Author: Brandon Najarian

Title: Inherent Flaws in Current Urban Planning Theories
General Purpose: To inform.
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the shortcomings of current urban design theories and processes.

Thesis Statement: Current urban planning theories and models don’t adequately account for the future development of communities, bottlenecking growth and detrimentally impacting the lives of current and future residents.

 

1.     Introduction (memorized)

a.     Attention Getter: In the 115-page report titled “Kaka’ako Makai Conceptual Master Plan Final Report” (MVE Pacific, 2011), the future development plans for the Kaka’ako area are laid out in meticulous detail. From the type, location, and frequency of planted trees along sidewalks to the location of hills relative to views of the sunset, no superficial detail was left unaddressed. But, given the amount of detail in the report, how many times do you believe the outdated and inadequate sewer system was addressed? What about an alteration of traffic layout in anticipation of increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic? The answer is zero; not one time was a solid plan to update existing infrastructure mentioned in the report.

b.     Relate to Audience: According to Zillow (2017, August 31), the median price for a condominium in Kaka’ako rose to $849,000.00 in September of this year. Would you consider paying this much for a condo in the middle of a traffic gridlock? How would you feel if you bought a condo but couldn’t swim in the beach right across the street because the sewer system has contaminated the water?

c.     Credibility Statement: After both seeing and hearing the new development plans for Kaka’ako and Kailua, my interest was piqued when no mention of improvements to infrastructure was made. Seeing this, I then decided to research what exactly an urban planner’s job entails. This is when I discovered that there are inherent flaws in urban planning, and these flaws have existed and been criticized basically since urban planning became a field of study. These flaws can have devastating impacts on the lives of present and future residents of the community, and the environment; this is why I chose to present this topic to you.

d.   Preview Statement/Restate Thesis: To present this topic in an                                                        understandable and relatable manner, I will begin with a brief description of                                 what an urban planner does. Then, the flaws of urban planning will be discussed,                            followed by the impacts that these flaws have had here on O’ahu.

 

 

Transition Statement: First, let’s discuss what an urban planner does as well as the duties of the position.
2.     According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015), an urban planner “develop(s) land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.”

a.     Though there are more than eight different theories of planning being practiced and many specialized fields, there are industry-wide goals that every planner strives to accomplish. They are:

i.     Determine the best use of existing land or buildings

ii.     Design the most efficient grid plan for new communities

iii.     Develop a plan that furthers the social and economic well-being of the residents within a community

iv.     If redeveloping an area, to incorporate the historical and cultural aspects of the existing community

v.     Reduce the environmental impact of redevelopment by providing environmentally friendly alternatives such as utilizing recyclable materials, and incorporating the installation of energy efficient utilities in new construction.

vi.     Provide the existing community members with a platform to discuss redevelopment and provide input

 

Transition Statement: Now that we have a better understanding of what an urban planner does, let’s discuss the pitfalls with the current theories.
3.     Current urban planning theories emphasize the alignment of land-use and population-growth estimates with current infrastructure supply. According to Lewis Mumford, “what was once built out of necessity and in haste, now needs to be planned” (1970). Unfortunately, local governance will often permit the planning and construction of new communities based on infrastructure improvements that haven’t yet happened. This decision can have a cascading effect on current and future residents as well as businesses in zones pegged for redevelopment.

a.     Residents, unfortunately, bear the brunt of the decision to fast-track development. Some of the impacts are as follows:

i.     According to a 2015 report by INRIX (a company specializing in global urban mobility analysis), Honolulu was ranked tenth worse in the nation for hours spent in traffic. The average resident can expect to waste 49 hours per year sitting in traffic (INRIX 2015). By fast-tracking development without first improving infrastructure, developers and the state are compounding Hawai’i’s already notorious traffic congestion by placing more housing in areas already overwhelmed by vehicular traffic.

