The Analytical Report: Liberal Arts Majors
Paper Overview
For the report, you will choose two similar things to compare. You will research them using the
internet and LSSC databases and also conduct original research. Finally, you will write an
analysis which contains the research and a judgment of which item is superior.
internet and LSSC databases and also conduct original research. Finally, you will write an
analysis which contains the research and a judgment of which item is superior.
● Length: reaches at least 1000 words.
● Page Format: APA.
● Information: includes an introduction, 3-6 data sections, and a conclusion.
● Sources: 3 of the sources from your Annotated Bibliography and 1 visual (more may
be used)
be used)
● Analysis: compares two equivalent items using 3-6 logical criteria, draws reasonable
conclusions using research, and contains a final judgment.
conclusions using research, and contains a final judgment.
● Fluency: written clearly and vetted for grammar errors. Divided into logical
paragraphs.
● Language: avoids first and second person pronouns and is free of slang, clichés, and
contractions
paragraphs.
● Language: avoids first and second person pronouns and is free of slang, clichés, and
contractions
● Citation: uses correct APA in-text citations and a references page.
● Proofreading: submitted to Grammarly, and the final draft reaches at least a 90
grammar score and an unoriginal content ratio of 10% or less. Your grammar and
plagiarism scores should be included with the assignment.
Steps for Creating the Report
1) Choose two things to compare. Choose items with which you are already familiar. How
do you decide what to choose? Consider the following categories.
grammar score and an unoriginal content ratio of 10% or less. Your grammar and
plagiarism scores should be included with the assignment.
Steps for Creating the Report
1) Choose two things to compare. Choose items with which you are already familiar. How
do you decide what to choose? Consider the following categories.
● TV Shows: Cop shows, late-night shows, family sitcoms, work-place comedies,
cooking shows, game shows, or any other shows that have enough in common to
justify the comparison.
cooking shows, game shows, or any other shows that have enough in common to
justify the comparison.
● Movies: Action movies, office comedies, romantic comedies, horror movies,
thrillers, slasher films, documentaries, Hallmark Christmas movies, or any other
movies that have enough in common to justify the comparison.
thrillers, slasher films, documentaries, Hallmark Christmas movies, or any other
movies that have enough in common to justify the comparison.
● Music: Two songs by the same artist, two songs from the same album, two
songs that were nominated against each other in the same Grammy’s category,
two songs about the same subject/topic, two theme songs from movies, two TV
show theme songs, or any other songs that have enough in common to justify
the comparison.
songs that were nominated against each other in the same Grammy’s category,
two songs about the same subject/topic, two theme songs from movies, two TV
show theme songs, or any other songs that have enough in common to justify
the comparison.
● Literature: Two novels by the same author, two novels about the same topic,
two novels in the same genre, two novels in the same series, two short stories or
poems by the same author, two short stories or poems about a similar
topic/theme, two short stories or poems in the same genre, or any other novels,
short stories, or poems that have enough in common to justify the comparison.
two novels in the same genre, two novels in the same series, two short stories or
poems by the same author, two short stories or poems about a similar
topic/theme, two short stories or poems in the same genre, or any other novels,
short stories, or poems that have enough in common to justify the comparison.
● Art: Two works of art by the same artist, two works of art from the same period,
two works of art created in the same style, two works of art with similar
subjects, two works of art with similar themes, or any other works of art that
have enough in common to justify the comparison.
Whatever you choose, please make sure the two items are equivalent: Don’t compare a
television show and a painting. Compare two television shows OR two paintings.
2) Choose comparison criteria. Successful evaluations use criteria that are logical for the
things being compared. When deciding on criteria, consider the aspects of your items
which are most important to you. In this report, evaluate your items according to 3-6
criteria.
3) Research online. For this report, you will need to include 3 of the sources required by
your Annotated Bibliography assignment. More sources can be used. Sources should
give information about the items you are comparing.
4) Conduct personal research. If you are comparing songs, listen to them. If you are
comparing films, watch them. If you are comparing short stories, read them. Take
notes: You will use these notes for the data sections of your report.
5) Find visual elements. Visuals can take the form of photographs, illustrations, charts,
graphs, and infographics: any format which helps illustrate the data is allowed. The final
draft of the report should contain at least one visual. More may be used.
