1 Writing Assignment #2 Background Review and Synthesis of Literature Summary of assignment • Task: You will complete the following: o Select a topic for writing assignment #4 o Research that topic in OneSearch o Locate at least seven articles from scholarly or credible trade journals on the topic o Write a synthesis of the articles. • Length: 1000-1400 words. • Format: APA • Sources: At least seven sources from scholarly or credible trade journals • Writing Process: You will submit a first draft of the essay to the assignment folder. The first draft will not be graded. The instructor will provide comments to it. After receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a revised draft. The final draft will be graded. Continue to the next page 2 How This Assignment Informs Future Assignments in WRTG 394 This assignment is designed to help you prepare for the final paper in WRTG 394. Keep in mind that your final paper in WRTG 394 will be a report in which you define a problem in your workplace or community persuasively and accurately and propose a solution or solutions to the problem or issue. For writing assignment #2, consider the problem you will address and conduct research in the library on the topic. For example, let us assume that you are considering writing a report to the Dean of The Undergraduate School at UMUC to recommend that UMUC move from LEO as its learning management system (LMS) to a different learning management system. In preparing to write this type of report, you might complete the following for writing assignment #2: Conduct library research on the topics of learning management systems for schools, online teaching, and effective teaching in an online environment. What do We Mean by Synthesis? In a background review and synthesis of the literature, you don’t take a stand on an issue. You review what the articles say on the issue, dividing the arguments in the articles into themes. For example, let us assume that you conduct library research on the topic of learning management systems for schools, online teaching, and effective teaching in an online environment. You might find that three major themes emerge from your perusing of the seven articles: • common reasons for resisting the move to a new LMS • impact on faculty members when transitioning to a new LMS • impact on students when transitioning to new LMS 3 Selection of Topics Examples of Topics for Writing Assignment #4, the Research-Based Report A student could write a report on a number of topics. The following are some examples. Please note that these are examples of topics. You are not required to choose any of them. They are provided here to help illustrate this assignment. • a report to your supervisor at work suggesting that email be used less frequently for communication and that another application be used to improve commun.

1. 1
Writing Assignment #2
Background Review and
Synthesis of Literature
Summary of assignment
• Task: You will complete the following:
o Select a topic for writing assignment #4
o Research that topic in OneSearch
o Locate at least seven articles from scholarly or credible trade
journals on the topic
o Write a synthesis of the articles.
• Length: 1000-1400 words.
• Format: APA
• Sources: At least seven sources from scholarly or credible
trade journals

2. • Writing Process: You will submit a first draft of the essay to
the assignment folder. The
first draft will not be graded. The instructor will provide
comments to it. After
receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a
revised draft. The final draft
will be graded.
Continue to the next page
2
How This Assignment Informs Future Assignments in WRTG
394
This assignment is designed to help you prepare for the final
paper in WRTG 394. Keep in mind
that your final paper in WRTG 394 will be a report in which
you define a problem in your
workplace or community persuasively and accurately and
propose a solution or solutions to the
problem or issue.

3. For writing assignment #2, consider the problem you will
address and conduct research in the
library on the topic.
For example, let us assume that you are considering writing a
report to the Dean of The
Undergraduate School at UMUC to recommend that UMUC
move from LEO as its learning
management system (LMS) to a different learning management
system. In preparing to write
this type of report, you might complete the following for
writing assignment #2: Conduct library
research on the topics of learning management systems for
schools, online teaching, and
effective teaching in an online environment.
What do We Mean by Synthesis?
In a background review and synthesis of the literature, you
don’t take a stand on an issue. You
review what the articles say on the issue, dividing the
arguments in the articles into themes.
For example, let us assume that you conduct library research on
the topic of learning
management systems for schools, online teaching, and effective
teaching in an online
environment. You might find that three major themes emerge
from your perusing of the seven
articles:
• common reasons for resisting the move to a new LMS

4. • impact on faculty members when transitioning to a new LMS
• impact on students when transitioning to new LMS
3
Selection of Topics
Examples of Topics for Writing Assignment #4, the Research-
Based Report
A student could write a report on a number of topics. The
following are some examples. Please
note that these are examples of topics. You are not required to
choose any of them. They are
provided here to help illustrate this assignment.
• a report to your supervisor at work suggesting that email be
used less frequently for
communication and that another application be used to improve
communication
• a report to your city council suggesting a new smart traffic
light system for parts of the city
• a report to the program chair of your major at UMUC to
suggest changes to one or more of the
classes required in the major
• a report to the manager of your unit at work noting that

