Instructions
Step 1: Identify Your Top Choice
At the top of your document, identify your top choice of topic for the profile project. You should draw upon the list you created for the Community Welcome and Project Topic Exploration discussion, but if you have discovered a new potential choice since then, you may consider it as well.
Include a clickable hyperlinkLinks to an external site. to the website or social media page of the business/organization so your instructor can review it to ensure your choice will work for this project.
Write a paragraph of at least 150 words that:
Explains why you are interested in profiling this small business or local nonprofit organization for your profile project.
Explains how this business/organization fits the profile project topic guidelines.
Discusses how selecting this business/organization will help you succeed on the profile project, as well as any challenges this specific topic might present.
Step 2: Conduct Initial Research
Spend at least one hour conducting preliminary research on the business or organization. For instance, you can:
Gather informational data from the business or organization’s websites or social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc. Be sure to note the source(s) URLs.
Search local news or magazine publications for articles about the business or organization.
Search for published interviews with the people who run or work at the business or organization.
Note: You should take plenty of notes as you begin your research, but you do not need to submit anything for this step of the assignment. Remember, you’ll be expected to conduct more in-depth primary research in future assignments.
Step 3: Discuss Initial Findings
Reference your initial research notes to compose 1-2 paragraphs totaling at least 300 wordsdiscussing the findings of your initial research. Consider the following questions as you compose this paragraph:
What types of sources did you find in your preliminary research?
How did your research challenge any previous ideas, biases, or opinions you had about this business/organization in the past?
Now that you have collected this initial research, what new questions do you have about the business or organization that you might like to answer with further research?
What is your plan for conducting further research? For instance:
Setting up interviews (in-person, Zoom, phone, email) with individuals connected to your chosen business or organization. Who might you interview and why?
Scheduling a time to visit the business or organization
Conducting field research while visiting the business or organization
Attending an upcoming event related to the business or organization
Submission Requirements
In a single Word document or PDF file, include the following three components:
The name of your chosen business/organization with a clickable hyperlinkLinks to an external site. to their website/social media.
A 150-word paragraph justifying and evaluating your topic selection.
A 1-2 paragraph (300-word) discussion of your initial findings.
All written work should be in a 12-pt font and double-spaced.
