1. Writing the Business Report Chapter 10 Scott Ober Dr
Writing the Business Report Chapter 10 Scott Ober Dr. Bonnie Duncan 25 Slides

2. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Planning the report
By the end of this unit, you should be able to
describe the types and purposes of business reports,
analyze the audience for business reports,
evaluate the quality of data already available, and
discuss the need for managing business reports.
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3. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Business report
business report (biz’ nis ri port) n.
An orderly and objective presentation of information that helps in decision making and problem solving.
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4. Reports are designed to answer specific questions
Maintain perspective: The 5 W’s of Reports
What problem actually needs to be solved?
What are the key questions to be answered?
What decision made?
What is the specific deadline?
Who are the players, the audience, stakeholders, decision makers? What are their unique biases, concerns, needs?
If you can’t answer those questions, you aren’t ready to plan the report.
ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing

5. Characteristics of reports
Reports vary widely.
The quality of the process affects the quality of the product.
Accuracy is a good report’s most important trait.
Reports are often a collaborative effort.
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6. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Achieving accuracy
Maintain balance and integrity. Report all relevant facts whether or not the information furthers your own agenda. Reports are nonce affairs, while reputations last a lifetime.
Clearly show how and where you got the data both within the text and in a bibliography/work cited section.
Make sure all illustrations are created in house or used with express permission.
Use emphasis and subordination appropriately. Outline both before and after writing the report. Revise as necessary.
Give enough evidence to support your conclusions.
Strive for objectivity. Avoid letting personal biases and unfounded opinions influence your interpretation and presentation of the data.
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7. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Types of reports
Periodic reports
Routine management reports
Compliance reports
Progress reports
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8. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
…types continued
Proposals
Project proposals
Research proposals
Policies and procedures
Situational reports
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9. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Project proposals
Background
Objectives
Procedures
Qualifications
Request for approval
Supporting data
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10. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Research proposals
Transmittal document: Cover memo or letter
Cover/Title page
Table of Contents, List of Illustrations
Abstract/executive summary
Introduction
Problem and scope
Literature review
Procedures, primary research
Summary, conclusion
References (Work cited, bibliography)
Appendix, glossary, index as needed
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11. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Purposes of reports
Informing:
Nearly 2,400 viewers and organizations pledged a total of $213,000 during our recent drive.
This amount represented an increase of 11 percent from last year’s total.
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12. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Analyzing:
As a result of the success of this effort, the committee recommends that we delay our fall drive for two months.
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13. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Audience analysis
Internal or external audience
Authorized or voluntary report
Level of knowledge and interest
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14. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Types of Research
Primary research: That actually undertaken by the individual, committee, or organization can include.
Interviews
Experiments
Data collection and analysis
Secondary research: Collection and analysis of research done by others in such things as
Scholarly articles
Newspapers and magazines
White papers
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15. Types of secondary data
Published, prepared by others
Internet resources such as blogs, twitters, YouTube videos, web pages, etc.
Scholarly Journals: check Google Scholar
Trade Journals, Magazines & Newspapers: check Google)
Printed and Digital Books: Check Google Books.
Brochures, Pamphlets, & Technical reports Check Google, Check corporate sites, library vertical files (Sometimes proprietary.)
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16. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
…secondary data
Unpublished, usually prepared by others, generally proprietary. Be careful to obtain permission both to search and to publish.
Company records
Graphics, photographs, tables, and charts
Legal documents
Personal records
Medical records
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17. Evaluating secondary data
What was the purpose of the study?
How was the data collected?
How was the data analyzed?
How consistent is the data with that from other studies?
How old is the data?
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18. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Key terms
factoring
policy
primary data
procedure
proposal
secondary data
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19. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
Proposal outline
I. Background
II. Objectives
III. Procedures
IV. Qualifications
V. Request for approval
VI. Supporting data
University Hosts
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20. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
LAB 10 test S
URBAN SYSTEMS U
Unless you live in a glass house, you will need to throw
switches, because lighting up your life is adviced for safety and
vision. Depending on^function, lighting serves as general
illumination, task lighting, or accent lighting. Irregardless, in a
good-designed plan, all three types must interact.
advised
its it’s ???
Regardless
well-
ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing

21. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
URBAN SYSTEMS U
General illumination creates the principle seeing environment.
If you notice any one groping around or tripping, if nobody
seems to want to be in a room, or if a cite seems dull, then
you’re general lighting probably needs improvement.
principal
anyone
site
your
ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing

22. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
URBAN SYSTEMS U
When it was installed, task lighting should of been glare-free
and directed to shine directly on the task area; i.e., reading
lamps should be aimed at the book, not at the reader. The reason
is because task lighting prevents fatigue and eye strain.
In passed years, a fixture hanging on a chain over the coffee
table was common. Today, these hanging lamps make a room look
gloomy and flat, so its important to be an informed consumer.
should’ve
e.g.,
that
past
it’s
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23. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
URBAN SYSTEMS U
You can buy fluorescent lighting in colors that are close to
the affect of regular bulbs and that are easier on the eye than the
old fluorescent lights. Try and avoid any kind of unshielded bare
light bulbs. When planning recessed lights, be sure and give the
builder a sample fixture so he may make the holes the correct size.
effect
Try to
sure to
can
ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing

24. ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing
See also
ENGL316: Chapter 10
Academic Integrity
New MLA Documentation Guidelines
Writing a paper for me
Writing report abstracts (Purdue’s OWL)
ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing

25. Chapter 10 The end Scot Ober Dr. Bonnie Duncan
ENGL316 Business and Professional Writing