Report to the Supervisor The Charleston Hotel Summary of the Assignment: • Task: In this assignment, you will write a short report to Sally Charleston, the owner of the Charleston Hotel. • Length: 1500-2200 words, single-sp

Jamez

31 Jan 2026 • 9 min read

Writing Assignment #3

Report to the Supervisor

The Charleston Hotel

Summary of the Assignment:

• Task: In this assignment, you will write a short report to Sally Charleston,

the owner of the Charleston Hotel.

• Length: 1500-2200 words, single-spaced

• Graphics: You must integrate at least two graphics. Details on the two

graphics are provided below.

• Sources: Three sources are to be cited in The Problems section, and three

sources are to be cited in the Suggested Solutions section. Of the six

sources, at least two of them have to come from scholarly journals or

credible trade journals. (See the note on page 8 regarding the accuracy of

sources.)

If you are considering using Google Scholar for any of your sources,

please see this page of tips on searching Google Scholar from UMGC's

Library.

You should access the sample scenario and report for writing assignment #3 for a helpful

model. Please note that the sample report was written with different research requirements than

you have for this paper. Nonetheless, the sample report provides a good example of how to write

this report.

These documents can be found by selecting Content and then selecting Sample Papers for

WRTG 393:

The Situation and Your Role in It

Please review the full description of the situation with the Charleston Hotel. The full description

is provided in the assignment folder for this assignment.

After you review the description, begin the draft of your full report to Sally.

Your Task

You are to write a report to Sally Charleston and point out the problems with the current

policies at the Charleston Hotel. You also want to suggest some basic steps the hotel should

take to address the situation before a problem arises.

Keep in mind that Sally is not aware of any of the problems that the current situation poses.

Sally has no formal training in cybersecurity issues or business management principles.

• She is not familiar with basic cybersecurity terms. Some examples are as follows:

o She does not know what encryption means.

o She does not know what a virus is, what ransomware or malware are, or what a

firewall is or does.

o She does not know what IoT means.

o She has no idea what kiosk mode is.

o She is not familiar with the term single point of failure.

• She is not familiar with how a network operates or how it can be infiltrated. Moreover,

she has no idea how access to a network could cause data to be compromised. She thinks

it is probably a good idea that the WiFi has no password, as this allows anyone to join it,

giving her more advertising.

• She is not aware that USB devices can have dangerous viruses on them. She thinks it is

fine that the employees bring their USB devices into the Charleston Hotel and plug them

into the computers. She feels this increases the camaraderie among employees.

• She is not aware that employees plug USB devices left by customers into the computers.

• As far as she knows, the desktop computers in the waiting area are safe because they

have passwords.

• She thinks that the video surveillance camera system's ID and password are safe and

solid because they were provided by the manufacturer. She bought the cameras from a

friend whom she trusts.

Overall, a description of any cybersecurity or management problems or solutions will have

to include explanations, possibly definitions or analogies, to help Sally understand the

problems or the suggested solutions.

In your report to Sally, please select two to four of the issues that the Charleston Hotel faces,

describe the issues to Sally, and describe potential solutions to Sally.

Do not cover all of the issues mentioned in this scenario. Again, two to four issues would suffice

for this report.

Some issues to consider are the following. Some of the bullet points mentioned below can be

combined, if you would like. For example, employee training could cover a range of issues listed

below.

• the need for more secure approach to passwords for the shared computers in the

workspace area

• the lack of security for the WiFi

• the lack of protection for the computers and for the network in general

• the need for a better approach to managing the password for the computer in Sally's

office. That computer has on it an Excel document that features customers' personal

information.

• the need for a secure username and password for the video surveillance system

• the need for improved management of the WiFi-enabled lock system, including its

passwords.

• the need for cross-training, mandatory vacations, and/or job rotation policies for

employees in order to have more coverage for the website

• the need for the Charleston Hotel to have its own WordPress account, not one owned by

Kate, and the need for the Charleston Hotel to have its own email address on file with

WordPress, not Kate's personal gmail address

• the need for employee training in handling USB devices in order to address the practice

of employees plugging in customers' electronic devices into the computers at the

Charleton Hotel and plugging in personal USB drives into the computers at the hotel

• the need for employee training on phishing attempts by email

• the need to prevent employees from charging their personal smart phones at the cash

• the need to prevent employees from installing pirated games onto the computers at the

Charleston Hotel

• the need to prevent employees from watching movies illegally through torrent sites

• a need for employee policies regarding computers and electronic devices left at the hotel

• the need for improved policies for employees on the practice of allowing friends into the

hotel during their shifts

• the need for improved monitoring of the video surveillance system

• the need for cybersecurity insurance

Your report will

• be 1500-2200 words in length.

• incorporate at least six references, at least two of which are to be from scholarly or

credible trade journals.

o You can integrate more than six references if you would like.

o You will cite and list them in APA 7th edition style.

o The six sources must be cited in The Problem section and in the Suggested

Solutions section. At least three sources in each section are required.

o See the note on page 8 regarding the accuracy of the sources.

• include at least two graphics. The graphics should demonstrate either the current

problems at the Charletson Hotel (and the risks they pose) or your proposed changes (and

how they address the current problems) or both. Of course, if you would like to include

more than two graphics, you may do so.

o The graphics should be labelled in APA format. You labelled your graphics in

your set of instructions earlier this semester. This resource provides examples of

how to label graphics in APA format: Sample Figures

o In integrating the graphics, include a sentence or two to explain the

significance of the graphic or what it demonstrates. Do not simply place a

graphic in the report with no context or explanation about its significance or

importance to the report. The video you watched in Week 4, discussion topic 1,

Integrating Graphics into Your Writing, provides tips on this strategy.

o If you use a graphic from a source, you should cite the source for that graphic.

