1. Writing the First Draft
ENGL 3100
Dr. Shelley Thomas
Based on Dr. Brenda Orbell’s
original presentation

2. Report Writing Structure of Report Body
Introduction: Context for reading the report
what the report is about
why the report is significant to the client
how the report is structured

3. Report Writing Structure of Report Body Body: Results and Discussion
vary according to type of report being investigated
order should be chosen for understanding of analysis (and sometimes for rhetorical effect)
basic content
description of problem, solution, criteria
results of analysis
discussion of what it means

4. Report Writing Structure of Report Body
Conclusions, Recommendations, Plan of Action
present a summary of the findings (often by criterion) and what they mean for solving the problem
recommend a decision or plan of action that follows logically from the conclusions

5. Is Solution X a feasible solution for Problem Y?
Introduction
Description of Problem Y
Description of Criteria Required for Effective Solution
Methodology
Description of Solution X
Analysis of Solution X
Criterion 1
Criterion 2
Criterion 3
Conclusions
Recommendation

6. Is Solution X or Z a better solution for Problem Y?
Introduction
Description of Problem Y
Description of Criteria Required for Effective Solutions
Description of Solutions X and Z
Analysis of Solution X
Criterion 1
Criterion 2
Criterion 3 ...
Analysis of Solution Z
Criterion 3 …
Conclusions
Recommendation

7. Is Solution X or Z a better solution for Problem Y?
Introduction
Description of Problem Y
Description of Criteria Required for Effective Solutions
Methodology
Description of Solutions X and Z
Analysis of Solutions by Criterion 1
Solution X
Solution Z
Analysis of Solutions by Criterion 2
Solution X
Solution Z
Analysis of Solutions by Criterion 3
Conclusions
Recommendations

8. Why is Problem Y occurring and what can be done about it?
Introduction
Description of problem
Needs assessment
Methods used to analyze problem
Analysis of what is happening
Issue 1
Issue 2
Analysis of why Y is happening
Cause 1
Cause 2
Conclusions
Recommendations or plan of action for solving problem
Action 1
Action 2

9. First Draft of Recommendation Report
Length (at least 3 single-spaced pages per team member) text only, save graphics for later
Clear structure (use one of the outlines provided)
Paragraphs (not one long paragraph for each section)
Provide page numbers

10. First Draft of Recommendation Report
This draft needs to contain as much of the report body as you can write.
Remember this is a DRAFT; you may leave questions for me, notes for yourself, or place holders for graphics.
I will award points based on page length. Your team may want to divide up the report information into logical chunks. You will have time to put the report together when you revise.