Student Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Write a short report based on primary research, describing the class.
- Support the findings with visuals and document the data source on all visuals.
- Accurately design and label three visuals, using figure numbers, headings, and data labels.
- Use numerals correctly.
- Understand the difference in plurality and majority.
- Use formal language, standard grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Discussion
Visuals separate business communication from other forms of writing. Visuals pull together data in a chart or table to compare trends or depict information and results. Types of visuals include tables, pie graphs, bar charts, flow charts, organization charts, maps, drawings and photos. It is important to choose the right type of visual and make the representation of data ethical (see Figure 10.28 and Figure 10.30 for unethical designs followed by ethical designs in Figure 10.29 and Figure 10.31 on pages 363-365). Decide on an order to present the information: alphabetical, chronological, highest to lowest data, or lowest to highest data. Horizontal and vertical bar graphs can be made into pictographs (see Figure 10.15 on page 353). Although visuals with their data labels and headings are designed to stand alone, they should be reinforced and referenced in the text of a report. One of the best newspapers to view visuals is USA Today.
The following professional report includes horizontal bar charts that support the content. The visuals have a figure number, heading, data labels (results with percentages). and the source of information.
Shaping the future of hybrid work
Assignment
In this assignment you are practicing appropriate visual selection by using primary data. You will analyze and describe the class statistically, using primary data from the Information Sheet that you completed earlier. No class before you or after you will be like you. This class is unique in its answers on the Information Sheet. The professional report shows you ways to organize content and use visuals in your report. This assignment gives you practice for the major report.
When you write the report, your name should appear in the upper right-hand corner on the first and all succeeding pages. Give your report a title.
Begin the short report by briefly introducing the class, such as course name and term offered, and noting the return rate. To determine the return rate, you will divide the number of surveys completed by the number of students in the class. For example, if there are 25 students in the class but only 20 complete the information sheet, then the return rate is 80%.
Choose three questions from the information sheet that do not have results of 100%. Write a short paragraph or a few statements, highlighting the important aspects of the data. (For example, most students write weekly while only two students write monthly. See Figure 1.) Support the results of each question with a visual. An overview of visuals is available in Chapter 10 on pages 336-367.
Include a combination of charts and tables to depict the results. Select a chart or table that is appropriate for the contents; there are no questions that can use a line graph because there are no trends over time. A minimum/total of three charts and/or tables is required. Refer to the visuals in your report (e.g., In Figure 1, see Figure 3, Table 1 depicts most students are accounting majors). Use statements about the results rather than repeat the question. Include the source (Data Source: Information Sheet – WRIT 3312, Spring 2023) with each visual. A data source differs from a source since you are the one designing the visual from others’ data rather than copying a visual exactly as it appeared in another source.
Use numerals correctly (see below); page A-11 (Section A.3e) in your textbook has additional information.
- Example: Fourteen students reported they write daily. (Note: Write out numerals at the beginning of sentences.)
- Example: The WRIT 3312 class has 34 students. (Note: You can use numerals rather than words, e.g., 34 rather than thirty-four.)
- Example: A majority of the class (59%) said they will graduate this spring. (Note: Distinguish between majority and plurality; see definition below.)
- Example: A plurality of the class (37%) said they are accounting majors. (Note: Other responses for that question would have to have to be less than 37%.)
Note: A majority is more than half (51% or more). A plurality is the highest number of responses for an item or survey question that is not more than half. For example, there are 10 responses to a question about how many hours of overtime is scheduled: 3 work zero hours overtime, 4 work 1-5 hours overtime, 2 work 6-10 hours overtime, and 1 works more than 10 hours of overtime. Therefore, a plurality (40%) work overtime of 1-5 hours. You cannot have both a plurality and a majority.
This assignment is worth 100 points. Each visual is worth 15 points (total 45 points): appropriate design (3 points), figure number with heading (2 points), data labels (4 points), source of data (2 points), and accuracy (4 points). The writing portion is worth 55 points: introductory paragraph (5 points), statements about results and reference to visuals (25 points), and clarity/grammar/spelling/punctuation (25 points).
