-profit organizations, professional and academic experts, as well as local sources from USF or the immediate community), but also you will gather your own data by asking impacted population for their perspective. You will produce a memo that reports your findings, giving readers a robust understanding of the local problem you have researched. NOTE: You should not offer a solution to the problem. Your task, in Project 3, is simply to provide a detailed explanation of the problem.

Download Rubric

OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

  • Engage with a problem-based scenario similar to those found in the workplace
  • Apply research skills appropriate for addressing a specific problem
  • Integrate research into a project deliverable
  • Practice professional and technical writing and editing skills
  • Practice writing for a specific purpose and audience
  • Produce a specific genre of professional discourse (informational report)

To complete this project, you will choose a local problem occurring at USF or in the community. You can select a problem from the list below, or pick your own problem of a similar nature.

Sample Problems:

USF

      • Assessment and use of USF student fees
      • Sustainable plastic waste management (e.g., water bottles) at USF
      • Electric car charging stations at USF campuses
      • Cash register layout, lines, and wait time for Starbuck’s or other USF eateries
      • Speed limit for roads on the USF Tampa campus — reduce accidents and minimize delays
      • Pedestrian Safety at USF
      • Cyber security at USF
      • Mental health awareness and/or access to mental health services at USF
      • The variety and availability of healthy food choices at USF dining halls
      • Binge drinking at USF

TAMPA

      • Pedestrian Safety
      • Citywide Composting
      • Microplastics in Tampa Bay
      • Red Tide
      • Bike Lanes and Cyclist Safety
      • Public Transit
      • Parks and Public Green Spaces
      • Traffic Congestion

Once you have selected a problem, you will research the problem, to include the following topics:

  • Background information: Put the problem in context. What does the audience need to know to understand why the problem is a problem?
  • Explanation of the problem at USF/In the local community: Describe the local problem in detail. What is happening here?
  • Causes of the problem: Describe the factors contributing to the problem’s occurrence. Why is the problem happening?
  • Impacted Population: Describe the people most directly impacted by the problem. Who is the problem happening to? Be specific. Target a local population that could benefit from intervention.

To conduct your research you may wish to use any of the following methods and resources, or anything else that helps you explain the scope of your problem:

  • Newspapers (local, university, national)
  • Reports from government agencies, universities, and/or NGOs
  • Scholarly research
  • Facts and statistics compiled by government agencies and/or NGOs or USF
  • Interviews with experts and/or impacted individuals
  • Surveys (social media makes doing surveys easy)

DELIVERABLE

A report in memo format that describes your problem in detail using all the research you have conducted. The memo should have the following section headings:

    • Background Information
    • Explanation of the Problem at USF/In the Local Community
    • Causes of the Problem
    • Impacted Population(s)

You will need to include citations of all data you discuss in your memo. Here are some important things to consider:

  • The citation style you choose should be based on the needs and expectations of your audience. You may want to get some ideas by looking around online to see how citations were handled in reports on similar topics. But your audience should determine what citation style you select.
  • Citations may include in-text, footnotes, endnotes, hyperlinks, etc.
  • Be sure to offer consistent usage of citations throughout the report

NOTE: You should NOT offer a solution to the problem. Your task, in project 3, is to provide a detailed explanation of the problem. Later, in Project 4, you will look toward solutions. For this project, you should only use research to explain the problem.

I’m going to upload my first draft in order for you to work on the final draft

Before you begin to revise for submission of the Research Summary final draft, it’s good to think through what specific issues need to be addressed in your draft and consider all the topics discussed in the Collective Feedback File (CFF). To help you strategically plan your revision, consider and respond to the following:

  1. Identify an issue in the CFF that applies to your draft. How will you revise your draft to address this issue?
  2. Is the purpose of the memo clearly clearly stated and consistently made throughout the document?
  3. Have you focused on a problem at USF or in the local community? Do you have research that explains the local problem?
  4. Are all claims/statements made in the memo supported and/or grounded in research?
  5. Are the connections clear between the research and the claims made? Is the research actually saying what the memo claims it says?
  6. Are the types of research used appropriate for the subject?
  7. Is all data fairly and accurately represented in the text and/or visually?
  8. Is the content and tone of your report tailored to the specific needs and expectations of the target audience?
  9. Is the document in proper memo format with all required headings?
  10. Is all research properly cited in the text of the memo?
  11. Do you have a “notes,” “references,” or “works cited” page that clearly directs your audience to any cited sources?