Instructions

Your initial meeting with your new boss went very well and you are now working in a department that supports the company's strategic planning for growth in the industry. Your department head has asked you to do research from a newcomer's perspective to inform existing company marketing directions. He has asked you to write a short paper detailing the three top trends in the industry, and focus on what you think is the most important issue in these trends. He is hoping to use your research to position your department to launch a new strategic plan.

This is your first real task and you are excited and a little nervous about the assignment. You think you have a sense of the industry but know you need to do more research to be spot on. The ability to spot trends in your industry is an important skill. enabling you to spend energy on new growth areas, products, and services. Spaeder (2007), writing for Entrepreneur, offers ideas about how to Spot the Latest Trends.

Your assignment is to produce an essay of 1,000-1,300 words in which you identify THREE trends in your industry and provide more information on one issue in particular. You will give credit for ideas in your sources in proper APA "in - text" and complete citations on the References page. You will identify three trends, discuss them briefly, and then focus on a single issue that is especially important. You are to provide citations for at least SIX RESOURCES. These should be a mix of journal articles from the UMUC library, and pertinent and valid websites or online materials pertaining to your trends.

Your headings will follow this general pattern:
Title (First level heading) (This will precede your introductory paragraph. Please refer to sample.)
Top Trends in the _____ Industry (Second level heading)
An important emerging issue (and what it means in context to the industry) (Second level heading)
Conclusions (First level heading)
References (On a new page, centered, not bold)

Here is an APA Template for Project 2 for your review and use.

This project will span two weeks. You will turn in a milestone draft of the introductory paragraph and References for review by your professor at the end of the Week 2.

Please submit a draft of your paper with the following elements:
- a cover sheet in APA format;
- a "template" for your paper that includes the headings;
- your opening paragraph that will introduce the industry, the top trends, the issue that you have chosen; and,
- your draft References page.

Please use the APA Style Guide 6 ed or APA examples to draft your complete citations. This is an opportunity for you to get feedback before your project is graded. Use feedback from your faculty members for your final draft due at the end of Week 3.

Follow these steps for best results.

- Before you begin, refresh your skills on research in the UMUC online library and other resources. Employ the UMUC Library to locate journal articles, books, and other sources that that will assist you in identifying the trends in your industry. Try Research Trends and check out the other resources the library has for you as UMUC Library Resources.html. However, if you are seeking emerging trends, you may also need to look at trade resources and recent online resources and websites.

- Check out the short video below that will help you set up your References page expertly.
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- Follow best practices for structuring the paper:
o An effective introduction grabs the reader's attention and sets the tone and direction for the rest of the paper. In reading an introduction, the reader should have a clear idea of what will follow. Supporting paragraphs move the reader from the general introduction to the more specific aspects of your analysis in the paper.
o The body paragraphs show how the information you are providing supports and relates to your thesis. Paragraphs across and within sections need to effectively transition from one to the next.
o Each paragraph should include a topic sentence, which contains the main point of the paragraph.
o The conclusion brings to a close what you have presented in your paper.

- You may want to submit this assignment to the WRIT 689 tutors; if you didn't already use them for the This I Believe essay, you can register for their services here: Writing Tutoring Registration. If you decide to use their services, please allow a few days' turnaround time.

You'll want to use their feedback to revise your essay before you submit it on the due date.
When using sources, you need to be particularly careful to avoid plagiarism. This document discusses academic honesty and ways to avoid inadvertent plagiarism.