Assignment Details

“A briefing paper is a concise summary of research findings, written for an informed, although not necessarily an expert, audience. Briefing papers are targeted toward a specific audience, and for a specific purpose.” Waltham School, Superintendent’s Office (n.d.)

Prepare your briefing paper for the members of UFV’s Communications Department. It should address the following question:

What is some of the current thinking among researchers and practitioners about [insert your topic here – see options in Module 4], and what UFV-based opportunities outside of Communications are available to UFV students to help them gain more experience with and awareness of this topic?

To address this question through your briefing paper, your objectives are to:

Research and summarize current trends in thinking about your topic and its importance in today’s workplace (note: select a new topic from the options in Module 4. Do not select the topic you worked with for Assignment 2).

Identify opportunities at UFV for students to gain practical knowledge and skills related to this topic.

Recommend what the Communications Department can do to help students make connections between your topic and the related UFV-based opportunities you have identified.

The format for your briefing paper:

1) An introduction that includes a purpose statement and an overview of your briefing paper

2) A summary of your research findings about your topic 

a. Include a minimum of four credible sources for this section, including one academic source.

• Meyer’s textbook can be included, but only in addition to your four other sources.

b. Use your research to help you define your topic and recognize its key features, issues connected to it and its significance in the workplace. Focus on information that will help your readers understand it and its importance in more depth.

c. Note any connections among your sources in how they address this topic (e.g., trends in thinking, similarities).

3) An account of UFV-based opportunities related to this topic . Break this section down into the following:

a. Brief section on whether UFV seems to have few or many opportunities for students to develop their practical knowledge of/experience in this topic. For this section, search the UFV website and report your general, broad observations about student opportunities related to your topic (e.g., maybe many options seem to be available, or perhaps you feel there are few; maybe you are finding relevant options, but they are limited to certain students, etc.).

b. A concise description of each opportunity you’ve found

i. Briefly describe each in its own subsection.

ii. Identify how each opportunity would help students understand the topic and/or gain meaningful experience in it (provide rationale based on the information you find). 

4) A conclusion – wrap up your findings and make a recommendation about practical steps the Communications Department could take to promote student engagement with this topic and the related UFV opportunities you’ve identified.