Assignment: You will write a 5-6 page report based on a current and relevant topic of conversation in your desired profession, OR a working business proposal. Then, you will give a 5-7 minute oral report illustrating the highlights of your research or proposal using some form of visual aid.

Details: This is NOT a “how to be a (enter career title here)” paper. A crucial part of being a viable candidate in any company of any industry is having a well rounded understanding of its current climate, values, and discourse, and being able to demonstrate that understanding via speaking and writing. In addition, having this understanding will give you a better sense of how your own values as a professional mesh with that industry’s culture and why (or why not).

You will select a topic of conversation that is current and relevant to your profession, incorporating at least 2+ reliable sources published within the last 10 years (preferably the last 5 years) to establish and support your views on the topic. (However, you may wish to research older sources in order to take a comparative angle on an industry’s modern culture vs. past culture(s).

An engaging paper will not only illustrate an understanding of this conversation, but take a particular stance while being aware of opposing stances (for example, as an educator, you may be pro-technology in classrooms, anti-tech, or neutral/both, and use the space of your paper and the resources you cite to elaborate why).

It will also only incorporate sources that you have critically analyzed and found to be reliable, balanced and honest contributions to the discussion (no clickbait articles, Buzzfeed posts, Wikipedia, etc.). Rely on library resources (books, database articles, journals) and balanced news sources, company/industry-related blogs, and reliable podcasts, especially if they are related to your profession.