Your  major project  is a full-scale, formal analytical Career Exploration  Business Report.  Each week, we will master components of the full  report so that you will be prepared for the larger submission.  The Research  Report is worth 150 points and must be completed with a minimum score  of 75 points (50%) in order to earn a course grade of C or higher.  We have been building on this report  since Week 1 of this term. The format of the business report  can be  found in Chapter 13, page 421 of your textbook.  The documents below will ensure you are on the right path: Written Business Report Lecture  Business Report Layout, Example, & Rubric  Upload your report as a Word Document by hitting the submit button. Reminder: Research Report must be completed with a minimum score of 75 points (50%) in order to earn a course grade of C or higher.  GRADING RUBRIC  Rubric  Research Report      Research Report     Criteria Ratings        Pts              This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome  Secondary Sources (3 required) Second-Hand Information: Library Research—published material—annual reports, etc. –              6.0                    pts                  Excellent Student has three required published sources that are current and legitimate.         2.0                    pts                  Adequate Two published sources that are up-to-date         0.0                    pts                  Deficient Published sources are non-existent, lack legitimacy, are not current or missing.         6.0 pts          This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome  Primary Methods (1 method required) First-Hand Information - survey/questionnaire or interview(s)              6.0                    pts                  Excellent Primary research conducted as shown with survey, interview questions, or observation criteria.         1.0                    pts                  Adequate Limited primary research. Lacking 30 responses, three interviews, or thorough criteria.         0.0                    pts                  Deficient Primary research was not conducted.         6.0 pts          This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome  Title Page - Lists Title, Prepared for, Prepared by, Date Submitted              4.0                    pts                  Excellent Title page includes title of paper, prepared for, prepared by, date.         0.0                    pts                  Deficient Title page is missing one or more of the required attributes.         4.0 pts          This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome  Letter/Memo of Transmittal - direct approach, brief highlight of important data, thank you, contact information,              9.0                    pts                  Excellent Letter  of Transmittal is written directly and is appropriately formatted. Is  written directly, includes project highlights, author observations,  and/or thoughtful feedback and suggestions about the project.   Includes tha.

1. Your major project is a full-scale, formal analytical Career
Exploration Business Report. Each week, we will master
components of the full report so that you will be prepared for
the larger submission.
The Research Report is worth 150 points and must be
completed with a minimum score of 75 points (50%) in order to
earn a course grade of C or higher.
We have been building on this report since Week 1 of this
term. The format of the business report can be found in
Chapter 13, page 421 of your textbook.
The documents below will ensure you are on the right path:
Written Business Report Lecture
Business Report Layout, Example, & Rubric
Upload your report as a Word Document by hitting the submit
button.
Reminder:
Research Report must be completed with a minimum score of 75
points (50%) in order to earn a course grade of C or higher.
GRADING RUBRIC

2. Rubric
Research Report Research Report Criteria Ratings
Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Secondary Sources (3 required) Second-Hand Information:
Library Research—published material—annual reports, etc. –
6.0 pts Excellent Student has
three required published sources that are current and legitimate.
2.0 pts Adequate Two published
sources that are up-to-date 0.0 pts
Deficient Published sources are non-existent, lack
legitimacy, are not current or missing. 6.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Primary
Methods (1 method required) First-Hand Information -
survey/questionnaire or interview(s) 6.0
pts Excellent Primary research
conducted as shown with survey, interview questions, or
observation criteria. 1.0 pts
Adequate Limited primary research. Lacking 30
responses, three interviews, or thorough criteria. 0.0
pts Deficient Primary research was not
conducted. 6.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Title
Page - Lists Title, Prepared for, Prepared by, Date Submitted
4.0 pts Excellent Title page
includes title of paper, prepared for, prepared by, date. 0.0
pts Deficient Title page is missing one
or more of the required attributes. 4.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Letter/Memo of Transmittal - direct approach, brief highlight
of important data, thank you, contact information, 9.0