5. recycling facilities in the workplace
should be improved
Examples of Topics for Writing Assignment #2, the Background
Review and Synthesis,
Based on the Suggested Topics Above
In any report of this nature, some background research is
necessary. For example, consider the
following strategies when collecting background research for
the topics mentioned above:
• For a report to your supervisor at work suggesting that email
be used less frequently for
communication and that another application be used to improve
communication, some scholarly
literature or articles from credible trade journals on
transitioning to alternative electronic
communication would be beneficial. In addition, articles that
demonstrate the problems with
email communication would add to the argument.
• For a report to your city council proposing a new smart traffic
light system, some trade journal or
scholarly literature on such systems would augment the report
considerably.
• For a report to the program chair of your major at UMUC,
some scholarly or trade journal articles
on the skills that a graduate of that major needs in the
workplace would be very effective. This
information would greatly enhance the credibility of a report

6. that suggests changes to the
curriculum.
• For a report to the manager of your unit at work arguing that
recycling facilities in the workplace
should be improved, some scholarly articles or studies on the
challenges of and benefits to
implementing recycling facilities in organizations would be
persuasive. Of course, there are
varieties of recycling programs. The articles you find would
help define what type of recycling
program you would propose.
4
Length of Your Paper
As noted above, your background review of the literature on
your topic should be 1000-1400
words in length.
The sources should be cited throughout the paper in APA format
and listed in a References page
at the end of the paper in APA format.
You will find that your synthesis will be a helpful component of
your final research-based report.
In fact, if your synthesis is well written, you might be able to
take parts of it and copy them into
sections of the final report. The skills and strategies you gain

7. from writing the background
review and synthesis of literature will be very valuable in
writing your final research-based
report.
Guides to Help You in Writing this Assignment:
Please read the sample paper in our class from Tom Student.
In addition, the following links provide access to guides on
writing a research-based business
report. While the guides provide instruction on writing a
research-based business report, for the
purposes of writing assignment #2, you might focus on how
each guide instructs you on the use
of sources and secondary research for the report.
• Victoria University of Wellington
• Queen Margaret University
• Murdoch University
• Colorado State University
5
Additional Topics that Previous Students Have Used
Some possible workplace research topics are the following.
These are examples to help you get
started. Please contact your instructor to have other topic ideas
approved.

8. • Making a change in the computer infrastructure at your
workplace
• Establishing a drug policy
• Establishing an employee leave donation program
• Establishing an equipment donation program for used
computers, etc.
• Establishing a company recycling program (paper, etc.)
• Education/retraining for your employees
• Recommending the purchase of standing desks for employees
• Designing a training program for workplace safety issues
• Redesigning employee performance evaluations
• Establishing on-site day care or providing other child care
benefits
• Providing gym membership or creating an on-site workout
facility
• Creating or revising a charitable contribution policy
• Creating or improving a tuition assistance program
• Accommodations needed for employee/s with specific health
issues (for example, migraines)
Some students have chosen topics outside of their workplaces,
such as the following:
• Getting additional lighting in the neighborhood
• Changing traffic patterns around your child’s school
• Starting a PTA website for your child’s school
• Constructing a crying baby room at your place of worship
• Offering ESL courses at your church
• Increasing participation in a military Family Support Group
• Introducing a youth sports program to a school or community
• Changing the design of a class for your university
• Changing the learning management system for online classes
for your university

9. Submitting the assignment:
You will submit a first draft of the essay to the assignment
folder. The first draft will not be
graded. The instructor will provide comments to it.
After receiving comments from the instructor, you will submit a
revised draft. The final draft
will be graded.
DataJob TitleSalaryAccountants and Auditors80050source:
http://www.bls.gov/Actuaries110710Administrative Law Judges,
Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers96690Administrative
Services Managers92940Adult Basic and Secondary Education
and Literacy Teachers and Instructors63940Advertising and
Promotions Managers104130Advertising Sales
Agents53940Aerospace Engineering and Operations
Technicians56140Aerospace Engineers103860Agents and
Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and
Athletes74580Agricultural and Food Science
Technicians42060Agricultural Inspectors54140Agricultural
Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary87390Air Traffic
Controllers137520Aircraft Cargo Handling
Supervisors52480Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and
Systems Assemblers51410Airfield Operations
Specialists59800Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight
Engineers146150Anthropologists and
Archeologists57720Appraisers and Assessors of Real
Estate52870Arbitrators, Mediators, and
Conciliators86430Architects, Except Landscape and
Naval81000Architectural and Civil Drafters62210Architecture

10. and Engineering Occupations73850Architecture Teachers,
Postsecondary73870Archivists60730Art Directors92680Art,
Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary78700Athletic
Trainers45440Atmospheric and Space
Scientists93900Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences
Teachers, Postsecondary96590Audiologists97230Avionics
Technicians47320Biomedical
Engineers99000Boilermakers76310Broadcast News
Analysts71040Brokerage Clerks57260Budget
Analysts75940Business and Financial Operations
Occupations64880Business Operations Specialists, All
Other67980Business Teachers, Postsecondary119810Buyers and
Purchasing Agents, Farm Products62290Camera and
Photographic Equipment Repairers32280Captains, Mates, and
Pilots of Water Vessels63890Cardiovascular Technologists and
Technicians59630Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle
School69050Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary
School63430Cargo and Freight Agents40910Cartographers and
Photogrammetrists72120Chefs and Head Cooks47660Chemical
Engineers87200Chemical Equipment Operators and
Tenders45460Chemical Plant and System
Operators54920Chemical Technicians50360Chemistry Teachers,
Postsecondary96330Chemists76620Child, Family, and School
Social Workers58140Chiropractors86820Civil
Engineers91430Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and
Investigators66030Clinical, Counseling, and School
Psychologists76150Coil Winders, Tapers, and
Finishers31280Commercial and Industrial
Designers66710Commercial Pilots104420Communications
Equipment Operators, All Other43160Communications
Teachers, Postsecondary85310Community and Social Service
Occupations43790Community Health
Workers37190Compensation and Benefits
Managers121570Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis
Specialists67210Compliance Officers71780Computer and
Information Research Scientists121310Computer and

11. Information Systems Managers137140Computer and
Mathematical Occupations81640Computer Hardware
Engineers95500Computer Network Architects112050Computer
Network Support Specialists70940Computer Occupations, All
Other92960Computer Programmers89390Computer Science
Teachers, Postsecondary89290Computer Systems
Analysts90600Computer User Support
Specialists53680Conservation Scientists67540Construction and
Building Inspectors64150Construction
Managers99150Continuous Mining Machine
Operators55330Control and Valve Installers and Repairers,
Except Mechanical Door64960Conveyor Operators and
Tenders31910Cost Estimators69480Crane and Tower
Operators53980Credit Analysts72870Credit
Counselors46720Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
Teachers, Postsecondary66980Curators66230Database
Administrators91730Dental Hygienists71930Derrick Operators,
Oil and Gas38120Detectives and Criminal
Investigators90890Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers74340Dietitians and Nutritionists56480Directors,
Religious Activities and Education43690Drafters, All
Other51790Economics Teachers,
Postsecondary137920Economists106280Editors59510Education
Administrators, All Other83420Education Administrators,
Elementary and Secondary School104280Education
Administrators, Postsecondary99740Education Administrators,
Preschool and Childcare Center/Program65860Education
Teachers, Postsecondary65020Education, Training, and Library
Occupations47920Educational, Guidance, School, and
Vocational Counselors56550Electric Motor, Power Tool, and
Related Repairers63800Electrical and Electronics
Drafters69010Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Technicians68060Electrical and Electronics Installers and
Repairers, Transportation Equipment54060Electrical and
Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial
Equipment55970Electrical and Electronics Repairers,

12. Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay81590Electrical
Engineers91870Electrical Power-Line Installers and
Repairers67430Electricians74010Electro-Mechanical
Technicians54700Electronics Engineers, Except
Computer100610Elementary School Teachers, Except Special
Education62620Elevator Installers and
Repairers88340Embalmers48770Emergency Management
Directors79270Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All
Other63250English Language and Literature Teachers,
Postsecondary81700Environmental Engineering
Technicians56810Environmental Engineers84870Environmental
Science and Protection Technicians, Including
Health45090Environmental Science Teachers,
Postsecondary92530Environmental Scientists and Specialists,
Including Health84320Epidemiologists85620Executive
Secretaries and Executive Administrative
Assistants55770Exercise Physiologists54300Explosives
Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and
Blasters62910Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting
Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders38680Farm and Home
Management Advisors38940Film and Video
Editors62280Financial Analysts89860Financial Clerks, All
Other44080Financial Examiners99800Financial
Managers134370Financial Specialists, All Other87690Fire
Inspectors and Investigators58590Firefighters55300First-Line
Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction
Workers82160First-Line Supervisors of Correctional
Officers84290First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and
Forestry Workers42540First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting
and Prevention Workers91930First-Line Supervisors of Helpers,
Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand49590First-Line
Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping
Workers54280First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers,
and Repairers66430First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales
Workers72920First-Line Supervisors of Office and
Administrative Support Workers58120First-Line Supervisors of

