The English 303 Report is to be a PROBLEM-SOLVING one; it must state a problem, develop CRITERIA for evaluating possible solutions, and then compare 2-5 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS to see which best solves the problem by best satisfying the criteria. This ANALYTICAL process is discussed below.
To begin your research, go to the section of this web site entitled Researching the Long Report This resource gives you links to the Louisiana Tech University library, to search engines such as Google, and to other internet sources. Also, the section of the web site, called Long Report Sources of Information and Documentation, listed in the Table of Contents and given below, will tell you about the overall content requirements of the Long Report.
PRELIMINARY TOPIC:
First, choose a topic in your major field or a closely related field where there is currently a problem being researched. This problem might involve a mechanism, machine, method, or theory that could be used to solve a specific problem or do a specific job. This topic will be submitted to me in writing for approval the third week of class.
PROPOSAL:
When the topic is approved, you will do a proposal, listing the topic--the problem--along with the criteria to be used for comparing the possible solutions. The possible solutions will also be given, along with a preliminary bibliography. There is a sample Proposal shown on the Example page. The outline section of the sample Proposal will show you how the paper will compare the competing mechanisms, machines, methods, or theories--the possible solutions-- to see which one will best solve the problem or do the job.
CRITERIA:
To make a comparison of several things meaningful, you must set up a basis by which to compare them. The basis in this paper will be a set of CRITERIA (plural form of CRITERION) or limits that an ideal solution should achieve. For instance, in buying an automobile, a consumer would consider cost and reliability as important considerations; they would then be made the criteria by which two different cars could be compared to see which is best for the consumer. A taxi cab company or a business might have a different set of criteria in choosing an automobile to use as a cab. The taxi company or business would be the POINT OF VIEW you will use in setting up the criteria. These criteria will come out of your study of the problem and logical limits on solutions to that problem.
The long report must have the following components to be successful:
Preliminary Topics: You must turn in a sheet with your topic or list of possible topics accompanied by photocopies of pages from the above bibliographical sources; highlight the articles that might be used.
Long Report Sources of Information and Documentation
The information for the Long Report must come from four types of sources:
Information from Internet or the World Wide Web: The cautions in the textbook about using material from the Internet as source material for a technical paper should be read carefully. Material on the Internet may not have been reviewed by experts or edited by a knowledgeable person in the field. So, it may be more subject to error. When using such material. pay particular attention to the source of the information:
At least one Personal Interview: A requirement for this course is that you interview at least one person with knowledge of some aspect of your topic. A summary of this interview is to be given in the Appendix to the paper. Of course, you may use more than one interview. The interview must be listed in the Bibliography as a source and note cards must be included for the interview information. The textbook offers guidelines for conducting the interview.
Documentation: Any piece of information which you have gotten from a book, a journal article, an interview, or an Internet sources must be documented. Documentation means, in this case, telling the reader the source of the information you have just given in the paper.
At least three Graphics, such as pictures, drawings, charts, graphs, tables, and flow diagrams. Look at the section on Graphics, listed in the Table of Contents, and in the graphics chapter in the textbook. Follow the prescribed form for formatting graphics and for documenting them.
ENGLISH 303 PROPOSAL FORM
(See the Sample Proposal listed in the Table of Contents)
Date:
To:
From:
Subject:Report on . . . (give the topic area here, such as
insider
trading)
Purpose: (to find a solution the problem of . . . .)
Present Status of the Problem: (a short summary of prior work on the problem, current work being done on the problem, and a brief review of at least two written sources, including mention of the author, title, and place of publication)
Research Procedure: (how you will gather the information or how you will conduct your own research)
Tentative Outline: (of the paper, including at least the Problem section, the Criteria section, and the Possible Solutions section)
Projected Conclusion: (telling which possible solution looks best at this time)
Projected Recommendations: (a list giving possible future
actions
needed to implement the best solution)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(on a separate page)
The bibliography should include about ten sources, most of them periodical articles. These sources can be from the Internet; in such cases, give as much information as you can about the source of the information. Evaluate these sources very carefully as to their validity; it is best to be able to compare sources on the same topic to see that there is agreement about the information.
The bibliography should, if at all possible, include sources from Government Documents.
The sources listed in the bibliography should be primarily from the last two years; it is particularly important that the material used to compare possible solutions be very recent.
ENGLISH 303 LONG REPORT FORM
(See also the Long Report sections listed in the Table of Contents)
1. TITLE PAGE (Not numbered; counted as page i, Roman numbers)
2. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (Has no heading; numbered as page ii)
3. ABSTRACT (1st order heading; numbered as page iii)
4. TABLE OF CONTENTS (1st order heading; numbered as page iv)
5. LIST OF FIGURES (1st order heading; numbered as appropriate)
6. INTRODUCTION (1st order heading)
8. CONCLUSIONS (1st order heading)
9. RECOMMENDATIONS (1st order heading)
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY (1st order heading; arranged alphabetically and numbered sequentially)
11. APPENDIX A (1st order heading, with a title below it. Example:
APPENDIX A
Interview with William Faulkner
12. Example of a FIGURE TITLE:
Russian Tractor Factory (3:14)
[Figure goes here, below the figure number and title]
All FIRST ORDER headings are all caps, centered, and begin on new pages. Begin each one 2 inches from the top of the page. Leave 2 double spaces after a first order heading. See the example of Headings on the Formatting Page for some of the combinations of headings.
All SECOND ORDER headings are either all caps and begin at the left margin OR are in initial caps and are centered. Double space before and after a 2nd order heading.
THIRD ORDER headings are in initial caps and at the left margin. They are underlined; instead of underlining they may be bold-faced; if you prefer to bold-face headings, boldface ALL the headings in the paper, and DO NOT underline any of the headings.
Double space before and after a 3rd Order heading.
FOURTH ORDER Headings are in initial caps and indented 5 spaces (or one Tab) from the left margin, are underlined, and end with a period (other headings DO NOT end with periods). The text of the paper begins two spaces after the heading, on the same line as the heading.
Double space before a 4th order heading; the text begins on the same line.
In place of underlining 3rd and 4th order headings, ALL the headings may be bold-faced.
Margins for the Report: 1 1/2 inches left; 1 inch right, top, and bottom (except on pages beginning with 1st Order headings, in which case the top margin is 2 inches).
ENGLISH 303 LONG REPORT CHECKLIST:
Structure:
3. Explanation of POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
4. Possible solutions COMPARED as to how well they meet the criteria.
5. NARROW final conclusion; one of the solutions from #3.
SAMPLE 303 LONG REPORT TOPICS FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING PAPERS
This list is provided to give you an idea of problem-solving topics with multiple possible solutions that have been used in the past. It is not intended to be a list to use in choosing a topic. Some of the topics on this list may now be outdated; the problem they list may now be solved.
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