3. pts Excellent Letter of Transmittal is
written directly and is appropriately formatted. Is written
directly, includes project highlights, author observations,
and/or thoughtful feedback and suggestions about the project.
Includes thank you and contact information. The memo is
appropriate formatted. 5.0 pts
Accomplished Organizational plan of letter is not
direct but includes project highlights, author observations,
and/or thoughtful feedback and suggestions about the project.
The format of the memo lacks one or two of the required
elements. 0.0 pts Deficient
Format and content are lacking multiple requirements or there is
no Memo of Transmittal. 9.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Table of
Contents - Listing all headings and page numbers (appropriate
format) 4.0 pts Excellent Table
of Contents includes headings and subheadings, ellipses, and
appropriate page numbering...prefatory pages have lower case
Roman numerals, other pages are numbered appropriately.
0.0 pts Deficient The Table of
Contents is inappropriately formatted or missing entirely.
4.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Executive
Summary - purpose clearly stated, secondary and primary
highlights clearly identified, conclusion/recommendations
10.0 pts Excellent The
Executive Summary includes a clear statement of purpose along
with appropriately identified highlights of the secondary and
primary research. It is accurately formatted (single spaced
paragraphs with one blank space between paragraphs). Includes
a clear, well-developed summary and/or conclusion based on
the research. 5.0 pts Adequate
Statement of purpose is unclear. Although mentioned, research
highlights are not clearly identified as to whether they come

4. from primary or secondary sources. Format does not follow the
instructions. 0.0 pts Deficient
Lacking multiple requirements or missing executive summary.
10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Introduction - Attention-getting opening, clear statement of
purpose, scope & procedures (secondary/primary) 10.0
pts Excellent Includes an attention-
getting opening that is interesting and grabs the reader's
attention...tells a story, cites a statistic, and/or shares a quote.
Includes a clear statement of purpose, the scope of the
research, and accurately identifies major published sources that
are also reflected in the Works Cited. Limitations of the
research are included. The method of primary research used is
clearly and thoroughly explained...indicates number of
questions, types of questions, number of responses, and
something about respondents. Report organization is included
which describes for the reader what follows. 5.0
pts Adequate Introduction is missing
one or two of the required elements (scope, limitations, sources,
methods, report organization). 0.0 pts
Deficient Introduction is missing three or four of the
required elements. 10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome BODY
TEXT - THOROUGH DISCUSSION OF BLENDED
RESEARCH FINDINGS - 6-8 pages in length, double-spaced,
size 12 font, cite any information quoted, paraphrased,
summarized.Topic headings and subheadings are descriptive,
concise, parallel, consistent, and formatted appropriately
30.0 pts Excellent Body
analysis is six to eight pages in length and follows the
appropriate formatting guidelines (double-spaced with headings
and subheadings that are appropriate formatted and included in
the Table of Contents). There is a thorough, blended discussion

5. of both primary and secondary findings with appropriate
citations of secondary and primary sources - wich are properly
and accurately formatted adhering to MLA requirements.
Research is developed with support and explanation of ideas
using appropriate, relevant, objective evidence with supportive
specific details and clear explanations. The findings are
thoroughly discussed and maintain a unified focus on the
purpose and scope as presented in the introduction. There is a
fluid order and effective transitions from concept to concept
(topic sentence to topic sentence/paragraph to paragraph).
Published sources are accurately represented. Primary research
is clearly identified and includes appropriate citations. Topic
headings and subheadings are descriptive, concise, parallel,
consistent, and formatted appropriately 21.0
pts Adequate Body analysis includes
some discussion but needs to be more thoroughly blended.
Development of topic with support and explanation of ideas is
limited. Needs to be more objective with supporting details and
explanations that reference published sources. Need to more
thoroughly blend the research from published sources and
primary research. Some transitions but could use more
effective transitions from one concept to the next. Topic
headings and subheadings are missing one or two elements.
15.0 pts Poor Very little blended
discussion of documented research with primary research
findings. Missing properly formatted in-text citations on
information that either comes from published sources or from
primary research. Very little interpretation of the material from
sources. Few, if any, transitions from concept to concept. Topic
headings and subheadings are missing elements. 5.0
pts Deficient There is no references to
published sources...missing any blended discussion of primary
and secondary research. Discussion of topic is missing critical
interpretation and thinking about the topic. There is no support
or explanation of ideas, inappropriate, irrelevant, and/or
subjective evidence with little or no supporting

