Learning Module 5: Final Project: Creating a Professional Document
Module 5: Final Project
I. GOALS:
In Module 5, we will build on the preparation/proposal work you accomplished in Module 3 in order to craft and ultimately submit a professional-level technical document tailored specifically to an accessible real-world audience.
II. DOCUMENT TYPES:
Over the semester we have encountered a number of technical/professional documents, some of which you were familiar with, some of which you might not have fully considered before. These include:
As mentioned in Module 3, for the final project you have the option of choosing from the following:
- Technical Background Report: Real-world examples include: British Columbia's Water Act Modernization Technical Background Report
- Onboarding Manual: Real-world examples include: University of North Texas Onboarding guide for Managers
- Standard Operating Procedures: Real-world examples include: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for FAA Review of Exhibit 'A' Airport Property Inventory Maps
- Recommendation Report Links to an external site.: Real-world examples include: PG County Purple Line Corridor Access Study (CAST) Links to an external site.
The type of document you choose depends on the audience/rhetorical situation you've identified and how best you can address the problem/opportunity.
III. REQUIREMENTS:
Independent Work
- Review example documents below
- Review Primary Research Overview
- Review Secondary Research Overview
IV. CRAFTING THE FINAL PROJECT
For the Research Proposal assignment, you completed some initial work to identify an accessible audience/rhetorical situation and to map out a potential solution to a problem/opportunity you identified. Depending on the feedback you received following final submission, your goal now is either 1) to move forward with your plans or 2) to revise your approach, decide on a viable project, and then to start working on it. If your intended project demands significant revision, you should make plans to meet with me online or in person as soon as possible.
Often the most challenging component of the final project is the Primary Research requirement. Nevertheless, completing primary research - ideally talking directly with members of your intended audience(s) - will ensure you are able to tailor your Final Project as much as possible to them.
Remember, the point of the final project is to synthesize everything we've learned over the last several weeks and apply it to creating a real (that is, not hypothetical) document intended to serve as a solution/resource for a real audience.
V. MODULE RESOURCES
Below you will find a variety of other real world examples that may help you when crafting your own document.
Technical Background Resources and Examples:
- Seismic and Geologic Technical Background Report for the City of San Diego Links to an external site.
- The County of Mariposa General Plan, Volume III Links to an external site.
- Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area Public Facilities and Services Plan Links to an external site.
Onboarding Manual Resources and Examples
- Purdue University Onboarding Guide for Supervisors Links to an external site.
- Georgia Regents Uuniversity Executive Leadership Onboarding Manual Links to an external site.
- Stanford Manager's Guide to Onboarding Links to an external site.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Examples:
- SOPs from the DELTA funding office at NC State Links to an external site.
- "Standard Operating Procedures Manual: The Referral, Evaluation, and Placement of School-Age Students with Disabilities" from NYC DOE Links to an external site.
- "Standard Operating Procedures Manual" from LEAP Academy Charter School, Inc. Links to an external site.
Technical Specifications Resources and Examples (potentially useful for some projects):
- "Guide to Writing Specifications" from Masterspec Links to an external site.
- "Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Technical Specifications Manual For Online Testing" from AIR Links to an external site.
- "ICADC: Technical Specification Document" from Cordis Links to an external site.
- "Technical Specification Document" from GridLab Links to an external site.
- "Care Episode Statistics: Technical Specification of the GP Extract" from NHS England Links to an external site.
Recommendation Report Examples: