OVERVIEW:
Individually students will research informationabout professional associations, publications, memberships, certifications, and current news related to their chosen career field. They will detail their findings in a formal business report and submit to their professor.
Essential Employability Skills Learning Outcomes:
• Locate, select, organize and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.
• Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.
• Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken and visual form to fulfill the purpose and meet the needs of an audience.
• Respond to written, spoken or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.
• Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.
Vocational Learning Outcomes:
• Use appropriate current technologies to produce necessary reports and documents.
• Use the Internet and other sources of information to locate, assess, and collect data required for research.
• Outline the roles and benefits of professional organizations, memberships, subscriptions and certifications in a chosen career field or industry.
• Identify sources of information gathered in order to give proper recognition to the works of others.
• Use appropriate technology to organize and present research findings in a form that will clearly be understood and accessible by the end users and management (e.g., with tables, lists/bullets, images; suitable language and terminology; appropriate electronic folder).
TASKS:
1. Use MsWord2013 to create a report.MsOffice 2013 is available in the College computer labs; as well, students can download a free copy to install at home from within myCentennial.
To format the report, do the following:
a. Create a title page containing the title of the assignment, student name and number, professor name, and due date. Center contents on the page horizontally and vertically. Refer to Figure 1 below.
b. Create a header for your report that appears on all pages and has a different first page. Refer to Figure 1 below as well as APA guidelines.
c. Modify the Heading 1 Style to include: Times New Roman font, 12 pt size, Bold, Centered, and remove paragraph spacing before and after – as per OWL Purdue APA 6th edition – https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/24/
d. Modify the Heading 2 Style to include: Times New Roman font, 12 pt size, Bold, left-aligned, and remove paragraph spacing before and after – as per OWL Purdue APA 6th edition – https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/24/
e. Modify the Heading 3 Style to include: Times New Roman font, 12 pt size, Bold, indent first line½ inch, and remove paragraph spacing before and after – as per OWL Purdue APA 6th edition – https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/24/
f. Apply Heading 1, 2, and 3 styles within your report in accordance with APA guidelines.
g. Insert in-text citations where needed and build a source list using the References Menu.
h. Insert an APA References page (bibliography) using the References Menu.
i. Insert a screen capture of an online news article (screen capture) as Appendix A and refer readers to it within the body of your report. Add a source note under the image in the appendix.
j. Insert a screen capture of an online job posting (screen capture) as Appendix B and refer readers to it within the body of your report. Add a source note under the image in the appendix.
k. Generate a table of contentsusing the References Menu and show 3 levels of headings.
• Use left-aligned headings with right-aligned page numbers with dot leaders
• Apply Times New Roman font type, 12 ptfont size
• Apply double-line spacing and remove before/after paragraph spacing (TOC should fit on one page, make spacing adjustments if needed)
• Format the title, Table of Contents, as a level 1 heading AFTER you generate the TOC (Table of Contents title should not appear in the Table of Cotents). Refer to Figure 2 below.
l. Apply double-line spacing throughout your entire report, within the Table of Contents and References page as well.
m. Use consistent formatting within all paragraphs and heading levels.
n. Proofread and spellcheck your report BEFORE submitting for grading.
LRC resources for APA guidelines for a research paper can be reviewed athttp://library.centennialcollege.ca/research/apaand http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/apa and examples of citing business sources specifically at http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/apabusiness
2. Start your report with a level 1 heading entitled, “Academic Program Outline.” Under this heading include an introductory paragraph in which you provide a brief description of your program of study and why you selected this program. Explain what skills you hope to gain from completing this program of study and what you plan to do after you graduate (e.g., university, find a job, leave Canada).
a. Locate your current program of study at the School of Business Program website at http://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/schools/school-of-business/programs/.
b. Under your introductory paragraph, create a tablewith four (4) columns and twelve (12) rows. In the first row, enter the following column headings: Course Code, Course Title, Weekly Hours, Course Description (a snippet -one or two sentences only).Refer to Figure 3 below.
c. In the remaining rows fill in the table with information you locate at your program website (above). You should enter the course code, course title, weekly hours, and one course learning outcome for each course within the first TWO semesters of your program. NOTE: You may need to add or delete rows based on the number of courses you have in the first two semesters.