6) Design the report. Successful reports make use of the following elements.
a. A standard style and size font: APA format requires Times New Roman 12 pt.
b. APA page format: Make sure the essay meets standard format requirements.
Since this is a technical report, you should also divide the essay into subsections
with clear headings.
c. Legible spacing: Double-space your entire report. Use bolded subheads to
indicate the separate sections. Use bullet points and/or numbered lists within
sections, if necessary, to make them more readable.
d. Clear sentences and paragraphs: Vary sentence length and keep paragraphs
clear and concise. Use Grammarly to edit the report. Double-check citations to
be sure they meet APA format requirements.
e. Third person point of view: Avoid words like I, me, my, you, we our, and us.
f.
Sufficiently formal language: Avoid slang, clichés, and contractions.
two works of art created in the same style, two works of art with similar
subjects, two works of art with similar themes, or any other works of art that
have enough in common to justify the comparison.
Whatever you choose, please make sure the two items are equivalent: Don’t compare a
television show and a painting. Compare two television shows OR two paintings.
2) Choose comparison criteria. Successful evaluations use criteria that are logical for the
things being compared. When deciding on criteria, consider the aspects of your items
which are most important to you. In this report, evaluate your items according to 3-6
criteria.
3) Research online. For this report, you will need to include 3 of the sources required by
your Annotated Bibliography assignment. More sources can be used. Sources should
give information about the items you are comparing.
4) Conduct personal research. If you are comparing songs, listen to them. If you are
comparing films, watch them. If you are comparing short stories, read them. Take
notes: You will use these notes for the data sections of your report.
5) Find visual elements. Visuals can take the form of photographs, illustrations, charts,
graphs, and infographics: any format which helps illustrate the data is allowed. The final
draft of the report should contain at least one visual. More may be used.
6) Design the report. Successful reports make use of the following elements.
a. A standard style and size font: APA format requires Times New Roman 12 pt.
b. APA page format: Make sure the essay meets standard format requirements.
Since this is a technical report, you should also divide the essay into subsections
with clear headings.
c. Legible spacing: Double-space your entire report. Use bolded subheads to
indicate the separate sections. Use bullet points and/or numbered lists within
sections, if necessary, to make them more readable.
d. Clear sentences and paragraphs: Vary sentence length and keep paragraphs
clear and concise. Use Grammarly to edit the report. Double-check citations to
be sure they meet APA format requirements.
e. Third person point of view: Avoid words like I, me, my, you, we our, and us.
f.
Sufficiently formal language: Avoid slang, clichés, and contractions.
7) Draft the report. Although individual types of reports vary, report format always
emphasizes clarity and conciseness. The report should be divided into labeled sections
which include all necessary data while eliminating irrelevant data. It must end with an
analysis and judgment.
emphasizes clarity and conciseness. The report should be divided into labeled sections
which include all necessary data while eliminating irrelevant data. It must end with an
analysis and judgment.
The report should contain the following standard sections.
a. Introduction: In the introduction, describe the things being compared and
discuss why comparing them is worthwhile. List the criteria being used to
compare the items and discuss why they are logical for the chosen items.
discuss why comparing them is worthwhile. List the criteria being used to
compare the items and discuss why they are logical for the chosen items.
b. Data Sections: Devote one data section to each criterion. Within each data
section, evaluate the items according to that criterion. Use research to support
the conclusions. Cite sources using APA in-text citations. If a data section
includes a visual, make sure it is relevant. End each data section with a judgment
of which item ‘won’ this criterion.
section, evaluate the items according to that criterion. Use research to support
the conclusions. Cite sources using APA in-text citations. If a data section
includes a visual, make sure it is relevant. End each data section with a judgment
of which item ‘won’ this criterion.
c. Conclusion: Begin the conclusion by briefly summarizing the data sections.
Then, make a judgment of which item is superior based upon your research. It’s
not necessary to disparage either item, but you must declare one item superior.
Reports which don’t contain a final judgment will lose points, as that is the
purpose of the report.
Then, make a judgment of which item is superior based upon your research. It’s
not necessary to disparage either item, but you must declare one item superior.
Reports which don’t contain a final judgment will lose points, as that is the
purpose of the report.
d. References: Place an APA-style references page at the end of the report. Include
all internet and database sources as well as the visual(s).
all internet and database sources as well as the visual(s).