Economics Co-operative Education Work Term Report Guidelines

Table of Contents

SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction...................................................................................- 1 -Purpose...........................................................................................- 1 -Specific Work Term Report Objectives.......................................- 1 -Procedure and Timelines..............................................................- 2 -Work Term Report Proposal - General Information..................- 3 -The Work Term Report – General Information..........................- 3 -Deadlines........................................................................................- 4 -Evaluation.......................................................................................- 4 -

SECTION II: WORK TERM PROPOSAL FORMAT

I Title page................................................................................................... - 6 -II Letter of transmittal............................................................................ - 6 -III Description of your proposed research using the headings

- 6 -IV Tentative bibliography of works cited.......................................- 7 -V Tentative table of contents.............................................................- 7 -VI Draft questionnaire and/or interview/discussion outline.- 7 -

SECTION III: WORK TERM REPORT FORMAT

I Cover Page or Title Fly....................................................................... - 8 -III Letter of transmittal............................................................................ - 8 -II Title page................................................................................................... - 8 -IV Table of contents................................................................................... - 8 -V Table of figures or illustrations (if four or more..................- 9 -VI Summary abstract or executive summary..............................- 9 -VII Introduction.............................................................................................. - 9 -VIIIDiscussion and results.....................................................................- 10 -IX Conclusions............................................................................................. - 11 -X Recommendations.............................................................................. - 11 -XI Bibliography and References.......................................................- 11 -XII Appendices............................................................................................. - 12 -

APPENDIX

Guidelines for Referencing and Style.......................................- 13 -

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Section I: GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction

This Guide will provide an overview of the purpose and objectives of the work report proposal and the work report proper. It is intended to inform students in detail regarding appropriate format and content requirements. While students should structure their reports in the manner most suited to their topic, they must ensure they cover all areas outlined in this document.

Purpose

The purpose of the work report is to provide the university with a means of evaluating and assessing the learning that has occurred through the Work Term experience. A work report illustrates your acquired understanding and experience. A good work report shows evidence of critical analysis, effective organization, clarity, and conciseness. It enables the practice of skills of presentation, argument, evaluation, and calculation. It also provides a permanent record of work completed. It is to be a communication of factual information and analysis that serves a purpose relevant to the co-op employer and/or to the student’s program. Responsibility for selecting a topic lies with the student; however, the topic must also be approved by the employer. Reports must be analytical in nature and demonstrate evidence of critical analysis, good organization, clarity and conciseness.

The work report should reflect the development of the student’s skills. In particular, the report must demonstrate the student's ability to:a) Plan and implement a project;b) Apply concepts learned in the academic setting to work place learning; c) Research and conduct appropriate analysis;d) Summarize findings and communicate in a professional manner;e) Verify and defend conclusions and recommendations.

Specific Work Term Report Objectives

Economics 299W (Work Term I)1

Analyse an issue/problem related to the student’s work environment;

Demonstrate an understanding of the structure of a professional report;

Show reasonable competence in written communication skills

Economics 399W (Work Term II) Analyse an issue/problem related to the student’s work

environment and demonstrate an understanding of economic concepts relative to their academic background;

Demonstrate competence in creating a professional report; Show competence in written communication and presentation

skills.

Economic 499W (Work Term III) Demonstrate an ability to analyse a significant economic

issue/problem related to the student’s experience in the work environment;

Demonstrate a high level of competence in producing a professional report;

Show a high level of competence in written communication and presentation skills.

Procedure and Timelines

1. Student selects a topic for the reportThis must be considered early in the student’s Work Term as a proposal is due within one month of the start date. The topic must contain original work related to the Work Term placement. It must be related to the work experience, be chosen in consultation with the employer and be approved by the co-ordinator or a faculty member of the Department of Economics. In selecting a Work Term topic, students must consider that they may have access to information which is not intended for distribution outside the organization. If acceptable to the employer, the Economics Co-operative Education Co-ordinator will make arrangements with the employer to ensure confidentiality. If a satisfactory arrangement cannot be made, the student must explore and select an alternative topic.

2. Student submits a Work Term Report PROPOSALThe topic of the report must be presented in a formal proposal to both the coordinator and the employer within one month of the start of the Work Term. The deadline is 1 month after the start date.

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3. Student submits the Work Term REPORTTwo full paper copies of the report must be submitted to the Coordinator by the first day of final exams. Faxed or emailed reports are not acceptable. The Work Term Report must include as a final appendix the original proposal that was submitted to the Coordinator and returned with original comments/approval.

