English 420, Business Writing

During the White Paper Project, you will explore issues or problems relevant to a professional setting, research and synthesize information, and present that information in an objective fashion which calls your audience to action. Although this project involves some individual elements, the majority of the project is the result of collaboration.

A white paper is an informative and definitive overview of a well-focused topic. White papers typically include an "Executive Summary," "Background Information," "Key Issues" or "Key Developments," "Resource List," and a number of other sections, depending on the nature of the subject matter (a chronology, remaining challenges, future prospects, etc.)

Project Summary

In this project, groups of 3-4 members will be asked to do web-based and library research and then to write an informative white paper on professional issues within a company. This research will result in a visually sophisticated (well-designed) document of 1700-2000 words that presents findings to appropriate audience(s) and rhetorical situation(s). Ultimately, you will propose THREE solutions to your issue, in an even-handed way. This will not be a compare and contrast paper where you campaign for one of the solutions. Rather, you will advocate EQUALLY for all three solutions. After producing the final draft of the white paper, groups will present their findings to the class in a brief and engaging oral presentation, complete with visual elements (technology)and handout(s).

Rhetorical Situation: Imagine that you work for Envision Consulting. Your company has been hired by Alex P. Keaton, the new CEO of Knight Corporation, an Indiana-based custom manufacturer of vehicle modification equipment for the disabled. Mr. Keaton has identified five areas of concern within the company's current operations: employee health-benefit costs, conditions on the manufacturing floor, sales changes, technological enhancements, and management restructuring. Mr. Keaton has hired Envision Consulting to explore these five areas of concern. He would like your company to research these issues and propose potential solutions. Accordingly, the primary audience for your white paper is Mr. Keaton and the Knight Company's Board of Directors who are concerned with implementing solutions to the problem you are addressing. Though these people are experts in their field, their awareness of the issues and their familiarity with the technology and policies needed to address the issues will vary.

Length and Format

The length of your white paper will depend somewhat on your topic area, but it should be within 1700-2000 words (formatting will vary based on the design employed by each group, but every white paper should be visually sophisticated.)

Project Goals

This project emphasizes several important goals that all professional writers should bear in mind and that are consistent with those of the Professional Writing Program at Purdue. The White Paper Project emphasizes shaping research, writing, and design to very specific situations and purposes:

Writing in Context
Analyze professional cultures, social contexts, and audiences to determine how they shape the various purposes and forms of writing, such as persuasion, organizational communication, and public discourse.

Writing Process
Develop and understand various strategies for planning, researching, drafting, revising, and editing documents that respond effectively and ethically to professional situations and audiences.

Collaboration
Learn and apply strategies for successful collaboration, such as working and communicating on-line with colleagues, setting and achieving project goals, and responding constructively to peers' work.

Research
Understand and use various research methods to produce professional documents, including analyzing professional contexts, assessing and using information resources, and determining how various media and technologies affect and are affected by users and readers.

Technology
Develop strategies for using and adapting various communication technologies to manage projects and produce informative and usable professional documents.

Document Design
Learn to argue with visual data, understanding and implementing various principles of format, layout, and design of professional documents that meet multiple user and reader needs.

Deliverables

There will be both group and individual deliverables for this project. Groups will be responsible for the following:

Group Deliverable 1: Technology Presentation. Each group will be responsible for researching and presenting on a software program often used in the professional world. Groups will be responsible for exploring the program, researching its professional uses, and preparing an informative presentation for classmates. The presentation should include the above listed information as well as a demonstration of the program's capabilities. Furthermore, you should provide a handout during the presentation that your classmates can later use to begin exploring the program.

Group Deliverable 2 : Draft of White Paper. Each group will be required to have 5 hardcopies of their white paper (must be printed before class) in class for peer review. Remember that a draft is a complete version.

Group Deliverable 3: Final Draft of White Paper. Each group will be required to submit one hardcopy of their white paper. In addition to the print copy, each group will email me a PDF version of their white paper.

Group Deliverable 4: Presentation. Each group will present their material to the class in a professional presentation. Presentations will run 10-12 minutes. They must include multimedia elements and be accompanied by a handout. Each group member will be expected to take part in the presentation.

Individuals within groups will be responsible for the following deliverables:

Individual Deliverable 1: Group Formation Correspondence. Each student will write a cover letter to the leader of the group he/she would like to join. Like traditional cover letters, this letter will follow a business letter form, include relevant introductory information, describe why you are a good candidate for group membership, and provide appropriate conclusion information. You will post your letter in a blog entry using the correct category for your chosen group. The group leader will respond to your cover letter and let you know whether you are chosen for that particular group and the reasons for his/her choice. If you are not chosen, you will need to write a different cover letter for a different group. Please note: group leaders can choose no more than their alloted number of group members, so if you notice that a group leader has already selected his/her members, do not apply for that group.

Individual Deliverable 2: Drupal Research & Work(b)log. Each individual will be required to keep a blog which a) records his/her research and b) details his/her contributions to the project. Each student will be expected to post one research post per week (four total) due by Sundays at 5 p.m. Work(b)logs will be updated weekly until the project concludes. These blogs must be 300+ words and will be in lieu of weekly reading responses for the duration of the project.

Individual Deliverable 3: Project Assesment. An important component of your project is successful collaboration. Each member will reflect on his/her participation in the project and on the experience of working in a group.

Grading

The White Paper Project breakdowns as follows:

Group Components

• Group D 1: Technology Presentation 10%
• Group D 2: White Paper Draft: 5%
• Group D 3: White Paper Final: 40%
• Group D 4: Final Presentation: 20%

Individual Components

• Individual D 1: Group Formation Correspondence: 5%
• Individual D 2: Research & WorkBlog: 10%
• Individual D 3: Assessment: 10%

Grading Criteria

When I assign a grade to your project, I will pay particular attention to see whether your white paper is informative and accurate and that you avoid as much as possible arguing a particular position. You should strive for a balance of perspectives and accurate coverage of a focused topic. The point is not to advocate for a position or "pamphleteer," but to establish a foundation of knowledge about the subject that the Knight Corporation CEO and Board of Directors will find helpful. I will also weigh your feedback on the Collaborative Project Evaluation form in assigning a grade for your participation in the project.