The Scenario:
Bed bugs are increasingly a problem in the hospitality industry, presenting significant challenges to boutique hotels and small chains. For this assignment, you’re being asked to quickly pull together some research and create a White Paper on bed bugs in the hospitality industry.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Typically, white papers are used to propose a solution to a problem. They usually start with a big-picture view of an issue’s context and then lead readers to a specific proposal for a solution. The audience for a white paper can be a specific business or multiple companies that have problems or needs requiring solutions. You may or may not know your audience personally, but in order to persuade your audience you must understand and focus on their needs. If you can research and address problems that your readers want to solve, they will read your white paper for a solution. Otherwise, your white paper may not be read. It is important to use the AIM process in order to understand your reader’s concerns and emphasize the reader benefits of your solution, rather than focusing on your own interests, opinions, or needs. White papers are often public-facing documents and will represent the hotel brand, so producing a document that is visually appealing, polished, and professional is essential.
White Paper Assignment
For this assignment, you will first describe the current status of the bedbug problem in the hospitality industry. You will then propose a thoughtful, persuasive solution to that problem. You will present the problem and solution in the form of a white paper.
Your white paper should be 750-1250 words (notice there is no page count here, I’m expecting you to use plenty of visuals to help get your point across and attract an audience). Cite sources in APA Format. The works cited page does not count toward the length requirement. You should organize your white paper carefully and use clear, specific headings so that busy readers can scan the document effectively.
Prewriting
Prior to beginning to write, you should briefly research the problem of bedbugs in the hotel industry. Here are some resources to get you started:
1. After reading the two chapters for this unit and completing the assessment, read through the following information on bed bugs:
White paper on bed bugs from Orkin: https://www.orkin.com/other/bed-bugs/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
White paper on bed bug infestation from Virginia: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-hotels1.pdf (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Resources on bed bugs from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/publications.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Story on bed bugs and the hotel industry from : http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/business/for-hotels-bedbugs-are-bad-enough-and-social-media-adds-to-irritation.html?partner=bloomberg (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
An industry source on the financial impact of bed bugs: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4087431.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Information on bed bugs gathered by New York City: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/bedbugs.page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
2. Use the PSU library to gather at least three additional resources on bed bugs in the hotel industry. There is a link to some library sources about general demographic data at the bottom left of your screen, as well.
3. Appropriately document your sources using APA format (guide can be found at the OWL at Purdue here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ (Links to an external site.))
Format and Contents of white paper
Your white paper must contain all of the following parts:
1. Title: This should be a descriptive title (not “White Paper”).
2. Introduction/Summary: This section should provide a brief overview of the problem you have identified and the solution you will propose. It should be a preview of the information contained in each section of your paper. This helps busy readers quickly grasp the main point and easily navigate the document. Remember, the introduction is just a preview; it should be precise and clear, but it should save specific details for later sections.
3. Problem/Background: This section should clearly and firmly state the current or anticipated problem you have identified. Be sure to explain the significance of the problem and its consequences—why is this issue important?
After stating the problem, you need to provide background information about it to help readers make their decision based on a clear understanding of the facts. You also need to demonstrate your own expertise on the subject so that readers will perceive your solution as credible. Explain what is known about the problem and what caused it. Explain the consequences of the problem. Describe what is likely to happen if nothing is done. Describe previous attempts to solve the problem and explain why they were not successful.
Specific evidence is very important in this section, and you will need to do research. You will need to demonstrate a familiarity with the details, statistics, data, etc. that are relevant to your argument. Provide examples of the problem’s negative impacts. When possible, use numbers, statistics, and/or concrete facts: How much revenue has been lost? How many work hours have been wasted? How have public relations been damaged? How has customer satisfaction been decreased? Make sure to properly cite your sources for this information using APA in-text citations.
Solution: This section should propose and defend your solution to the problem. Again, be specific. Why is this the best solution? What steps will be required to implement it? How will it improve the situation? How will people be able to judge, measure, and evaluate its effectiveness? You should acknowledge any drawbacks to your recommended solution and address any objections your readers might have.
1. Conclusion: This section should briefly wrap up your paper by summarizing the main arguments and making a final, firm case for your solution. You should avoid repeating phrases and sentences from earlier in your paper. Find an original, succinct way to sum up your argument.
2. Works Cited: At the end of your paper, make sure to include a list of all the sources you used when writing the paper (you must use at least three sources). Remember, you need to cite a source even if you don’t quote directly from that source—sources that you paraphrase or take data from must also be cited. Use APA format for both your works cited page and your in-text citations. If you need help with formatting, see the guide here: https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/apaquickguide (Links to an external site.)
3. Visuals: You MUST use visuals (such as charts, tables, and graphs, photographs) in your white paper. Make sure they are easy to interpret, professional in appearance, clearly captioned, and relevant—don’t use visuals simply to fill space. Use the tools we’ve been developing to further your document design (Balance, Alignment, etc.)