ii.     Potential buyers may purchase a unit based on an assumption or promise of infrastructure improvement that may take years to decades to accomplish. For example, a 2016 report compiled by the consulting company Wilson Okamoto Corporation cited needed improvements to the sewer system in Kaka’ako in anticipation of future development. The report breaks down the needed repairs into phases, with an estimated completion date of 2027 (Wilson Okamoto Corporation, 2016). This estimated completion date is in no way concrete. In fact, according to the reports phase completion dates, the state is already behind on a few of the projects. This can have a negative impact on new residents who have to deal with issues like sewage odor, plumbing back-ups, and sewer spillage. One of the biggest spills occurred in 2015 in the Kaka’ako area at the intersection of Ala Moana and Atkinson Blvd’s. where over 500,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the surrounding beaches and rivers, closing much of the waterfront to the public.

iii.     Another common issue faced by local residents is the availability of public facilities due to increased foot traffic. This changes the dynamic of public spaces for both new and existing residents. Already easy to see in Kailua, where the public restrooms at Kailua beach park became overwhelmed due to increased usage and fell into a state of disrepair. The restrooms took over 8 months to repair and, according to KHON, costs neared the 1-million-dollar mark (“Kailua Beach Park bathhouse, pavilion reopened following renovations”, 2017). Jane Jacobs in her book titled The Life and Death of Great American Cities said it best: “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” (Jacobs, 1961). This statement rings true here in Hawai’i, where many times local residents aren’t included when development plans are made.

iv.      Public schools are unable to cope with the influx of school- aged children in areas undergoing development, and educational quality begins to degrade. According to the Department of Education, 2016 enrollment in public schools dropped 0.002%, but over the past 5 years, there has been a steady increase in enrollment of school-aged children across the state (DOE 2016). If this average increase in enrollment is not being followed by an increase in facilities, classroom sizes increase which can affect student learning.

b.     Effects on businesses

i.     Not redeveloping a traffic grid when vehicular traffic is expected to increase causes gridlock in business districts. As we’ve seen with the rail in Waipahu and Aiea, when traffic increases business located on a congested route notice a decrease in revenue. Customers will avoid congested areas and will more than likely choose somewhere else to shop or dine.

ii.     If sufficient parking structures aren’t accounted for when redesigning an area, the already terrible traffic situation becomes compounded with people circling areas in search of parking. A lack of parking can impact businesses similar to a poor traffic grid in the sense that customers may move on instead of searching for a stall.

iii.     We’ve all had the unfortunate opportunity to smell a backed-up sewer system. Imagine that smell outside a business such as a restaurant, grocery store, or boutique. Many people would avoid the smell as much as possible, causing businesses to suffer due to a lack of foot traffic.

iv.     The lack of infrastructure also deters new businesses from opening a location in these areas. For the same reasons mentioned earlier, new businesses may avoid an area that’s undergoing redevelopment.

 

Transition Statement: Lastly, I would like to provide examples of how this flaw in urban planning has had an impact locally.
4.     Development has been hastily pushed forward by the state without considering the infrastructure improvements needed to sustain such developments.

a.     According to an analysis of current sewer conditions conducted by the Belt Collins Hawaii, over 4,200 feet of existing sewer line would need to be upgraded (at an estimated cost of over 3.4 million dollars) to accommodate the influx of residents due to new development (Belt Collins Hawaii LLC, 2014). In Kaka’ako, one of the most common complaints from residents is an overwhelming odor permeating their homes. Normally, under ideal conditions, sewer piping lies a certain amount of feet below a manhole cover and on a certain degree of pitch. This enables wastewater to flow through the sewer pipes using only gravity. There is a term in sewer system design called surcharging. It refers to a state when wastewater can no longer flow through sewer lines, potentially overflowing into the street. Being in a constant state of surcharge can also cause odors to permeate through manhole covers and drains. Even with these improvements, eight sections of sewer line would remain in a surcharged state, constantly on the brink of potential overflow. However, these estimates are based on sewer line improvement only. The Hawaii Community Development Authority in 2009 pegged total infrastructure improvements needed in the Kaka’ako area to be $126,549,000.00 (HCDA, 2009).

