Assignment 2.1: The Public Needs to Know – Draft Version

Due Week 5 and worth 80 points 
Select one (1) of the scenarios listed below on which to focus your informative paper. Research the topic and include credible sources to support claims. Identify your purpose clearly, incorporate audience needs, establish a desired tone, and organize information and / or claims effectively.

1. Your boss has asked you (a communication specialist) to write an informative white paper about the business of developing new drugs for cancer patients. The content will be turned into a brochure for the public describing the four (4) major issues: economic situation, special needs (e.g., health) of the population being served, process, and benefits of the program. She asked you to include two (2) visuals to illustrate the issues.
2. The state school board chairperson has asked you (a consultant on health and wellness) to write an informative piece about the recent changes to the breakfast and lunch programs to improve nutrition and health. The content will be turned into a brochure describing the four (4) major issues: economic situation, special needs (e.g., health) of the population being served, process, and benefits of the program. He asked you to include two (2) visuals to illustrate the issues.
3. The director of a large regional food pantry has asked you (a board member and volunteer for the organization) to write an informative piece about the organization’s programs. The content will be turned into a brochure for the public describing the four (4) major issues: economic situation, special needs (e.g., health) of the population being served, process, and benefits of the program. She asked you to include two (2) visuals to illustrate the issues.

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

1. Provide a clear thesis statement.
2. Describe the economic issues.
3. Describe the special needs (e.g., health) of the population being served.
4. Describe the process (decisions, steps) involved in the program.
5. Explain the benefits of the program.
6. Include two (2) visuals that illustrated two (2) different claims.
7. Develop a coherently structured paper with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
8. Provide three (3) relevant and credible sources to support claims.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Identify elements of visual and electronic resources and their uses in writing.
• Associate the features of audience, purpose, and text with various genres.
• Recognize the elements and correct use of a thesis statement.
• Recognize how to organize ideas with transitional words, phrases, and sentences.
• Incorporate relevant, correctly documented sources to substantiate claims.
• Apply the writing process to develop various writing genres.
• Write clearly and concisely about selected topics using proper writing mechanics.
• Use technology and information resources to research selected issues for this course.