1. Completing Reports and Proposals
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Business Communication Today 8e

2. Three-Step Writing Process
Planning
Writing
Completing
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3. Business Communication Today 8e
Completion Process
Revising
Producing
Proofreading
Distributing
As the last step in the three-step writing process, completing reports and proposals involves four tasks: revising, producing, proofreading, and distributing. With careful planning and a bit of luck, you still have enough time in your schedule to address each of these tasks thoroughly.
Compared to your research and writing efforts, some of these final activities may seem minor, but they can make or break your success in report writing. If at all possible, leave yourself double or triple the amount of time you think you'll need to complete your project. With interruptions, system glitches, and last-minute corrections, you'll probably need all that time and then some.
By the time you’re ready to complete your report or proposal, the amount of work you have left to do depends on your project's formality, length, and complexity. Most of the discussion in this chapter applies to formal reports and proposals, those documents that require an extra measure of polish and professionalism—whether because of audience expectations, company tradition, or even marketing needs.
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Business Communication Today 8e

4. Revising Reports and Proposals
Style and tone
Organization
Readability
Content
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5. Producing Reports and Proposals
Design elements
Report-writing teams
Computer resources
Audience expectations
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6. Components of Formal Reports
Prefatory parts
Text of the report
Supplementary parts
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7. Business Communication Today 8e
Prefatory Parts
Authorization letter
Cover page
Letter of acceptance
Title fly or title page
Synopsis/abstract
Table of contents
Letter of transmittal
Executive summary
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8. Business Communication Today 8e
Text of the Report
Introduction
Body
Closing
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9. Business Communication Today 8e
Supplementary Parts
Appendixes
Bibliography
Index
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10. Components of Formal Proposals
Cover
Title fly
Title page
Table of contents
List of illustrations
Proposal request
Executive summary
Letter of transmittal
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11. Business Communication Today 8e
Text of the Proposal
Introduction
Body
Closing
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12. Proofreading Reports and Proposals
Inconsistencies
Errors
Missing components
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13. Distributing Reports and Proposals
Physical
Electronic
Web-based
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14. Business Communication Today 8e
Reactions to Reports
Positive response
Half-hearted praise
No action
Serious criticism
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15. Composing Requests for Proposals
Company background
Project description
Overall requirements
Decision-making criteria
Proposal requirements
Submission/contact information
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