6. details/explanations. Writing lacks unified focus, effective
transitions from concept to concept. Topic headings and
subheadings are missing elements. 30.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Summary
and Conclusion/Recommendations...based on primary AND
secondary information...includes NO new information
10.0 pts Excellent Summary
discussion clearly represents findings from research...both
primary and secondary information. Uses effective conclusion
strategy, leaves a strong impact on the reader. Clearly provides
a recap of information presented in the paper highlighting main
points and informative interpretation of findings. Includes no
new information. 5.0 pts Adequate
Research topic is summarized but lacks thorough conclusion
based on research findings. Impact on reader could be more
thoughtful and thought-provoking. Includes some new
information. 0.0 pts Deficient
Discussion is poorly summarized and lacks effective strategy
which clearly references research findings or paper does not
close with summary of findings 10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Works
Cited Page - MLA formatting required, single space each entry,
double space between entries, include entry to reflect primary
research, must be current. 10.0 pts
Excellent MLA formatting accurately displayed in
list of Works Cited. Follow direction with single-spaced entries
and double space between entries. Includes entry reflecting
primary research. Entries are presented in accurate alphabetic
order, and formatted according to MLA. There are at least three
published sources that reflect current library or internet
sources. Sources are dated within three years of submission
date. 5.0 pts Adequate Works
cited adheres to MLA formatting requirements. One source
exceeds date requirements for this project. Entry reflecting

7. primary research is included but is not thoroughly and
accurately presented. 0.0 pts
Deficient Incomplete, inaccurate, dated, formatting
is not MLA 10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Appendix
to include a blank copy of the primary research instrument,
tallied results, graded work plan 6.0 pts
Excellent A blank copy of the primary research is
included along with a tally of the primary research findings.
The tally results are presented as both #s and %s. A clear
analysis of the findings has been conducted. 5.0
pts Adequate One required piece of the
Appendix is missing...either the blank copy of the primary
research or the tallied results. Limited analysis of the primary
research findings. 3.0 pts Poor
Primary research is questionable and the formatting of the
completed survey and/or the tallied results lacks
professionalism. 0.0 pts Deficient
A blank copy of the primary research as well as the tallied
results are missing. 6.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome A graphic
(chart) developed by you and based on your primary research,
thoroughly discussed, placed in body, referenced in paragraph.
Appropriately titled and formatted. 18.0
pts Excellent There is at least one
chart, thoroughly discussed, placed in the body of the report,
properly reference in the paragraph, based on primary
information. The chart is clearly the best information from the
primary research that requires additional attention. A source
line indicating where the information comes from is included
with the chart and is properly formatted. 14.0
pts Adequate A chart is included but
the discussion of the chart/research findings is limited. Chart is
missing one or two of the required elements...title, labels,

8. source line 0.0 pts Deficient Chart
is lacking several required design elements or chart is missing.
18.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome MLA
Reference Citations - parenthetical in body, quotes,
paraphrases, and summaries. Minimum of five, but may have
many more. All appropriate information should be cited.
15.0 pts Excellent
Parenthetical, in-text citations are included in the body text of
the research paper. MLA reference citations are accurately and
appropriately reflected within the research paper. Citations
reflected include quotes, paraphrases, and summaries. There
are a minimum of five citations. However, all published
information is appropriately and accurately represented through
the project. 8.0 pts Adequate
There are four parenthetical, in-text citations...five required.
Formatting of in-text citations is incorrectly or inaccurately
displayed. 0.0 pts Deficient There
are fewer than four in-text citations throughout the body of the
research paper. 15.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Writing
Style - grammar, spelling punctuation, sentence structure,
coherence, paragraph organization, use of transitional words
and phrases 12.0 pts Excellent
Writing style reflects that which is expected of a college-level
student. There are one or fewer of the following mechanical
errors. Grammar......spelling....punctuation.....sentence
structure...coherence, paragraph organization (indented
paragraphs), and appropriate use of transitional words and
phrases. 7.0 pts Adequate There
are two or fewer mechanical errors. 4.0 pts
Three or four errors 0.0 pts
Deficient There are five or more errors. 12.0
pts