Work Term Report Proposal - General Information

The work report proposal is a brief document describing the subject the student has chosen for their work report and a plan for completion. The work report proposal must be typed and returned to the Economics Co-operative Education Coordinator within one month after the start of employment. The topic will normally be related to the job or the industry in which the student is employed. The topic must be discussed with the employer prior to submission of the proposal.

When the Co-op Coordinator returns the proposal, the student needs to ensure that he/she clearly understands what is being asked of him/her. If students are unclear of the expectations for the project, it is imperative that they seek guidance from the Co-op Coordinator. If changes are suggested, students must ensure that they are compatible with their work situation. If in doubt, students should arrange to discuss the situation with both the Coordinator and supervisor to reconcile any possible areas of conflict. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all comments made on the work report proposal are understood and incorporated into the final work report. Failure to address comments can result in lower grades for the work report.

It is common in the work place to have less time for the completion of a project or report than one wants. It is therefore important that effective time and information management skills be developed and utilized. Keep in mind that the employer is not required to provide time during the work day for the completion of the Work Term Report proposal or the report itself.

The Work Term Report – General Information

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All ECEO students must submit a Work Term Report for each Work Term and the topic must contain original work related to the Work Term placement. A passing grade in the paper is required for continuation in the program.

The work report must have identifiable analytic and interpretive components. Mere tabulation of data is not acceptable. A report that compares and evaluates more than one item or various alternatives using multiple criteria is analytical. A report on a single topic can be analytic if it discusses advantages and disadvantages. If there is difficulty in identifying conclusions, then there is likely insufficient analytic content. Existing literature should be consulted and utilized in assisting the student to interpret the subject matter of their work. That is, references to the published literature on the topic should be made. As a rule, use of unpublished internet sources is not acceptable. Data collected must be fully referenced and placed in the context of the larger body of research that has been done on any given subject and made meaningful to the reader.

In contrast to the proposal, which outlines the work planned, the work report tells what the student actually did and gives the analysis of the results of the research. The report should be presented ‘portrait’ style on 8.5 x 11 white paper and bulleted sections are permitted. Students should pay attention to grammar, spelling, organization, argument, evidence, quality of information, and clarity of communication. Please refer to the appendix for guidelines on referencing sources of information. Although the Work Term Report is completed in the workplace and perhaps to standards set by the employer, the student should be aware that the report submitted to the Coordinator must meet the academic requirements set out in this document.

Deadlines

Proposals and Work Term Reports must be submitted to the Economics Co-operative Education Coordinator or post-marked by the appropriate deadlines. It is the students' responsibility to keep track of deadline dates.

The Work Term Report proposal is due 1 month after the start of Work Term.

The work report must be submitted no later than the first day of final exams. (Please consult the University

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Calendar to ascertain the specific date for your Work Term Report).

Extensions to the work report deadline will only be considered in extenuating circumstances such as serious illness involving the student, the student’s family or family bereavement. Computer problems, supervisor absence, schedule difficulties and other situations that students should foresee, are not acceptable causes for extensions for a work report deadline extension.

Evaluation

The final mark for the Work Term experience will be determined through evaluations of both on-the-job student performance and the Work Term Report and all will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

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I: On-the-job Student Performance

This will be assessed by the coordinator in consultation with the department using information gathered during the Work Term and input from the employer towards the end of the Work Term. Formal written documentation from the employer will be sought. This will result in one of the following classifications:

a) Outstandingb) Above Expectationsc) Satisfactoryd) Marginal Passe) Fail

II: Work Term Report

Evaluation of the Work Term Report will result in one of the following classifications:

a) Outstanding b) Above Expectationsc) Satisfactory d) Marginal Pass e) Fail

III: Final Grade for Work Term

The evaluation of the job performance and the Work Term Report will be recorded separately on the transcript. Overall evaluation of the Work Term will result in one of the following grades being awarded:

a) Pass with Distinction: Indicates outstanding performance in both the Work Term Report and the job performance.

b) Pass: Indicates that performance meets expectations in both the Work Term Report and the job performance

c) Fail: Indicates Failing Performance in the Work Term Report or the job performance.

For promotion from the Work Term, a student must obtain at least a Pass and the grades awarded for each Work Term will be noted on the transcript of the student.

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Section II: WORK TERM REPORT PROPOSAL FORMAT

I: Title pageThe title page contains the proposed report title, the recipient (Economics Co-operative Education Coordinator), your name with full academic information and the date of submission. The title must describe the topic of the report precisely.

