SCENARIO: Imagine that your workplace has experienced significant change recently, and your department is expected to respond to change with innovation. Your immediate manager has asked you to determine one specific innovation for your department; you will be responsible for the implementation of this innovation. This report should not include a recommendation, but instead should be strictly informative, offering a detailed comparison.
ASSIGNMENT: In Unit 2, you drafted an informative report in which you researched several methods for implementing your chosen innovation and compared and contrasted two of them based on factors that you chose. In this assignment, you will revise your Touchstone 2.2 submission using the revision strategies you learned in Unit 3. This revision should reflect significant changes from your first draft and should incorporate the feedback you received on Touchstone 2.2. Review the rubric comments and summary feedback you received on your Touchstone 2.2 draft to deepen and extend your analysis of your topic. Submit a revision of your Touchstone 2 draft that reflects this feedback. Include a copy of your Touchstone 2.2 draft below the Reflection Questions for this unit.
In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
A. Assignment Guidelines
DIRECTIONS: All writers revise and edit their work as part of the writing process. For Touchstone 3, submit a revised version of your Touchstone 2.2 composition. The process of revising involves “re-thinking” your essay, while editing focuses on changes at the sentence level. Your revision should reflect your attention on the following:
Focus
Structure
Flow
Clarity
Style
Word Choice
Sentence Variety
As you consider possible revisions and edits, evaluate how your essay can be improved in each of the areas above. Focus your attention on the areas that would benefit most from revising and editing. You can add, delete, or move text as you revise your essay.
Note the following revising and editing guidelines:
Do not draft a new essay. You must revise and edit your Touchstone 2.2 draft. Depending upon the effectiveness of the 2.2 draft, however, major changes such as refocusing or restructuring may be required.
Allow time between drafts so that you can see your original work from a new perspective.
Revising and editing are different from proofreading; however, be sure to proofread your revised essay before you submit it.
Remember to also answer the reflection questions listed below.
B. Reflection Questions
DIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.
How much time did you spend revising and editing your draft? Which revision strategies did you use, and which of them worked best for you? (2-3 sentences)
Compare your draft to your revision. How did your essay improve? Provide specific examples of the different revision areas (e.g., structure, focus, clarity, etc.) that you focused on. (3-4 sentences)
Think about the entire process of drafting and revising this informative composition. What did you learn about your writing process or yourself as a writer? For example, did any part of the process surprise you or reveal something unexpected? (2-3 sentences)
Comparison/Contrast Elements 17.0 25% Proficient (85%) – Accomplishes 2-3 of the following: Makes a clear and meaningful connection between two implementation methods; effectively organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways; consistently uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas.
Alicia added: The essay nicely compares and contrasts the agile methodology and the traditional waterfall approach, but comparison could be more effective by using transitional words and phrases and ensuring your essay is supported by direct quotes in addition to paraphrasing.
Thesis Statement 10.4 13% Advanced (100%) – Accomplishes all of the following: Has created a clear, focused, and detailed thesis statement expressed in a single sentence; thesis states the central claim of the essay; thesis statement effectively communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast.
Alicia added: Excellent job with the thesis statement! The comparison between the agile methodology and the traditional waterfall approach is well-stated and the criteria for evaluation clear.
Research 11.4 19% Acceptable (75%) – Accomplishes 1 of the following: Cites all outside sources following APA conventions; references 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources.
Alicia added: Support is working well in some places, but sources could be better integrated. How might you include direct quotes in addition to paraphrasing?
Organization 10.4 13% Advanced (100%) – Accomplishes all of the following: Includes an introduction with a strong thesis statement; includes an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6); includes effective topic sentences for all body paragraphs; includes a conclusion with an effective closing thought; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.
Alicia added: Excellent job guiding readers through the essay!
Style and Tone 9.6 12% Advanced (100%) – Accomplishes all of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices; uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative composition.
Alicia added: All the word choices, phrases, and clauses are detailed and concise. Well done!
Conventions 9.6 12% Advanced (100%) – Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Alicia added: Excellent job with language and grammar! The essay is cleanly written and well proofread.
Reflection 4.8 6% Advanced (100%) – Accomplishes all of the following: Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses; follows or exceeds response length guidelines.
Alicia added: Thank you for the thoughtful, robust responses!
FEEDBACK:
Hi, Brandy! The essay nicely compares and contrasts the agile methodology and the traditional waterfall approach, but comparison could be more effective by using transitional words and phrases and ensuring your essay is supported by direct quotes in addition to paraphrasing. I look forward to reading your revised essay! -Alicia