b.     Locals of O’ahu have already seen the impact this lack of planning has had on our environment and daily lives. I would like to share a situation that a friend experienced that I thought was relevant to this presentation. He decided to go to the beach, normally a 10-minute drive. However, that day there was heavy traffic and the trip ended up taking close to 30 minutes. Once he arrived at the beach, he discovered that the only restroom there was closed. When he walked down to the water, he saw signs posted stating that the beach was closed due to sewage contamination. Needless to say, the frustration level was high. These negative experiences are a direct result of poor development planning and fast-track construction methods.

 

Signal Ending: In conclusion, the current state of urban planning does not provide a comprehensive foundation for the development or redevelopment of communities.
5.     Conclusion

a.     Planners need to combine both orthodox and unorthodox means when planning communities. Though every situation is unique, all factors need to be considered before the design process begins. Development should be contingent upon infrastructure improvements, which should run parallel to construction progress.

b.     Looking at all of you in the audience, I see the future decision-makers of our communities. Hopefully, this presentation brings to light some of the issues regarding our current planning process, and maybe our generation can be the one that revolutionizes the industry.

 

 

References

 

 

Dela Cruz, D. (2016, August 30). Public and Charter school enrollment remains steady with increases in most grades. Retrieved from http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/HIDOEEnrollment1617.aspx

 

Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York, NY: Vintage Books.

 

Mumford, L. (1970). The culture of cities. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

 

MVE Pacific. (2011). Kaka’ako Makai Conceptual Master Plan Final Report. Retrieved from Hawaii.gov: http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda/files/2015/12/Appendix-C-KMakai-Conceptual-MPReport-2011.pdf

 

Belt Collins Hawaii LLC. (2014). Sewer Master Plan Update. Retrieved from https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda/files/2013/06/Ward-master-Plan-SM-WardNeighborhood_MP_Prop_4-2-08.pdf

 

Hawaii Community Development Authority. (September 2011). Kaka’ako community development district. Retrieved from https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda/files/2012/11/FINAL-MAUKA-AREA-PLAN-eff-2011.pdf

 

Zillow Inc. (2017, August 31). Ala Moana-Kakaako Home Prices & Home Values. Retrieved from https://www.zillow.com/ala-moana-kakaako-honolulu-hi/home-values/

 

INRIX. (2016, March 15). INRIX 2015 Traffic Scorecard Sets Benchmark for U.S. Cities as Federal Government Accelerates Smart City Spending. Retrieved from http://inrix.com/press-releases/scorecard-us/

 

Kailua Beach Park bathhouse, pavilion reopened following renovations. (2017, July 03).  Retrieved from http://khon2.com/2017/07/03/kailua-beach-park-bathhouse-pavilion-reopened-following-renovations/

 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015, December 17). Urban and Regional Planners. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/urban-and-regional-planners.htm

 

Wilson Okamoto Corporation. (2016). Victoria Ward Redevelopment Sewer Master Plan Update. Retrieved from https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda/files/2013/06/Ward-master-Plan-SM-WardNeighborhood_MP_Prop_4-2-08.pdf

 

 

1. Poor work ethic
2. Poor attendance
3. Poor hygiene
4. Bad attitude
5. Poor morals

Ways to approach issues that will result in a positive outcome

1. Address work ethic in private with the person. Provide both good (if there are any) as well as bad aspects of current work ethic and keep an open mind
2. Address attendance issues in private. Discuss possible reasons for poor attendance as well as possible solutions to reduce absences
3. In private, discuss hygiene issues. Some may be related to religious or moral beliefs, in which case a solution may not be in your favor.
4. Discuss in private the issues related to attitude. Are there reasons for this that you may be unaware of? If so, are there ways to assist in resolving theses issues?
5. Poor morals may be the most difficult to address. Approaching the situation and bringing attention to what you have noticed may only result in the person better hiding what they are doing. Not too sure on this one.