However, that source is not included in the list of the six sources required for the

paper. The six sources required must be cited in the text of the paper—in The

Problems section, in the Suggested Solutions section, or in both sections. This

resource shows how to cite and list the source for a graphic from another source:

Clip Art or Stock Image References

o You may use the graphic of the layout of the hotel if you would like. In fact, you

may create two graphics from that graphic by cropping sections of it and using

both sections in your report.

Applying the Golden Rules of Technical Communication

In week 1, you accessed a resource title The 10 Golden Rules of Technical Communication. Your report

should observe the following general rules in that list:

• Rule #1: Paper is Permanent. Make sure your word forms are accurate and your grammar and

mechanics are correct. Others in the company in addition to Sally might see your memo. It is not

only Sally who might be judging your message based on the quality of your writing.

• Rule #2: Know your Audience.

o Keep in mind that you are writing to Sally Charleston. She is your primary audience. She

is not an IT expert, nor is he a human resource professional or a business management

professional. In addition, consider her education level.

o Note that Sally is your boss. You are writing to a superior about a problem that she does

not realize is a problem.

o Understand that, while Sally is your primary audience, other employees at the Charleston

Hotel are secondary audiences. Some of them might see your report eventually.

▪ Consider the roles they play at the hotel.

▪ Don't offend them. You don't want to write anything that would cause a problem

between you and other employees.

• Rule #4: Break It Out. Instead of writing long, thick, dense paragraphs, you want to write

readable text. The video in Learning Resources in Week 2, Breaking Out Your Text for the

Audience, provides some advice on this strategy.

o Bullet information in places as necessary.

o Write short, crisp sentences that are readable.

o Write short paragraphs rather than long ones, as you deem necessary.

o Consider the PARC principles.

▪ Apply the concept of proximity as you format areas of your report.

▪ Apply the concept of alignment as you integrate graphics.

▪ Apply the concept of repetition as you use headings, fonts, colors, and graphical

elements.

▪ Apply the concept of contrast to draw Sally's attention to important terms or

other information.

• Rule #7: Signpost. Use headings to help Sally navigate your document and understand its

different sections. Use subheadings if necessary. Integrate your graphics so that they visually

signal a point you are making in your report.

• Rule #9: Contemplate Before You Illustrate. As you construct your graphics, make sure they

add to your document and do not simply dress up the document. Consider how best to illustrate

the current problem or the possible solution with your graphics.

• Rule #10. Cut the Fluff. Sally is a busy business owner. She is not expecting your report. She

has not budgeted time in her schedule to read it. You will need to communicate the current

problems and suggest solutions to them in a concise, persuasive manner.

How the Report Should Be Organized

Your report will have the following six sections. Each section should begin on a new page. Each

section should be single spaced.

• Memo (written to Sally Charleston) - no more than 150 words

• Executive Summary - no more than 300 words

• The Problems

• Suggested Solutions

The bulk of the report will be The Problems and Suggested

Solutions. These two sections together should compose half

or more of the length of the report. It is in these two sections

in which you will cite your six required sources. In addition,

it is in these two sections where your graphics will be

integrated.

• Conclusion - no more than 200 words

• References

Reminder: The Need to Persuade Sally

You cannot simply state that a situation is happening at the Charleston Hotel. You have to show

why that situation is a problem.

In other words, you cannot simply state that the WiFi has no password. You have to explain

to Sally why the lack of a password is a problem. You might include a paragraph explaining how

hackers use unprotected WiFi and what damage they can do. You don't have to make your report

a long technical report. But some sort of explanation is needed for Sally. In such situations,

citing a source can help illustrate the problem.

As another example, you cannot simply mention that only one person is able to maintain the

website. You need to explain to Sally why this is a problem. You might describe what might

happen in the event that Kate goes on leave or resigns from her position. Again, citing a source

about the concept of a single point of failure can help illustrate the problem.

And as a third example, you cannot simply note that employees plug USB devices into

computers. You need to explain to Sally why this is a problem.

And, if you want to argue that plugging USB devices into the computers can cause viruses, you

have to explain, briefly, why this action can cause viruses and what damage viruses might cause

at the Charleston Hotel if this happens.

You might include a paragraph explaining how a USB device can get infected with a virus and

how that virus can then be put onto the computer at the Charleston Hotel. In addition, you can

explain what a virus does in this type of situation. Again, you don't have to make your report a

long technical report. But some sort of explanation is needed for Sally so that she understands

the problem. And citing a source about the impact of viruses for small businesses can help

illustrate this problem.

In such situations, in addition to citing sources, creating a graphic can help. For example, you

might have a graphic showing how a virus inflicts damage or a graphic showing how a hacker

can access personal information through an unprotected network. Graphics can also demonstrate

solutions. For instance, you might have a graphic showing how the oversight of the website can

be reorganized.

Graphics in these situations can be effective in communicating to a nontechnical audience a

technical problem or solution.

Make Sure Your Sources are Locatable and Accurate

When integrating sources into your report, you must make sure that your sources can be

located and accessed by your instructor.

If you post a first draft of the paper and your instructor cannot find some of your sources, and

your instructor notifies you of this, you must post the PDF files of the paper or a direct link to the

paper to the LEO classroom for your instructor to access.

If you simply replace the unlocatable source with another source, a deduction of 5% will be

taken from the eventual grade for the paper. This deduction will occur per source. In other

words, if you replace one source, a deduction of 5% will be taken

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