1. October 22, 2014 Welcome to ENG 1450 Writing and Reading for Problem Solving ***Please keep your homework & report at your desk.***

2. Tonight’s agenda Quiz #3 (6-6:30) Brief presentations – Sam, Dennis, Jonathan Goolsby, Shelby (6:30-45) Writing strategies – reports (6:45-7:15) Report #6 (7:15-30) Break (7:30-40) Individual presentation #2 (7:40-8) Reading strategies – symbolic annotation  discussion (8-8:40) Homework #6 (8:40-55)

3. Writing strategies – reports (… and note-taking) ***presentation courtesy of Suba Subbarao, English department chair***

4. 4 Overview of Discussion Objectives Report Channels Criteria for Writing Short, Informal Reports Types of Reports Process

5. 5 Objectives Reports allow you to: Supply a record of work accomplished Record and clarify complex information Present information to a large number of readers Record problems encountered Document schedules, timetables, deadlines, and milestones Recommend future action Document current status Record procedures

6. 6 Report Channels Reports can be written in any of the following formats: Memo reports E-mail reports Letter reports

7. 7 Criteria for Writing Reports All reports contain similar elements, including: Organization Development Style

8. 8 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Organization—to organize your report, include a(n): –Heading –Introduction –Discussion –Conclusion/Recommendation

9. 9 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Organization (cont.) –Heading—like a memo, include: Date (on which the report was written) To (your audience) From (your name) Subject (the topic about which you are writing and a focus) Subject: Progress Report on the XYZ Project TopicFocus

10. 10 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Organization (cont.) –Introduction Purpose—why you are writing and what you are writing about Personnel—others involved in the project (optional) Dates—time period covered (optional)

11. 11 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Organization (cont.) –Discussion Develop your points Use headings and subheadings Include graphics for visual appeal, conciseness, and clarity

12. 12 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Organization (cont.) –Conclusion Sum up what you have learned, what of importance has occurred, or what decisions have been made. –Recommendations Suggest what the next course of action should be.

13. 13 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Development –Answer reporter’s questions. Who is involved in the project? What are the steps in the procedure; what decisions have you made; what facts have you discovered? When did the activities occur? Where did the events occur? Why are you writing—what motivated the report? How did the occurrence take place (for an incident report, for example)?

14. 14 Criteria for Writing Reports (cont.) Style –Clarity –Conciseness –Graphic aids (tables and figures) for document design

15. 15 Types of Reports Trip Reports Progress Reports Lab Reports Feasibility Reports (Recommendation Reports) Incident Reports Investigative Reports Meeting Minutes

16. 16 Trip Reports Introduction –Objectives Why are you working on the project? What problems motivated the project? What do you hope to achieve? Who initiated the project?

17. 17 Trip Reports (cont.) Introduction (cont.) –Personnel With whom are your working (team members, other associated, customers)? –Previous activity (if this is one of several reports in a series) What has happened up to this point?

18. 18 Trip Reports (cont.) Discussion (Findings, Agenda) –Work accomplished –Problems encountered Conclusion –What has been achieved up to this point? –What is the projected completion date? Recommendation –What do you suggest should happen next? NOTE: Consider including graphics to document your report visually.

19. 19 Progress Report Introduction –Objectives Why are you writing the report? What is the topic of your report?

20. 20 Progress Report (cont.) Discussion –What work have you accomplished? –What problems did you encounter? –What work is remaining? NOTE: Consider including graphics to document your report visually—pie charts, bar charts, and Gantt charts work well with progress reports.

21. 21 Progress Report (cont.) Conclusion/Recommendation –Provide an overview of the project’s status. Suggest what’s next.

22. 22 Lab Report Introduction –Rationale—what motivated the report? –Objectives—what is the lab’s goal? –Authorization—who authorized the lab work? –Personnel—who else is involved in the project?

23. 23 Lab Report (cont.) Discussion (Methodology) –Apparatus—what equipment or approach was used? –Procedures—what steps were taken? Conclusion—what did the lab prove? Recommendation—what should occur next?

24. 24 Feasibility (Recommendation) Report Introduction –Objectives/Personnel What is the goal of this report? What problem motivated the study? Who initiated the report? Who else is involved in the study?

25. 25 Feasibility (Recommendation) Report (cont.) Discussion (Findings) –Criteria—what will be the basis for your recommendation (cost, time, personnel, options, delivery methods, etc.)? –Analysis—report on your findings, comparing them to your criteria. NOTE: A table or bar chart will help readers visualize your discussion.

26. 26 Feasibility (Recommendation) Report (cont.) Conclusion –Draw a conclusion, based on your findings. Recommendations –What is the most feasible next course of action?

27. 27 Incident Report Introduction –Purpose What incident occurred? When did it occur? Who and what was involved? Discussion (Findings, Work Accomplished) What problems did you find? What actions did you take to correct the problems?

28. 28 Incident Report (cont.) Conclusion –What caused the problems? –What was the result of the problems (damage, cost, etc.)? Recommendations –What should be done to avoid future problems?

29. 29 Investigative Reports Introduction (overview, background) –Purpose: What incident are you reporting on and what do you hope to achieve in this investigation? –Location: Where did the incident occur? –Personnel: Who was involved in the incident? Who worked with you? Who was involved in the situation? –Authorization: Who recommended or suggested that you investigate the problem?

30. 30 Investigative Reports (cont.) Discussion (Findings) –Observations, including physical evidence, descriptions, lab reports, testimony, and interview responses. –Contacts—people interviewed –Difficulties encountered –Techniques, equipment, and/or tools used in the course of the investigation –Test procedures followed

31. 31 Investigative Reports (cont.) Conclusion –What discoveries have you made regarding the causes behind the incident? –Who or what is at fault? Recommendations. –What do you suggest next? Changes in personnel? Changes in approach or methodology? New training or technology? What is the preferred follow- up for the patient or client? –How can the problem be fixed?

32. 32 Meeting Minutes Introduction –Date/Time/Place of the meeting –Attendees—List names of those who attended the meeting. –Approval of Last Meeting's Minutes

33. 33 Meeting Minutes (cont.) Discussion (Findings, Agenda) –Report on: decisions made conclusions arrived at issues confronted opposing points of view votes taken

34. 34 Meeting Minutes (cont.) Conclusion –Old Business—old topics still unresolved and needing further discussion. –New Business—new topics to be covered in future meetings. –Next Meeting—when the committee will meet next, providing the date, time, and location. –Time of Adjournment—when the meeting ended. –Signature—sign your name beneath the typed signature (unless the minutes will be submitted electronically).

35. Report #6 – due before class on Wednesday, Oct. 29 Write a report about anything you want (fictional or nonfictional). Use the examples/ideas we just discussed to create/choose a topic. The report must contain the following elements: 1.Organization 2.Development 3.Style Submit the report to me via e-mail. –I am your target audience. –Practice professional communication skills. Begin prewriting and drafting in class.

36. Report #6 – some ideas to get you started The last time you got your car serviced. Your last trip to the grocery store. A family outing. A hunting or fishing trip. Etc.

37. Individual presentation #2 Briefly introduce your homework #5 to the class. Paraphrase your article/video. How does this article/video align with course content?

38. Reading strategies – symbolic annotation Read the article “Inside 23andMe Founder Anne Wojcicki’s $99 DNA Revolution.” Symbolically annotate the article.

39. Generating solutions  making decisions Consider the article “Inside 23andMe Founder Anne Wojcicki’s $99 DNA Revolution.” What are the problems? What might be the solutions? What decisions will need to be made?

40. Homework #6 – due Oct. 29 No, thank you. There is no homework #6.