Final Reports

Organizing Information Use headings to organize information Use headings to organize information Clarity Clarity Accessibility Accessibility Necessary for Screen Readers Necessary for Screen Readers For a Template of Heading Styles, go here. For a Template of Heading Styles, go here.go herego here

Writing as Conversation Who is your audience? Who is your audience? Each person in the group should pick a different persona and write to that person Each person in the group should pick a different persona and write to that person Use direct, clear language Use direct, clear language Use “you” Use “you”

Link Content and Design Adjust your design and organization to serve your content and audience Adjust your design and organization to serve your content and audience Content, purpose, organization, and design are linked Content, purpose, organization, and design are linked The outline in this PowerPoint is just a suggestion— not a rule The outline in this PowerPoint is just a suggestion— not a rule

“Bite, Snack, Meal” (Redish ) Bite: Bite: Catchy headline Catchy headline Snack: Snack: “Executive Summary” “Executive Summary” All of your most important points All of your most important points Meal: Meal: Audience? (Think about this as a conversation) Audience? (Think about this as a conversation) Organization? Organization?

Creating the Outline Overview Overview Summary or Executive Summary (sometimes called the Abstract) Summary or Executive Summary (sometimes called the Abstract) Findings (Research), Conclusions, and Recommendations Findings (Research), Conclusions, and Recommendations Introduction: What is the problem or purpose? Introduction: What is the problem or purpose? Research, Background, or Findings Research, Background, or Findings Headings and Titles: Headings and Titles: Focus on the goal and content of the research Focus on the goal and content of the research Guide your readers Guide your readers Our Proposal or Plan (or “Conclusion”) Our Proposal or Plan (or “Conclusion”) Next Steps (or “Recommendations”) Next Steps (or “Recommendations”) Resources Resources

Overview or Summary The “Snack” The “Snack” Lure in casual visitors Lure in casual visitors Provide an overview for executives Provide an overview for executives A few models A few models Findings, Conclusion, Recommendation Findings, Conclusion, Recommendation Problem and Proposed Solution Problem and Proposed Solution Implied problem: E.g. “Students need _________” Implied problem: E.g. “Students need _________” Use the Inverted Pyramid Style (Redish ) Use the Inverted Pyramid Style (Redish )

Organizing Research: Using PIE Begin with your point sentences (or topic sentences) Begin with your point sentences (or topic sentences) What does your reader need to know? What does your reader need to know? Point sentences = an overview of the argument (Redish 219) Point sentences = an overview of the argument (Redish 219) Organize your research Organize your research Which sources are the strongest for each point? Which sources are the strongest for each point? What is the most vital information from those sources? What is the most vital information from those sources? Recommendation: 1-2 sources per paragraph Recommendation: 1-2 sources per paragraph

Sample Outline (Research) Problem: Problem: What is the problem that needs to be solved? What is the problem that needs to be solved? Why is this such a significant problem? Why is this such a significant problem? How have other people solved that problem? How have other people solved that problem? Provide multiple examples Provide multiple examples NOTE: This section is most relevant for external research and social media NOTE: This section is most relevant for external research and social media

Our Proposal Use a heading to catch your reader’s attention Use a heading to catch your reader’s attention Present your plan Present your plan Use a visual representation Use a visual representation Break down “walls of words” Break down “walls of words” NOTE: The “Plan” section might be more substantial for the Internal Research and Social Media groups; “Research” or “Findings” might be more substantial for External Research NOTE: The “Plan” section might be more substantial for the Internal Research and Social Media groups; “Research” or “Findings” might be more substantial for External Research

Next Steps or Recommendations Who are the potential stakeholders? Who are the potential stakeholders? Do you have the same set of advice for all readers? Or does your advice vary based on different readers? Do you have the same set of advice for all readers? Or does your advice vary based on different readers? Consider using sub-headings to break up advice Consider using sub-headings to break up advice

References Use MLA Citation Style Use MLA Citation Style