d. From the Table Styles options, apply a colourful table style of your choice. Apply single-line spacing within the table.
e. Ensure that column widths are a good fit for the content within the column. Ensure semester 1 and semester 2 are clearly identified as such.
f. Add a row at the top of the table. Remove any fill colour and borders from this row. Center and bold a table title in this row which includes: The table number, the program name and program number, and the program coordinator’s name. When you use a table number you will need to refer readers to the table number within your introductory paragraph. For example, you might say, “Please refer to Table 1 below for an overview of the first two semesters in this program.”
g. Add a note to the bottom of the table stating the source. If you modified the content from the original table then use the words “Adapted from Centennial College…” Use single-line spacing for this notation, center alignment, andTimes New Roman font in a 10 pt font size.
h. Include an entry on your References page for the source website from which you retrieved the table information (Centennial College, program page).
3. Start a new paragraph with a level 1 heading entitled “Industry Affiliations” and a level 2 heading “Professional Association” and in this part of your report you will discuss ONE professional association that is related to your future career field (based on your program concentration, e.g., FITT, HRPA, CMA, APICS, CIM, CPSA, CGA, CPA). Use level 3 headings for each of the following and explain:
a. Purpose. Explain what the organization does, or why it exists.
b. Users. Explain who uses it.
c. Services. Discuss the services offered (at least 2).
d. Events. Discuss previous or upcoming events (at least 2).
e. Membership and fees. Discuss Membership fees and the process for becoming a member (a student member if available), and the benefits associated with becoming a member.
4. Start a new paragraph with a level 2 heading entitled “Industry Certification and Publication” and in this part of your report you will discuss ONE professional certification (different from step 3 above) associated with your career field and ONE publication to which it would be helpful for you to subscribe to (e.g., magazine, newspaper, journal, etc.). Uselevel 3 headings for each of the following and explain:
a. Levels. Explain the levels of certification that can be obtained.
b. Cost of certification. Explain the costs involved to gain certification.
c. Process. Describe the process to gain certification.
d. Benefits. Explain the benefits of gaining certification.
e. Industry-related publication. List one magazine, newspaper, journal, etc. and explain how this publication could benefit you in your chosen field of study/work. Give a brief explanation of what the publication focuses on and the services provided to subscribers.
Remember to cite your source(s) of information in your References page and use in-text citations whenever quoting from your sources. Note that some paraphrasing may also require you to use an in-text citations and cite your sources.
5. Start a new paragraph with a level 1heading entitled “News Article” and in this part of your report you will summarize a recent news article (approximately one to three paragraphs) pertaining to your chosen future career field (based on your program of study). The article may relate to the industry, a specific company, a specific product, etc. Clearly explain how this article relates to your career field and/or program of study. Remember to include in-text citations whenever you quote from the article. Include the article source information on your References page. Include a copy of the full news article in Appendix A (screen capture), and be sure to refer readers to Appendix A within the body of your report. Include an entry for Appendix A in the Table of Contents list.
6. Start a new paragraph with a level 1 heading entitled “Job Posting” and in this part of your report you will discuss ONE job opportunity currently available in your chosen career fieldand express why you feel you could do well in this type of career/job once you complete your program of study here at Centennial.
a. In paragraph form state the job title, the company or recruiting firm posting the job advertisement, and the salary range being offered.
b. Insert a level 2 heading entitled, “ThreeJob Requirements” then in a bulleted list, list three (3) job duties, skills, knowledge, or responsibilities being sought.
c. Insert a level 2 heading entitled, “Job Fit” then address the three bulleted items listed in job requirements. Explain how your abilities, skills, knowledge, and experience make you a good fit for this job. If you don’t have these skills then explain how you plan to develop them by the time you graduate.
Place a copy of the job posting in Appendix B (screen capture). Refer the reader to Appendix B within the paragraph introducing the job posting. Add an entry for Appendix B to your Table of Contents list. Remember to use in-text citations when you quote directly from the source, and remember to list this source on your APA References page.