II: Letter of Submittal

This letter follows a standard business letter format and is addressed to the Economics Co-operative Education Coordinator. Discuss how the proposed work report relates to your job and include any other information relevant to the Work Term, which will assist the reader in understanding your proposal such as your employer's view of the project, resources available to you and any specific instructions received from your employer.

III: Description of your proposed research and appropriate headings:

Purpose (or objective) : The purpose needs to be clear, concise and specific. It is what you intend to accomplish in the final report - not why it is being written. Ensure there is no inconsistency between your title, letter of submittal and methodology.

Background information : This section provides general information essential to the understanding of the proposal topic. Of particular value is the rationale for the project. (Here is the why it is being written.) Specific instructions or terms of reference your employer has issued to you are included in this section, or if they are extensive, they should be included in an appendix.

Scope : This section details the extent and limitations by identifying and briefly discussing the issues associated with the research topic. Any constraints or special circumstances that are anticipated which may adversely affect the project should be outlined.

Proposed methodology : One of the most critical components, this section outlines the methods you intend to employ in collecting and analyzing information. It must convey that the

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work to be undertaken will be thorough and complete. Indicate from where (specific publications, unpublished material, etc.) you will obtain the data for your research, and provide details

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on how you propose to undertake the required analysis. Your proposed methodology should detail how you plan to cope with any of the constraints or circumstances outlined in your discussion of the scope of the project.

Timetable : To help ensure that the work report is completed on time, a work schedule must be developed and submitted along with the proposal to show weekly and work end results. Most project specific work will include the use of a schedule as it is invaluable in the management of any project. (Ensure that the specific deadline date for submission of the Work Term Report, i.e. first day of final exams, is noted in your timetable.)

Significance of the report : It is essential to inform the reader

why the conclusions and recommendations you hope to reach are important as this gives legitimacy to the report and a reason for its composition. This may not always require a separate heading and may be covered adequately in the letter of submittal or background.

Other : Additional sections as deemed necessary at the

discretion of the author.

IV: Tentative List of References

This section lists the primary and secondary sources of information expected to be used in completing the final report. Students must follow the stylistic guidelines for citation, referencing et cetera outlined in the Appendix of this document, which is an edited excerpt from the Style Guide of the Journal of Economic Literature, available at http://www.aeaweb.org/journal/styleguide.html

V: Tentative Table of Contents

This is a draft outline for your final report. It can help focus your thinking and help you in working towards your conclusions and recommendations. It also provides insight into how you plan to approach your final report. The tentative table of contents represents your plan of action. Be aware that your plan may change as you progress with your report, but this outline is your starting point. Ensure that data and findings of fact are separated from analysis, conclusions and recommendations.

VI: Draft questionnaire and/or interview/discussion outline

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If you plan to conduct quantitative or qualitative research using either a questionnaire or focus group discussion outline, append it to the proposal for approval. SECTION III: WORK TERM REPORT FORMAT

I: Cover Page or Title Fly

The title fly of the report contains only the report title. The title is an important feature of the report and should provide a window into the subject. The cover may be either plain or specially designed. Pictures, images or large letters to make the title more prominent can be utilized.

II: Letter of Submittal

This is a significant component of the report and is included with the report inside its cover. The letter of submittal should be addressed to the Economics Co-op Coordinator and because of the formality of the report, the salutation should read "Dear (Mr., Ms., or Dr. Surname :)". Be sure to use the Co-ordinator’s correct title and accurate spelling. It is appropriate to mention the main activity of employer and department, the purpose of the report, acknowledgments of assistance, the extent of the research, and perhaps some interesting findings. It may draw attention to specific aspects of interest to the reader, give suggestions for follow-up studies, and note limitations of the report. Recommendations for immediate action and comments about items of special interest can also be included. The letter should not exceed one page. It must also contain the following declaration: "This report was written entirely by me and has not been submitted for credit in any other course at this or any other institution." You must sign your letter.

III: Title page

The title page should be neat with the following information clearly displayed:

1.)The full title of the report;2.) The name, student number, academic term and department of

the person who prepared the report;3.) The name of the university and your Faculty; 4.) The name and location of your employer and the name of your

supervisor and department/unit if appropriate; 5.) The date the report is presented or issued and any other

identifying reference such as a report number.10

IV: Table of Contents

The table of contents lists the prefatory parts, report headings and the appended parts. It provides a quick guide to the contents of the report and helps the reader locate specific information quickly. The headings of each main section and subsection are listed according to the page on which they begin. Appendices are separated from the other contents and are designated by numerals or letters, the appropriate title or heading and the page number. Appendices follow the references in your report.

