Communication for Engineers Study Memo Report

TOPIC: Crime at the University of South Florida

Memo information is provided in the attached powerpoint

Please follow the attached template

I have included the Research Plan I have made, which contains some background information regarding the issue

1.Major Deliverable (60%):

• (i) 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:

o Background Information

o Explanation of the Problem

o Causes of the Problem

o Impacted Population

o Works Cited

HERE IS A LINK TO A SURVEY I HAVE MADE:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-92PZMJ3Q7/

here are some links to assist you:

https://www.usf.edu/administrative-services/university-police/avoid-crime/crime-alerts.aspx

https://www.tampabay.com/florida/2019/04/17/usfs-tampa-campus-is-the-least-safe-in-florida-study-says/

https://www.usf.edu/administrative-services/university-police/resources/media-releases.aspx

https://www.tampagov.net/police/info/crime-statistics

Project Three: Research Summary
Introduction
Research Summary Project Description
Pacing: 3 Weeks
Percentage Weight of Final Grade: 20%
Deadlines Included in this Document.
Deliverables – THREE documents in total.
ALL ARE MEMOS.
1. Major Deliverable (60%):
2. Supplemental Deliverables (40%):
• (i) 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:
• (i) Research Plan (20%) : A memo that
identifies the problem you have selected
and your plans for researching it,
including research methods and
potential sources for each required topic
listed above.
o Background Information
o Explanation of the Problem
o Causes of the Problem
o Impacted Population
o Works Cited
• (ii) Research Progress Report (20%): An
update that describes a) the research
you’ve done to date; b) which topics
that research applies to; c) what you
have left to do before completing a
draft.
DUE DATES:
2 (i) – Final – 22nd
Oct. 11:59 p.m.
2 (ii) – Final – 29th
Oct.. 11:59 p.m.
1 (i) Draft – 29th Oct.
11:59 p.m.
1 (i) Final – 5th Nov.
11:59 p.m.
Overview: Part One
For Students
Research in the workplace solves a problem. Tasked with a problem in the workplace, you may be
asked to gather the information necessary to fully understand the issue at hand, solve that problem (or
offer potential solutions), prove that your solutions are viable, and/or test your solution(s). 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.
Overview: Part Two
• Your job as a researcher is to address, explain, and/or solve a 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 similar issue. Research how those groups describe and deal with the
problem. The perspective of experience is invaluable to your work.
The Assignment
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 the problem in detail using as much information as you
can gather from as many different sources as are useful. You will NOT be proposing solutions.
That means you are looking at research gathered by others (e.g., government agencies,
non-profit organizations, professional and academic experts), but also you will gather your
own data by contacting experts and asking impacted population for their perspective. You
will produce a memo that reports your findings, giving readers a robust understanding of the
problem you have researched.
Outcomes
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
•Develop research skills appropriate for addressing a specific problem
•Integrate research into a project deliverable
•Develop 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 – ENC 3246
ENC 3246
1. What is the optimal register layout for Starbuck’s at USF to reduce lines and wait time?
2. What is the optimal speed limit for roads on the USF Tampa campus to reduce accidents and
delays?
3. Which brand of battery will best serve the needs of USF’s Digital Media Commons for their
equipment that takes video/photographs underwater?
4. Electric car charging stations at USF campuses.
Sample Problems – ENC 3250
ENC 3250
1. Assessment and use of USF student fees.
2. Availability of employment and/or financial services (e.g., job application, college application,
financial aid, home budget programs) at local libraries.
3. Sustainable plastic waste management (e.g., water bottles).
4. Electric car charging stations at USF campuses.
5. Infrastructure on campus (roads / parking / biking).
6. Issues of crime on campus.
Researching the Problem
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: Describe the problem in detail. What is happening?
• 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?
Researching the Problem
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
•Interviews with experts and/or impacted individuals
•Surveys (social media makes doing surveys easy)
Deliverables – THREE documents in total
ALL ARE MEMOS. Only the main report
has a draft and a final version.
1. Major Deliverable (60%):
2. Supplemental Deliverables (40%):
• (i) A Report in Memo Format
(60% overall) that describes your
problem in detail using all the
research you have conducted.
The memo should have the
following section headings:
• (i) Research Plan (20% overall): A memo
that identifies the problem you have
selected and your plans for researching
it, including research methods and
potential sources for each starred topic
listed in the bullet-points to the left (