13. Police and Detectives101240First-Line Supervisors of
Production and Operating Workers60990First-Line Supervisors
of Protective Service Workers, All Other46280First-Line
Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine
and Vehicle Operators58250Fish and Game Wardens88120Food
Service Managers51340Foreign Language and Literature
Teachers, Postsecondary73350Forensic Science
Technicians79630Forest and Conservation
Technicians46640Foresters65970Forestry and Conservation
Science Teachers, Postsecondary90080Fundraisers57720Funeral
Service Managers82590Gaming Supervisors32220Gas
Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators62720Gas Plant
Operators70130General and Operations
Managers124190Geography Teachers,
Postsecondary82530Geological and Petroleum
Technicians39180Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and
Geographers70730Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining
Safety Engineers and Inspectors84880Health Diagnosing and
Treating Practitioners, All Other67650Health
Educators58050Health Specialties Teachers,
Postsecondary136670Health Technologists and Technicians, All
Other45940Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations67470Healthcare Social Workers53600Hearing Aid
Specialists46970Historians70840History Teachers,
Postsecondary88590Hoist and Winch Operators80,660Home
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary74490Human Resources
Managers112430Human Resources Specialists61460Industrial
Engineering Technicians57750Industrial
Engineers82720Industrial Machinery Mechanics55930Industrial
Production Managers100480Information and Record Clerks, All
Other45700Information Security Analysts97360Installation,
Maintenance, and Repair Occupations45990Instructional
Coordinators66810Insurance Appraisers, Auto
Damage70380Insurance Sales Agents66080Insurance
Underwriters76990Interior Designers62010Judges, Magistrate
Judges, and Magistrates58140Kindergarten Teachers, Except

14. Special Education55850Labor Relations
Specialists51870Landscape
Architects68960Lawyers140920Layout Workers, Metal and
Plastic42830Legal Occupations82900Legal Support Workers,
All Other59510Librarians56320Library Science Teachers,
Postsecondary78830Life Scientists, All Other82630Life,
Physical, and Social Science Occupations62840Loading
Machine Operators, Underground Mining41270Loan
Officers82290Locomotive Engineers71960Logging Workers, All
Other41940Logisticians67890Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Technologists70580Management Analysts92200Managers, All
Other88600Marine Engineers and Naval Architects82410Market
Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists62380Marketing
Managers122260Marriage and Family Therapists55600Materials
Engineers91510Mathematical Science Teachers,
Postsecondary78880Mechanical Drafters58540Mechanical
Engineering Technicians60220Mechanical
Engineers92040Media and Communication Equipment Workers,
All Other76540Medical and Clinical Laboratory
Technologists65770Medical and Health Services
Managers113030Medical Equipment Repairers58310Meeting,
Convention, and Event Planners52370Mental Health
Counselors46580Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and
Tenders44990Middle School Teachers, Except Special and
Career/Technical Education66630Millwrights58660Mine
Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators46250Mine Shuttle
Car Operators56930Mining and Geological Engineers, Including
Mining Safety Engineers93920Mining Machine Operators, All
Other69160Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators,
and Tenders41970Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except
Engines58950Model Makers, Metal and Plastic57100Morticians,
Undertakers, and Funeral Directors69800Multimedia Artists and
Animators59890Music Directors and Composers46260Natural
Sciences Managers113620Network and Computer Systems
Administrators87700Nuclear Engineers121650Nuclear Medicine
Technologists79440Nuclear Technicians88770Nurse

