For Project 2, “Find Trends in Your Profession,” you will research your industry and identify the top three trends, create a Reference page, choose an issue of particular interest to research, and write a short analytical paper on the impact of this issue in your field.  

This is a two-step process with separate deliverable dates: 

The first step is to prepare your Draft References in APA style, 7th edition. 

The second step is to prepare a Research Paper. The due date is Tuesday, May 4th.  You may also share your research experience with the class in the Project 2 Discussion area. 

Please make sure you submit each deliverable in the PROPER FOLDER on the CORRECT DUE DATE.

There are four steps that will lead you through this project.

Step 1: Conduct Research to Identify Top Trends. First, you will look in business and industry-related databases for information about your industry. Then you will search the library, websites, and other resources for information that would help you identify the top trends in your industry.  Please remember to record notes from the resources and record the complete citation in APA format in your References page.

Step 2: Choose an Issue to Research Further. Choose an issue from your research on a trend in your industry that has potential for great impact on the field, and then draft a preliminary question or statement of the problem. Once you have chosen your issue and completed enough research to provide a well-reasoned answer (or solution), you will be ready to write your issue paper.

Step 3: Write your Research Paper. Your paper will be 5 pages, not including your cover page and References page(s), double-spaced and set up in APA standards. It does not require an abstract. Your citations, both “in-text” and “References” will be in accordance with the APA 7TH EDITION 

The headings for your research paper will follow this general pattern: Please remember to include each of these components in your research paper. 

1. Introduction
2. Findings
   1. Top Trends of the _____ Industry; NAICS/SOC Codes
   2. An Important Emerging Issue in a trend and what it means in context to the industry
3. Conclusions
4. References