Date: October 18, 2017

To: Lance Uyeda

From: Brandon Najarian

Subject: Research Project Status Update

This memo describes the progress both my team and I have made in respect to our final research project on Hawaii’s cost of living and its effects on students. Additional sources have been analyzed, some of which will be used in the final report and some that will not. Overall, progress has been made in certain areas and the team is on track to meet the due date.

Background: In preparation for the assignment, our team began briefly researching the topic of the cost of living in Hawaii. Though this is not the primary focus of our report, we were looking at the quality as well as the availability of hard data from the state. Finding that the information was readily available, we began to search for data that reflected the nations average cost of living, both year-over-year increases, and averages, which was also available.

Work Completed: Over the past few days, our team has decided on a thesis statement and general direction the report will be heading. We have also begun to delegate duties and responsibilities to each other and began to work on our meeting schedule. I’ve also interviewed my financial aid counselor regarding how the cost of living is calculated within FAFSA and, invariably, EFC. Our group has also begun to explore other sources of information such as EBSCO and various .gov websites.

New Information: According to the website expatisan.com, Hawaii ranked 6^th most expensive city in the United States and 17^th in the world (with Hawaii having the most expensive toilet paper in the entire world). Also, according to the same website, the average monthly rent for a 900-square foot unit is $2100.00, with monthly utilities per person priced at $205.00. Expatisan gathers this data from various government agencies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics among others. This data will prove invaluable when composing our final report, and because Expatisan gathers information from reliable sources, it’s easily verifiable.

Another relevant and important article was found through Pacific Business News, and it’s titled “UH resident tuition jumps 137% over past 10 years”. The article compares the elevation in UH’s resident tuition over a period of 10 years beginning in 2004 and ending in 2014 and states that the University of Hawaii at Manoa has had the largest tuition increase in the nation over the 10-year period. The article also references reliable sources such as the Hawaii State Data Book (which is compiled using data from various government agencies) as well as information directly from the university itself. The most striking and, I believe, important fact was that in 2004, the university’s resident tuition per semester was $1,704.00, compared to 2015-16 school year which was $5,172.00. This fact alone will prove relevant for our final paper and provides a stark look at the universities rising tuition costs and how that, coupled with the 6^th highest cost of living in the nation, can dramatically impact students and student debt.

Work to be completed: I believe that our next step is to decide who our audience is, then we will have a better idea of what the overall tone of our paper should be. After that, we need to decide whether we will be comparing Hawaii to the rest of the nation or one specific state. Only after that decision is made, will we be able to continue our research. Though we began the research process, more is definitely needed. After we compile all our data, we will then have to organize it in relation to our reports structure. Next, we will need to refine our PowerPoint presentation to complement our final report and presentation.  Finally, we will need to finalize and practice our presentation.

Anticipated problems: From what I gather, I believe our biggest issues will be the following:

1. Scheduling meetings
2. Organizing/compiling data
3. Practicing presentation

By November 29, our final report will be completed and our presentation will be ready.

 

References:

“Cost of Living in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Oct 2017 prices in Honolulu, Hawaii.” Expatistan, cost of living comparisons, Expatistan, 2017, http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/honolulu.

Galagher, Kathleen. “UH resident tuition jumps 137% over past 10 years.” Bizjournals.com, Pacific Business News, 25 Mar. 2016, 13:3p, http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2016/03/25/uh-resident-tuition-jumps-137-over-past-10-years.html.

 

To: Weyerman Paper Company Employees
From: Brittany Cook, John Paul Danao, Brandon Najarian and Corey Weaver
Subject: Company Game Night

Dear Valued Weyerman Employees,
We have received your request for spouses or friends to be allowed to participate in Weyerman intramural sports teams. We appreciate all of your consistent, exceptionally hard work. Which is why we can understand that you may not afford additional time away from spending time with your family and friends.

