For my Auburn University PRCM 1000 Students: Here are some common areas where students lost points on the Issue Brief Prep assignment. As you polish your final Issue Brief, pay attention to these areas. Prepare for future assignments with these points in mind. None of these are hard to fix — but they can sneak up on you if you’re rushing or skipping the fine print.
Use this checklist to catch the easy stuff before it costs you points.
Read the Directions and Use the Rubric
- Always review both the assignment directions and rubric before writing.
- And when you’re done writing and think you’re ready to submit, evaluate your assignment using the rubric to be sure you haven’t left anything out.
APA Formatting (Don’t Let the Details Trip You Up)
- Double-space everything — including the reference page.
- Make sure page numbers appear in the top right corner of every page. (This is called a running head in APA-speak.)
- Use the same font throughout the document (that includes titles, headers, and page numbers).
- The title page should follow APA 7th edition format: title, your name, university, course, date.
Reference Page = Clean and Complete
- Format it using a hanging indent.
- Alphabetize your sources.
- Make sure every source listed includes author, publication name, year, and title — not just a URL.
- Don’t forget to include at least one scholarly source, ideally from a peer-reviewed journal.
- Always list the authors’ names, if they are available.
In-Text Citations Matter
- Every source listed on your reference page should appear in the body of your paper.
- If you mention an article or report, include a parenthetical citation (author, year) or integrate it naturally into your sentence.
- Double-check that your in-text citations match your reference page.
Get Specific — Especially With These Sections
- Media framing: Don’t just say “the media is talking about this issue.” Give one or two specific examples. What outlets? What headlines or angles?
- Key publics: Think beyond “the public” or “consumers.” Who is really impacted? Who needs to act?
- Ethical concerns PRO TIP: Use PRSA’s Code of Ethics language. If you’re talking about transparency or advocacy, say so directly and explain why it matters here.
Proof It Before You Submit It
- Skim for punctuation errors — especially commas, apostrophes, and sentence boundaries.
- Look for consistency: font, spacing, and formatting should be uniform from start to finish.
One Last Thought
You’re doing good work. Most of these issues are small details, but they matter when you’re putting together a professional document. Taking the time to get them right now will serve you well as you move forward in your PR career — and your grade.
See you next week when we talk about mass communication theory. I’m also looking forward to reading your completed Issue Brief next month.