V: Table of figures or illustrations (if four or more)

If the report contains more than four figures or illustrations, a separate Table of Figures is required. VI: Abstract or Executive Summary

The Executive Summary provides concisely summarizes all the facts, analyses, conclusions and recommendations of the report. For the summary to be complete, readers must be able to understand the report, its conclusions and recommendations without reading the entire report. The summary should not cite any references nor refer to any figures or tables. Typically the summary states the what, why, how, findings, conclusions and recommendations. The Summary should not give any information, conclusions or suggestions not stated in the report.

The summary is placed after the table of contents (or table of illustrations). The page is assigned a lowercase Roman numeral (for example “i”) to differentiate it from the rest of the report (usually paginated as 1, 2, 3). Although the summary is placed at the beginning of the report, it is prepared after the full report is written. This ensures that the summary reflects the content of the full report.

VII: Introduction

The purpose of the introduction is to provide all the background necessary to comprehend the report. It introduces both the subject and the circumstances leading up to the decision to prepare the report and presents the reason(s) it was undertaken along with any important limitations. In determining what to include, keep in mind that different readers of your reports may require specific information or explanations.

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The main components are:

Purpose : Defines what the report is to achieve including the research problem and objectives;

Background : Describes the events leading up to the existing situation, previous work completed on the same subject and by whom, and why the study or report is of interest/relevance;

Scope : Identifies the extent of the area under investigation, and indicates to the reader what will be covered and what is deliberately being omitted;

Methodology : Outlines the type of information needed to achieve the purpose, explains where the data was gathered from, as well as how the information was used. It identifies appropriate methods of primary research, if any, such as personal interviews, telephone surveys, focus groups and indicates secondary sources of information such as reference books, journals and databanks. All sources must be referenced in the body of the report and cited in the Reference List at the end of the report;

Limitations : Factors which may occur in the investigation and analysis and reduce the validity and/or reliability of the report's findings and related conclusions. A valid measure is one that measures what was intended. A reliable measure is one that has a small presumed error component.

VIII: Results and Discussion

This section contains the information collected (primary and secondary), its evaluation and interpretation. To assist the reader, the report should be partitioned into headings and sub-headings as appropriate. Careful attention to logical flow and organization is essential. The order of headings and the order of information within each will determine how easy it will be for the reader to follow the writer's argument. The student must decide both what the reader most needs and wants to know. It is also essential that the student answer any questions that may arise in the mind of a reader. Any interpretations or recommendations need to be supported by credible evidence.

Documentation of sources is essential. It gives the student's comments legitimacy and assists the reader in distinguishing between primary and secondary sources of information.

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Remember that the use of illustrations (tables, charts, etc.) can convey important findings or information that may be difficult to portray using writing alone. However, only those visuals which will assist reader comprehension should be included. Remember, illustrations do not replace written text; they supplement it. They should be included in the report where the reference to such visuals occurs and the author must decide the most effective form for the illustration (table, chart, graph, etc.). Each illustration should be numbered sequentially and given an appropriate title or caption and the data source for the information displayed in the illustration must be included. When referring to the illustration at other points in the report, give the illustration title, number and page number on which it occurs. Large complex illustrations belong in an appendix. Illustrations should not occupy a full page as this will prevent essential explanatory text from being inserted adjacent to the illustration. IX: Conclusions

The report concludes by answering the question(s) outlined at the start of the report and are drawn from the results only. New information should never be introduced at this stage; thus, this section will only include information that has been discussed in previous sections of the report. Conclusions are logical statements which depend on previous sections of the report for support. Conclusions should:1.) be brief, clear and accurate;2.) be presented in descending order of importance;3.) mirror formats and order established in the Introduction; 4.) never advocate action.

X: Recommendations

These present the preferred plan of action. Normally several courses of action are open, each with attendant advantages, disadvantages, costs, limitations and ramifications. These should have been previously discussed and conclusions drawn based on the criteria being applied. Recommendations present a definite plan of action in clearly stated terms and should:1.) be strong and advocate action. Avoid phrases like, ‘I think...', or `I feel...'; 2.) satisfy requirements established in the Introduction;3.) follow logically from conclusions.