This fall season has been set to accommodate our company games. Over 100 employees currently take part on the eight coed volleyball, softball, and tennis teams, in which the teams only play once a week. The teams were outlined to strengthen workplace friendships, as well as giving employees an opportunity to enjoy their time together. If non-employees were to join, we fear that employee interaction would be limited. Although some members may have a more enjoyable time with spouses or friends included, we are not certain that all employees would. Additionally, if non-employees participated, we would have to create supplementary teams, make changes to the roster and game schedules, and it would increase the amount administrative or equipment costs. Which in turn, could be conflicting for some participants.

Again, we do truly understand the need for social time outside of work. Friends, families, and other guests are very much welcome to attend the games as spectators at all intramural games. Also, the company sponsors a family party during the holidays, as well as the annual company picnic.

Sincerely,
Brittany Cook, John Paul Danao, Brandon Najarian and Corey Weaver

PWC 7

Date: 10/02/2017
To: All WCC Business Writing Students
From: Brittany Cook, John Paul Danao, Brandon Najarian and Corey Weaver
Subject: Composing a Negative Message   

 

Dear Members of the WCC Writing Community,

Often not considered to be of importance, a negative message can play a crucial role in your future employment. Negative messages are often used to professionally convey bad news clearly and completely while emphasizing empathy and sensitivity. The composer of the message also has to remain objective, while giving the impression that they are merely an impartial messenger of the message. Some examples of emails that are considered to be negative messages are a denial letter for a scholarship, employer’s change in policy, and a denial of a request, amongst others. When looking at the following examples, there are a wide variety of approaches being utilized to compose an email regarding a company’s internet and social media policy.

In the opening paragraph of a negative message (often referred to as the buffer), you want to remain positive, convey an essence of appreciation for the reader while also providing a restatement of the facts regarding the situation being discussed. The third example initially opens with a positive statement, again called the buffer. Looking at example one, if you were to read the first paragraph alone, you would have no idea what situation the composer is speaking about. Also, the overall tone of the email isn’t professional and could be interpreted as an informal email being sent to one individual, instead of an entire team.

  The next paragraph is used to explain the reasons for the decision, while not yet revealing what the decision is/was. Again, looking at example three, you will notice that the composer provided reasons for the change in the company’s social media policy. Not only does the composer provide reasons for the decision, but the potential ramifications if corrective measures aren’t taken. When examining example two, however, you will notice that the structure of the paragraph is rather redundant and robotic. Remember that one of the goals of a negative message is to convey the news as concisely as possible, eliminating the potential of follow-up emails with questions.

Now comes the bad news portion of the email. It’s vital to remember that this is the purpose of the email, and you may want to remember who your audience is when composing this portion. Your goal is to reveal the bad news while not emphasizing it, and to provide an alternative or compromise if at all possible. The bad news should also ideally be located in the middle of the paragraph rather than at the beginning. Example three again shows how to put the news into the body of the paragraph while concisely stating the changes. The first example opens the paragraph with the bad news, while all the while maintaining a tone of parental punishment. Example one also used the term “netiquette” with no explanation or demonstrative marks, so it appears to almost be a spelling error. Example two uses vague and ominous threats as motivation for employees to follow the social media policy, providing no alternatives or compromises for the workers. Writing in this tone can give the impression that the company is run as a totalitarian dictatorship, potentially lowering worker morale and creating a division between workers and management.

Finally, the closing of the negative message needs to convey a personalized, positive message. Whether it’s information regarding potential alternatives offered, freebies or good wishes, the goal if your conclusion paragraph is to leave the reader with a sense positivity. Often, the conclusion is also a forward-looking paragraph that may encourage the reader to try again or continue working with you. Again looking at example three, you will see that the last two sentences reiterate the strength of the team as well as a positive outlook for the company’s future. Example two, while providing a concrete date for the start of the new policy, really gives no personalization to the letter and no future outlook. Again, you just delivered potentially devastating news to someone or a group of people. You want to end on a positive note so that the recipient of the message feels as though all factors were taken into consideration and the decision is a just one that does not reflect any personal grievances against the recipient.

