1. Recommendation reports address four kinds of questions:
What should we do about Problem X?
Should we do Function X?
Should we use Technology A or Technology B to do Function X?
We currently use Method A to do Function X. Should we be using Method B?
Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 1 1

2. answer three kinds of questions:
Feasibility reports
answer three kinds of questions:
questions of possibility
questions of economic wisdom
questions of perception
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3. Use a problem-solving method when preparing a recommendation report:
Identify the problem or opportunity.
Establish criteria for responding to the problem or opportunity.
Determine the options.
Study each option according to the criteria.
Draw conclusions about each option.
Formulate recommendations based on the conclusions.
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4. Use logic boxes to plot a series of options:
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5. compare and contrast options:
Use a matrix to
compare and contrast options:
(1) Score = Weight x Rating
 Criteria and Weight
Options
Ricoh
Xerox
Sharp
Criterion
Weight
Rating
Score(1)
Pages/min. 1 9 6 3
Duplex 10 30
Color 4 40
Total Score 52 19 73
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6. Explain your decision matrix:
Explain why you chose each criterion—or didn’t choose a criterion readers might have expected.
Explain why you assigned a particular weight to each criterion.
Explain why you assigned a particular rating to each option.
Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's

7. conclusions in one of three ways:
You can present your
conclusions in one of three ways:
Rank all the options.
Classify all the options in two categories: acceptable and unacceptable.
Present a compound conclusion.
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8. Most recommendation reports have three major sections:
the body of the report
the front matter
the back matter
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9. A typical recommendation report has five body elements:
introduction
methods
results
conclusions
recommendations
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10. An introduction typically answers nine questions:
What is the subject of the report?
What is the purpose of the report?
What is the background of the report?
What are your sources of information?
What is the scope of the report?
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11. An introduction typically answers nine questions (cont.):
What are the most significant findings?
What are your recommendations?
What is the organization of the report?
What key terms are you using in the report?
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12. Address the following four questions
when writing the body of your report:
Methods. What did you do?
Results. What did you see?
Conclusions. What does it mean?
Recommendations. What should we do?
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13. Consider these four factors when writing your recommendations:
content
tone
form
location
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14. A typical recommendation report
contains seven elements in the front matter:
letter of transmittal
cover
title page
abstract
table of contents
list of illustrations
executive summary
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15. Understand the difference between
a descriptive and an informative abstract:
A descriptive abstract describes the kinds of information contained in the report.
An informative abstract presents the major findings.
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16. Follow these five guidelines when writing an executive summary:
Use specific evidence in describing the background.
Be specific in describing the research.
Describe the methods briefly.
Describe the findings according to your readers’ needs.
Ask an outside reader to review your draft.
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17. A typical recommendation report
includes three elements in the back matter:
glossary and list of symbols
references
appendixes
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