The
professional
report (PR) is the optional capstone experience in the MPAff and MGPS programs—it
is a year long, committee supervised, independently written policy analysis report. The
writing center offers PR Design writing seminars exclusively for currently enrolled
LBJ School of Public Affairs graduate students.
PR Design assists second-year students with all aspects of the professional report writing process. Class consists of detailed lectures and occasional group work, designed to help you work step-by-step through every stage of the PR writing process confidently and effectively.
| Unit I: Joining the Conversation |
| 9.4 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Overview and Topic Exploration |
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Begin reconceptualizing and normalizing the ill reputed professional report (PR) by understanding your rhetorical context. In this class we will define the PR, examine typical elements and organizational strategies, and finally examine how to initiate the PR writing process beginning with topic exploration and supervising committee selection. |
| 9.11 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Exploring and Narrowing PR Topic |
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This roundtable will address strategies to narrow your PR topic and identify specific issues. We will watch several short conference videos to identify key players, points of uncertainty,
controversy, recurring themes and so forth. Narrowing your topic will allow you to guide your
research efforts and begin establishing a PR framework. |
| 9.18 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Managing the PR |
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As you begin to explore and narrow your PR topic and research question, you will collect a
number of relevant sources. Learn consistent methods to manage your time and sources using a traditional notebook method. |
| Unit II: Managing and Collecting Information |
| 10.02 |
10:00 – 12:00 |
PR Research |
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With so many sources of information, knowing where to research may be overwhelming.
Learn how to go beyond using Google and Wikipedia to successfully search for information
using government search sites, online library catalogues, and databases to find the most
relevant resources for your research. Guest speaker Stephen Littrell, a UT General Libraries
professional librarian will offer tips to make your research process manageable. |
| 10.16 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Research Question and Proposal Form Preparation |
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Learn how to generate potential research questions from our PR topic and how to prepare the conditions for the preliminary research proposal. Attendees will have working knowledge of
how to prepare the PR Proposal Approval form, which is due 10.19 for May 2010 graduates. |
| Unit III: Working with Sources |
| 10.23 |
10:00 – 12:00 |
Working with Sources |
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What style guide should LBJ students use? Can writers omit sources from a professional memo or op-ed? This class will address all of your questions regarding intentional and unintentional plagiarism. We will initially discuss style guides, review Chicago-style documentation, and finally learn strategies to avoid unintentional plagiarism. |
| Unit IV: Drafting the PR |
| 10.30 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Prospectus I: Outline and Plan |
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Prepare the conditions for efficient drafting by developing a prospectus, which essentially
consolidates all the research you have completed. We will discuss how to develop a working
thesis statement and how to translate ideas into a three-level outline. Plan ahead for developing the framework of your PR and getting feedback from your readers. Due 12.04.09 for May graduates. |
| 11.06 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Prospectus II: Examples and Discussion (replaced with individual meetings) |
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In this class we will examine different types of prospectuses in various stages. Bring two copies of your draft prospectus for class discussion and feedback. |
| 11.13 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Literature Review |
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Depending upon your context, you may have to write a literature review chapter. In this class we will discuss practical suggestions for analyzing and synthesizing, preparing your first draft, and finally developing a coherent text. |
| 11.20 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
Outline to Draft |
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We will initially discuss reader expectations, review a PR rubric, discuss how to develop and refine your statement of purpose via a productive class activity and finally examine how you may use your outline to begin early drafting. Leave class familiar with key drafting strategies and reader expectations. |
| Unit V: Documentation |
| 12.4 |
11:00 – 12:00 |
PR Semester Review and Documentation |
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Be prepared for drafting before or during the winter break. Class will summarize key points of the semester and offer a Q&A session to identify and solve problematic areas. |
PR Design Fall 2009 Blackboard