Negative messages can be difficult to compose. However, when followed, these simple steps can ensure that a negative message can have a positive outcome.

     

Looking at this draft, overall it’s pretty difficult to follow at some points due to the wording being used and the overall structure of the paragraphs. For example,  the top paragraph on page 6 says:
“Please note the % of total revenue relates to revenue of total revenue for athletic department and not just the football program.”
I have a hard time understanding this, but if I’m reading it correctly, they’re basically saying that the chart reflects total revenue for the athletic department. If this is the case, it contradicts the previous graph that shows the revenue from football alone. On top of that, the graphs don’t compare all of the same universities, so the data given has no correlation.

Moving on, pages 7 and 8 totally lost me. I feel like the comparisons are ever-changing, and the writer is comparing apples and oranges. I’ve read these pages 3 times now, and I still honestly have no idea whats going on.

Page 9 opens up with unneeded information. For example,
“A team’s win loss record of course can change every year for example, one year a team’s record can be 7 wins, 5 losses (7-5), another year it being 4-8 or being perhaps 12-0. Every year every team is always looking to get more wins.”
Can’t this be assumed? Why do we need an example of a win-loss record changing? This statement has been said at least 4 times in different variations
“College football is perhaps the most popular college sport in the nation and people, including donors, get heavily interested when they win.”
We get it, wins=$$$.
“…can spark interest in the school with a deep tournament run.”
Not sure whats meant by this, lot’s of sports jargon and verbiage in here that lost me. Page 12 contains lots of repetition, restating why alumni make donations. Overall, page 12 is broken into 3 paragraphs, but realistically, this could have all been said in 2. It gives me the impression that the writer was struggling to reach the page minimum. Page 13, paragraph 2 is again a restatement.  Page 15 first and last paragraphs are essentially the same thing:

“The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has set strict guidelines that define what a booster is and how they may contribute to the athletic department”
“The NCAA has a set of guidelines that it asks it boosters/alumni donors to follow along with the definition of what a booster is and what they may or may not do.”
“The NCAA has specific guidelines that define what a booster is and the “role of a booster” to a given athletic department or team.”

Overall, the only thing I took away from this paper is that college sports require a large amount of money to be competitive. Aside from that, it seemed like the author constantly changed viewpoints, subject matter, and data. That, combined with poor sentence structure and sports jargon and you have one lost reader.

 

Dear Future Donor,

This year’s Ho’olaulea had over 4,000 families and friends in attendance and provided affordable food, free entertainment, and local products for purchase. This year, we had some local performers including Kapena and the rock band MK on stage as well as rides for the keiki and a car show for the adults. The yearly event strengthens community bonding, as well as provides a safe venue for local family’s to reach out and connect to the Windward Community College and other resources.

During this event, the campus community is able to connect with many potential nontraditional students, who may feel that a college degree is unaffordable and unattainable. Countless booths are set up to provide resources to any and all who may have questions ranging from the cost of tuition to childcare. By providing these resources, WCC is enabling members of the community to achieve their full potential and obtain their goal of earning a college degree.

This annual event relies heavily on volunteers and financial support from the community, students, and alumni of Windward Comunity College. Though much of the financial and physical support is donated, the remaining cost of putting on this yearly event is in excess of $50,000. In order to accommodate this cost, we are reaching out to both graduates and the community who have personally enjoyed this event or have seen the positive effects this annual event has had on our community.

Please help us continue this fantastic event by donating directly to Windward Community College. Any amount is appreciated, and by donating today you will help ensure that the Ho’olaulea will be around for many more years to come. Also, your donations are tax-deductible. Thank you!