XI: List of References

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In preparation of the work report the student must use supporting documents written by others to give their paper the appropriate context and credibility. Referencing related documents lends legitimacy to a student’s analysis and interpretation. It ensures that appropriate credit for other people’s ideas is given and provides sufficient information to allow follow up. When using an idea presented by someone else, whether a direct quote or paraphrase, credit must be given to the originator of the idea. Ensure that appropriate documentation is utilized, but keep in mind that general information that is well known in the field does not require documentation.

The list of references provides details of documents specifically referred to in the report. It should appear at the end of the report, but before any attachments or appendices. See Guidelines in the Appendix for detailed information about referencing.

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XII: Appendices

All information provided in an appendix must be referred to in the report and must not be included simply because the author has it available. Appendices or appendixes (either is correct) may include source documents, data, test results, cost comparisons, questionnaires, interview questions, maps, complex formulae, etc. The information provides general support for the report, but the report must be clearly understood without it.

The following criteria apply:1.) appendices appear in the order in which they are first referred to in the report 2.) appendices are considered individual documents; paginate separately starting at page 1 3.) each appendix is given an identifying letter, e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B, etc. 4.) you must include your proposal with the markers comments as the final appendix

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APPENDIX

Guidelines for Referencing and Style

In preparing the proposal and the report, students are expected to pay due attention to grammar, spelling, and syntax. Students must follow the stylistic guidelines for citation, referencing et cetera outlined below.

The following is an edited excerpt from the Style Guide of the Journal of Economic Literature, available at http://www.aeaweb.org/journal/styleguide.html

Tables and Figures : Tables should be set vertically on the page. Number figures and tables consecutively (Table 1, Table 2, etc.). Do not number them according to the section in which they appear. Please do not insert figures and tables in the text. Instead, in the space immediately after the paragraph in which the figure or table is first referenced.

Reference citations : Include the first name of each author when first mentioned, either in text or in footnotes. Each subsequent reference to an author should include only the last name, unless two or more authors have the same last name. If you cite an article that is neither published nor accepted for publication, please make every effort to find an internet link to it, and include the web site address in the reference list, giving the full "http//" link. If you cite an unpublished article of which you are the author, you must make that article available to the Coordinator.

Citations should take the place of footnotes whenever possible. Work them into the text smoothly. For material in quotation marks, include page number references. Try to avoid using e.g, cf, and "see also." Allan Gibbard (1973) and Mark Satterthwaite (1975) independently asked the question of what happens when the agents studied by Kenneth Arrow in Social Choice and Individual Values (1963) decided...others refocused attention on resource allocation (Charles Kindleberger 1964a,b; John Cornwall 1977).

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Footnotes : Number footnotes in order, corresponding to numbers in the text, and place them at the bottom of the page (rather than as endnotes). Footnotes are not necessary for works cited; use citations instead as shown above.

List of References : Verify references carefully; they must correspond to the citations in text. List alphabetically by author's last name and then by year. In references lists, only the first author's name is inverted. Please list all authors; avoid using et al. in lieu of authors' names. Include authors' first names unless the first names are not published. See the following examples.

Chapter in an edited volume :Alpert, Marc and Howard Raiffa. 1982. "A Progress Report on the Training of Probability Assessors," in Judgment Under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Daniel Kahneman, Paul Slovic, and Amos Tversky, eds. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Press, pp. 7-32.

Article in a journal :Alston, Richard M.; J. R. Kearl, and Michael B. Vaughan. 1992. "Is There a Consensus Among Economists in the 1990's?" Amer. Econ. Rev. (Papers and Proceedings), 82:2, pp. 158-77.

Book :Atkinson, Anthony and Joseph Stiglitz. 1980. Lectures in Public Economics. New York: McGraw Hill.

For coauthored publications, only the first author's name is inverted: last name, first name. Subsequent authors' names are written normally: first name last name. The year of publication or presentation appears directly after the author(s)' name(s); this applies to all references, whatever their form or forum. All publication titles are capitalized: books, papers, articles, journals, etc. Book titles are capitalized in standard fashion and italicized. Paper/article titles are capitalized and put in quotation marks. Journal titles are italicized and not abbreviated.

Journal volume/issue numbers are written in roman typeface: 22 :1. Note the colon. (Small caps, parentheses, italic, and bold typeface are not used.)

Unpublished Paper :

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Herbertsson, Tryggvi Thor and Michael Orszag. 2001. “The Cost of Early Retirement in the OECD,” IoES work. paper W01:02, http://www.ioes.hi.is.

* For further information on referencing styles, students can avail of the excellent guidelines to essay writing available in the QEII Library or online at the portal http://www.library.mun.ca/internet/termpapers.php

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