15. Practitioners101960Nursing Instructors and Teachers,
Postsecondary72450Occupational Health and Safety
Specialists75610Occupational Health and Safety
Technicians61740Occupational Therapists82290Occupational
Therapy Assistants61860Operations Research
Analysts90310Optometrists108370Orthotists and
Prosthetists82380Painters, Transportation
Equipment45230Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and
Tenders37110Paralegals and Legal
Assistants56990Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic56260Personal
Financial Advisors121750Petroleum Pump System Operators,
Refinery Operators, and
Gaugers66550Pharmacists120280Philosophy and Religion
Teachers, Postsecondary78010Physical Therapist
Assistants57750Physical Therapists90040Physician
Assistants104730Physicists118520Physics Teachers,
Postsecondary89040Plant and System Operators, All
Other56830Plumbers, Pipefitters, and
Steamfitters77570Podiatrists192180Police and Sheriff's Patrol
Officers73870Political Science Teachers,
Postsecondary90250Postal Service Clerks49310Postal Service
Mail Carriers50160Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and
Processing Machine Operators49820Postmasters and Mail
Superintendents75620Power Distributors and
Dispatchers84830Power Plant Operators79100Precision
Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other64170Private
Detectives and Investigators58290Probation Officers and
Correctional Treatment Specialists64300Producers and
Directors75970Production, Planning, and Expediting
Clerks48390Property, Real Estate, and Community Association
Managers65980Psychologists, All Other75060Psychology
Teachers, Postsecondary89680Public Relations and Fundraising
Managers115180Public Relations Specialists63620Pump
Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers51520Purchasing Agents,
Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products61760Purchasing
Managers111380Radiation Therapists84640Radio, Cellular, and

16. Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers49240Radiologic
Technologists63100Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and
Hostlers54790Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters65740Rail-
Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators54600Real
Estate Brokers86260Real Estate Sales Agents59010Recreation
and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary60080Recreational
Vehicle Service Technicians34450Refractory Materials
Repairers, Except Brickmasons49210Registered
Nurses72090Reinforcing Iron and Rebar
Workers86290Respiratory Therapists56910Rolling Machine
Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic38060Roof
Bolters, Mining58900Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and
Gas49720Sales Engineers98760Sales Managers128340Sales
Representatives, Services, All Other61930Sales
Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except
Technical and Scientific Products69900Sales Representatives,
Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific
Products81950Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and
Career/Technical Education68380Securities, Commodities, and
Financial Services Sales Agents86070Service Unit Operators,
Oil, Gas, and Mining42200Set and Exhibit Designers54620Ship
Engineers69300Signal and Track Switch Repairers37720Social
and Community Service Managers63870Social Scientists and
Related Workers, All Other79960Social Work Teachers,
Postsecondary54580Social Workers, All Other65890Sociology
Teachers, Postsecondary87710Software Developers,
Applications96110Software Developers, Systems
Software106700Soil and Plant Scientists57080Sound
Engineering Technicians58660Special Education Teachers, All
Other59400Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and
Elementary School65430Special Education Teachers, Middle
School62160Special Education Teachers, Secondary
School68560Speech-Language Pathologists78760Stationary
Engineers and Boiler
Operators79090Statisticians83850Surveyors66400Tank Car,
Truck, and Ship Loaders45470Tax Examiners and Collectors,

17. and Revenue Agents79850Technical
Writers67410Telecommunications Equipment Installers and
Repairers, Except Line Installers57580Tire Builders42500Tool
and Die Makers54680Training and Development
Managers101500Training and Development
Specialists59910Transportation Inspectors86790Transportation,
Storage, and Distribution Managers92220Urban and Regional
Planners79510Veterinarians96440Water and Wastewater
Treatment Plant and System Operators54560Web
Developers78160Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm
Products59080Writers and Authors66260Zoologists and
Wildlife Biologists58370
Sheet2
Sheet3
Deliverable 04 Worksheet
1. Describe the 8 steps in the process for hypothesis testing.
Explain the decision criteria for rejecting the null hypothesis
for both the p-value method and the critical value method.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
The remaining problems refer to the following scenario:
A claim is made that the average salary for all jobs in
Minnesota is less than $75,000. You are going to test the claim
using and assume that your data is normally distributed and the
population standard deviation is not known.
2. Write the null and alternative hypotheses symbolically and
identify which hypothesis is the claim. Then identify if the test
is left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed and explain why.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.

18. 3. Identify and explain which test statistic you will use for your
hypothesis test: z or t? Find the value of the test statistic.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
4. What is the critical value? Describe the rejection region.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
5. Using the critical value approach, should you reject the null
hypothesis or not reject the null hypothesis? Explain. After
making your decision, restate it in non-technical terms and
make a conclusion about the original claim.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
6. Calculate the p-value for this hypothesis test, and state the
hypothesis conclusion based on the p-value. Does this match

19. your results from the critical value method?
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.