192.102
Instructions for Assignment 2
Academic Report
Purpose
To show your ability to answer a client-specific report brief by researching appropriate information from Massey University’s library or online sources, organising content into a Report Structure, writing coherent sentences and paragraphs using clear vocabulary and grammar, and formatting your writing to tertiary-level academic standards.
Assignment question
Choose one of the briefs (report topics) below for your report assignment. Include a minimum of five (5) “academic” sources to support your statements. Please use English language sources only to ensure that you see how academic words and phrases are used in writing. Format your report using APA style. publication standards.
Report Briefs
Topic 1: Fluoride in the Public Water System
There is a debate over whether adding fluoride to the public tap water system is necessary or not. One view is that fluoride is a safe way of promoting dental health; however, a contrasting view is that excessive fluoride in drinking water can lead to serious health issues. A private consultancy firm, Water Management Resources, would like you to investigate the pros and cons of adding fluoride to drinking water. In your report, ensure that you discuss if oral health standards in New Zealand is an issue or not, whether people have access to fluoride in other ways (e.g., through bottled water), and how other countries have adopted or note adopted the implementation of a fluoridated water system. Include recommendations for the general public on how to improve their dental hygiene.
Topic 2: E-waste
With the demand for electronic products and the throw-away nature of consumer behaviour, electronic waste (or e-waste) is increasing at an alarming rate. What classifies as e-waste? What types of e-waste contribute most to the problem? How serious is this a problem for New Zealand? What solutions can be provided? An independent, environmental working group, EnviroNZ, has requested a report to better understand the growing problem of electronic waste disposal. EnviroNZ is interested in understanding the severity of this problem and what actions should be in place that could help individual homeowners, businesses, and public institutions in New Zealand. The research group will send your findings in a larger document to New Zealand’s Minister for the Environment; therefore, your report should include feasible recommendations which will hopefully begin to address this complex social and environmental issue.
Word limit
Between 1500-1700 words (include a word count) (see sample reports at the end of this pdf and extra downloadable pdf on Stream)
Due date
See 192102 Stream site assessments page
Checklist for your Report assignment
o I have chosen one of the topics, and I have written a report that responds to the assignment brief.
o I have used content from trustworthy academic sources.
o I have included content from New Zealand sources, provided examples that relate to the New Zealand context, or discussed the impact of the issue on New Zealand.
o I have written a clear Report Structure with easily identifiable Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion (report summary) and Recommendation sections.
o My Introduction section includes information about the client, the aims of the report, and relevant background information.
o My Discussion section includes relevant statements, facts, quotes, statistics, or other information from reliable sources.
o My Conclusions (report summary) section includes a summary of the main points outlined in my Discussion section. It does not include new information not presented previously in the Discussion section.
o My Recommendations section includes specific and feasible suggestions that the client would find useful. The recommendations should logically link with and follow the statements in the preceding Conclusions section.
o Each paragraph has a single and clear focus. I have used appropriate headings in my Discussion section.
o I have written clear topic sentences and used appropriate transition words.
o I have submitted my own work. I have used my own words and have not copied the text from the original source(s).
o I have included my sources in my report (i.e., in-text references) and a reference list is added at the end of my assignment.
o I have formatted my source references following APA 7 (see https://owll.massey.ac.nz/referencing/apa-interactive.php for formatting help).
o I have proofread my writing to use more academic vocabulary and fixed any grammar mistakes.
o I have checked my assignment for spelling, punctuation, and capitalisation mistakes.
o I have included a title page, table of contents, page numbers, and a word count.
o I have used 1.5 line spacing and used a consistent font style. and size (e.g. 12-point font (Arial, Times New Roman, etc.).
o I have submitted my report as an MS Word docx file. (Use the following link, https://cloudconvert.com/ to convert pdf or pages documents).
o I have included a cover page with my full name and student ID number.