Tuesday, March 3, 2009
things have been going really well at the internship. I know I say this a lot, but I really do love going in to work on the activities that they have for me. My newest project is to begin doing research so that I can help in writing the "problem statement" of a potential proposal. I am very interested in this and also excited for the opportunity. I had a chance in my Business/Professional Writing course to do a "mock" proposal report, so I am familiar with the process to an extent. Having that experience will most definitely help me in my work on this. I have a grasp on what it is that they're looking for and what is expected for this particular aspect of the project. It is also fun to be working on creating something rather than just proofing. I love proofing and editing, but it is a welcomed change of pace to start actually writing something too. The only issue I have run into so far is that I'm having a little bit of difficulty finding specific statistics on the topic. There are stats on MANY similar topics, but I haven't run into any on the target topic yet. Although I have run into a bit of a roadblock in that respect, I have no doubts that I will be able to find resources that will have the information that I need. It also helps that my supervisor has offered his support numerous times if I should need it. Since this is a field (in general) that I am not yet familiar with, it is very reassuring to know that the people I am working with are willing to offer assistance. I will be sure to update about the project! (Especially since I am so excited to be working on it).
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I'd be interested in hearing more about your specific research strategies for finding facts/statistics/data that you need for this particular topic. Are you searching in a particular database commonly used by the NW3C? More traditional library or research databases?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm glad to hear that you're finding your Business/Professional Writing experience to be a helping exercise in terms of preparing you, at least somewhat, for the project's you're working on here. As you continue working on this project, I'm interested in hearing in what ways your experience in this internship have extended your classroom learning, in what ways it has been different, it what ways it has been similar. What did you learn from that earlier experience that you've been able to apply? What hasn't been applicable? Have you been able to draw on experiences from other courses or projects?
I also had to write a proposal for Business and Professional Writing. While it was a very big project that took a long time, it was one of the most relevant workplace writings we learned how to create. The problem statement is an important part of the proposal, so that is great that you get to focus on a certain aspect of the proposal. I can see how you would be excited in working with such a project!
ReplyDeleteKellen's absolutely right. The problem statement is a very essential part of the proposal. If having to solve a problem is in any way avoidable, a profit-seeking and probably even humanitarian business will avoid it so the statement of the problem must be clear and convincing. I remember my 305(?) experience was stunted for a while because I couldn't put the problem on paper with as much clarity as I had assumed would be inherent in any description of the problem. I had come up with a solution to something, but the writing down of that something took awhile. That proved to be the most useful element of that class to me because it forced me to work through the problem like I'd never really done before.
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