AGCJ 404
Agricultural Communications and Journalism

Your supervisor asked you to write a research brief about a specific agricultural problem, product, or service for which related scientific research has just been published. The brief must be factual, referenced, and submitted by a specific deadline. A research brief, derived from more detailed research reports or journal articles, provides "brief" information that is more easily used by readers outside the immmediate researher/scientist groups. The brief can be rewritten into shorter agricultural communications products, such as one-page Fact Sheets, Press Releases, or News Briefs.

The supervisor asks if you have any questions. You respond, "ahhh, well, I guess..."

• What is an appropriate length for this research brief?
• What is the best way to organize my information?
• How do I format a final research brief?

Your supervisor helps you find the answers to these questions. He/she suggests you work through the project in stages and share ideas and work as you prepare the final research brief. If you follow the suggested points listed here, you will produce an outstanding research brief.

• Submit your research brief topic for instructor approval (the earlier, the better).
• Collect at least five refereed "research" journal articles.
  • NOTE: You may use articles from the Journal Article Reviews assignment.
  • Submit actual "hard copies" of at least five research articles with the research brief.
  • Internet-only journals are acceptable, but all must be from refereed sources.
• Use research articles to develop a research brief outline/draft to be submitted for instructor's review (week prior to deadline date).
• Submit the rough draft to Turnitin.com, acquire the Turnitin analysis report, and meet with the instructor to discuss the report.
• Finalize and submit the research brief, with accompanying journal articles, by the deadline.

1. Select a topic that translates well into the Fact Sheet, Press Release, and News Brief.
2. Research the topic early to determine if current refereed research exists for your brief.
3. Locate a minimum of five current (2003-present) research-based sources to support your brief.
4. Narrow or broaden your topic as you find available information.
5. Determine a specific audience for your research brief.
6. Use an appropriate format (Hint: use this Header/Footer template) for your research brief.
7. Develop an appropriate rough draft for review.
8. Research and write the rough draft, which includes APA Manual 5^th citation style.
9. Submit the rough draft to Turnitin.com (you create a user profile) for a plagiarism prevention check.
10. Attend a one-on-one rough draft consultation, using the Turnitin report, with your instructor.
11. Use the Turnitin report and instructor's advice to make final edits to the research brief.
12. Submit the final research brief (hard copy and e-mail file to instructor) by the deadline date.
13. NOTE: A sure way to FAIL this assignment is to include any Wikipedia source.

• A minimum of two-pages, single-spaced, and a double-column format.
• Appropriate sections (e.g., Background, Purpose/Objectives, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References, and Contact Information in footer area).
• Proper puntuation use (e.g., single space after all periods, commas, etc.).
• Proper citation use (APA Manual 5^th edition) in the narrative, tables/figures, and references.
• References include a minimum of five, current (2003-present), research journal articles.
• Laser-quality print.

• CREDE #4, CREDE #10 (not agriculture-specific, but excellent examples)
• Strategic Planning (Is there any missing information in this research brief?)
• Fire Ants: Research Brief, Technical Bulletin, and a corresponding Press Release (for a later assignment)