Mahalo,

Windward Community College

1. What are you individually going to contribute to your group’s leadership, work requirements, communication, and decision making (see step 4 above)? What previous experience with group work have you learned from that you can use to make this experience as collaborative and productive as possible?

   Leadership- Provide feedback and guidance when needed, as well as keeping up with our progress in relation to where we should be and providing encouragement when needed.
   Work requirements- We are splitting up the work requirements equally, but if there is anyone who may need some help, I’m sure all of us are willing to provide input.
   Communication- I will pay attention to all forms of communication that we choose, and we will be sure to schedule appointments that work for everyone. If that’s not possible, I/we will relay the information to whoever was unable to attend.
   Decision Making- Our group has agreed to a dictatorship-type policy, and I will be sure to remain flexible regarding the decisions being made.

2. Explain in your own words your understanding of the formal report project, the peer review evaluation procedure (last page of the Formal Report Project Guidelines/Rubrics) and the step 5 questions above:
   • What aspects of the topic are most important for you to research? Why?
   • What are your best current options for follow-up research on this topic? (For example, new keyword or subject search options, names of experts, or cited studies/books/other sources)

The formal report allows us to pick the audience that best fits our topic. The report consists of a title page, letter of transmittal, table of contents, executive summary, and the following sections: problem, background, discussion of findings (to include graphs/charts/data), conclusions and recommendations, and works cited.
The peer evaluation procedure is a summary of what we personally feel each member contributed to the overall project. Its scored on a percent scale, and the percent we receive will be reflected in our individual grade. Grading in this manner makes group work more fair because those that contribute will get the grade they deserve and vice-versa.

The aspects that are most important for us to research is Hawaii’s cost of living vs other states. This is the basis for our argument, and may be used to demonstrate how the funding residents in Hawaii receive may not be sufficient when compared to other states with a relatively similar cost for tuition.
My best follow-up research tools are EBSCO, IPED and possible information that we may be able to attain from financial aid here on campus.

        3. Review the Team Effectiveness Pit Stop form below, then answer this       question: What can I do to help my team achieve 7’s on the pit stop form when we fill it out in 3-4 weeks?

I believe that the best way to help my team members attain 7’s on the pit stop form is to encourage participation and create and maintain an environment conducive to learning and team work. As long as those things are provided, the opportunity to get all 7’s is within everybody’s grasp.

 

Dear valued customer,

We are pleased to see you enjoyed dining at our fine establishment, as we strive to please all of our patrons here at “I Don’t Care” restaurant. We value your feedback on the incident that occurred last week, and after reviewing the video surveillance, we have come to the following conclusion regarding your request.

It is our company policy to refund a customers meal under the following conditions:

1. Food incorrectly prepared
2. Customer unsatisfied with quality (within reason)
3. Wait time over 15 minutes
4. Unsatisfactory service

Though we would not consider your experience here as acceptable, there were some mitigating and extenuating circumstances regarding your situation.

After reviewing the video camera surveillance it was determined that there was an equal fault in all parties involved. Due to this fact, we will not be able to grant your request for a complimentary meal. However, we would like to offer you a free appetizer with your next meal purchase. We are looking forward to serving you in the future. We are proud to offer half-price Tuesday’s here at “I Don’t Care”, and would love to see you here again. Thank you for your patronage.

We are looking forward to the opportunity to serve you again in the future. Also, we are proud to offer half-price Tuesday’s here at “I Don’t Care”, from 5 PM until 9 PM, and would love to see you here again. Thank you for your patronage!

Corey, Brittany, Brandon, and John

I’m still having a difficult time accepting the books suggestions for bad news messages. I’ve been on the receiving end of some messages like these, and I remember thinking that I would like the message to get to the point. When the news is hidden within the message, the reader can have a sense of impending doom while reading, and the rest of the information will go in one ear and out the other.