Reports & Proposals
Reports can either be Informational or Analytical Informational Reports Writers collect and organize data to provide readers information with no analyses. Analytical Reports Writers try to influence readers’ beliefs by providing data analyses, conclusions, and recommendations if requested.
Writing Process for Reports: Analyze the problem and purpose. Anticipate the audience and issues. Prepare a work plan. Implement your research strategy. Organize, analyze, and illustrate data. Compose the first draft. Revise, proofread, and evaluate.
How to Prepare a Good Survey Prewriting Writing Revising Analyze the subject. Anticipate the audience reaction. Adapt the questions to the audience. Research the subject. Organize and compose the first draft. Revise, proofread and evaluate the survey. Data for Business Reports are likely to be generated from surveys
Incorporating Graphics Into Reports Evaluate the audience. Use restraint. Be accurate and ethical. Introduce a graphic meaningfully. Choose an appropriate caption or title style. Graphs Help Readers to Understand Reports, that is why they must be clear and simple.
Tips for covering raw data Calculate percentages Round off figures to one decimal point or to whole numbers. Arrange items in a logical order, such as largest to smallest percentage. Prepare a table with a title answering the 5 “Wh” questions.
Ordering Information Logically Time : establish a chronology of events. Component: organize by location, geography, division, product, or part. Importance : begin with the most important item and proceed to the least important – or vice versa. Criteria : establish criteria by which to judge so to help writers to threat topics consistently. Convention : They follow a prescribed plan that everyone understands.
Trip, Convention, and Conference Reports: Identify the event. Summarize three to five main points. itemize expenses separately. express appreciation. suggest action to be taken.
Components of formal reports A Good Formal Report Must Include:. Cover. Title page. Memo of transmittal. Table of contents. List of figures. Executive summary. Bibliography
The Introduction of the Formal Report A Formal Report covers the following elements: Problem or purpose Significance of the topic Precise scope of the topic Organization Background
Format of a Formal Report. Collect data. Allow sufficient time. Write the first draft. Save complicated sections and get back to them once used to easiest ones. Work from a good outline and give a proper writing environment. Proofread the final draft at least three times
Formal and Informal Proposals: Components Informal proposals generally contain six basic elements :. Introduction. Background. Plan. Staffing. Budget. Authorization request
Formal Proposal Format Copy of RFP. Letter of transmittal. Abstract or executive. Title page. Table of contents. Appendix. List of figures