Assignment Instructions: APA Memo
Due Dates:
Review Copy: Sunday – last day Week 1 (by 11:59 PM)
200-Point Final: Sunday – last day Week 2 (by 11:59 PM)
Week 1 Rough Draft Reviews: I will provide advice to help you understand the assignment. However, I don’t edit the rough drafts for writing style and fix grammatical errors, etc. Ask questions about grammar, writing style, and APA in the Week 0 discussion forum. Please e-mail or call me to ask questions about my feedback on this assignment if you need to.
No Late Rough Drafts: If you miss the deadline, I recommend working with the tutors at the Effective Writing Center.
Week 2 Graded Submissions: The late penalty for the final version of assignments is 10% (20 points each day). If there are extenuating circumstances, please advise me by e-mail or phone call.
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Formatting Guidelines: Complete this assignment using the following memo format for the first four lines:
To: Mary Jones, Eric Smith, Corporate Attorneys
From: Your Name
Date:
Subject:
• Write no more than three clear and concise pages.
• Design an appropriate letterhead for Parker-Benson Publishing. Don’t use the address for this internal memo. You may use color, a bolded font, graphic image, etc.
• Use a Size 12 Times New Roman font.
• Single space within the paragraph and skip a space between paragraphs.
• Use outside sources and include the APA-formatted in-text citations and References page.
• Use appropriate headings in the memo.
• Use the date of your submission and a relevant, concise subject line with keywords.
• Illustrations may be used, but they are not required. They may be in addition to the three pages of words.
Scenario: While attending a university to study your major, you are an editor at Parker-Benson Publishing. The firm is facing a PR crisis this month because another editor published an article that was plagiarized. As a result, the corporate attorneys have insisted all editors write them a memo to define and describe the APA documentation system. This will prove you and the other editors know how to use the APA guidelines. Your memo will also include descriptions and instructions for basic citations and the four components of APA-formatted reports.
Here is what the corporate attorneys require in the memo’s introduction and conclusion:
Introduction:
Write a brief paragraph to prove you understand why all Parker-Benson editors must use the APA documentation guidelines correctly. Discuss the benefits of using APA and the negative consequences for ignoring this corporate requirement.
Conclusion:
Write a brief paragraph to end the memo. If no follow-up is required, this might be a sentence or two. However, you may invent details that would logically fit this scenario. For example, would you be training others or performing some other relevant action that would impress the attorneys?
Here is what the attorneys require in the four sections:
Section 1:
Define and describe the APA documentation system in one paragraph. Don’t write as if you are a student. Write in your role as an editor in a publishing firm that uses APA rather than MLA or another documentation system. Why would this publishing firm use APA?
Section 2:
Write step-by-step instructions starting with action verbs to list the process for locating an APA reference manual or web site. If you use a web site instead of a book, assume that editors know how to use a computer, access a web site, etc. Start with a logical step that provides the information editors don’t know.
Section 3:
Write step-by-step instructions starting with action verbs to list the process for citing an in-text citation and at least two other categories of citations: an article, book, web site, and/or newspaper. Use appropriate headings to separate the citations. Under each heading, include the instructions first and then an example of that citation. Invent your own sources for the citations (ex. John Smith as the author, etc.) to avoid plagiarizing existing sources.
Section 4:
Define four parts of an APA-formatted research report: title page, abstract, paper, and references page. Describe what these four parts should include and how they should be formatted.
Note: In your own research report in Weeks 5-6, you will write an executive summary rather than an abstract, so study the differences between these two sections of a research report (article).
Illustrations:
Illustrations are not required for this assignment. If they are included, the illustrations must be formatted, positioned, and sized correctly so that they supplement the textual information without distracting the reader. Credit must be given to the sources for all illustrations.
Don’t use multiple attachments. Only one attachment will be opened and returned to you.
Don’t copy and paste the assignment into the comments box.
Use one Microsoft Word attachment or an attachment of another compatible software program that I can open with my Microsoft Word program (.doc, .docx, or .rtf).
GRADING CRITERIA FOR WEEK 2 APA MEMO
200 Points: 20% of Final Grade Maximum Score
Introduction and Conclusion 15%
Section 1 15%
Section 2 15%
Section 3 15%
Section 4 15%
Grammar 15%
Professional Writing Style with Correct Memo and APA Formatting 10%
100% 0
