1. Proposals and Formal Reports
CHAPTER 10
Proposals and Formal Reports

2. Understanding Proposals
Proposal: an offer to solve problems, provide services, or sell equipment.
Four kinds
Internal—may take form of justification/recommendation report
External—solicited or unsolicited
Informal—shorter, six main parts
Formal—long, many parts

3. Formal Reports Research secondary data. Generate primary data.
Document data.
Organize report data.
Illustrate report data
Present the final report.

4.  Research Secondary Data
Print Resources
Books
Periodicals
Print, CD-ROM, and Web-based bibliographic indexes
Electronic Databases
Collections of magazine, newspaper, and journal articles
The Web (see Checklist, pp )
Weblogs (Blogs)

5. How to Become a Savvy Web Researcher
Use two or three search tools.
Know your search tool. Use FAQs and "How to Search" sections.
Understand case sensitivity in keyword searches.
Use nouns as search words and as many as eight words in a query.
Use quotation marks.
Omit articles and prepositions.
Proofread your search words.
Save the best.
Keep trying.

6.  Generate Primary Data
Surveys
Interviews
Observation
Experimentation

7.  Document Data Know reasons for documenting. Learn what to document.
Strengthens your argument.
Instructs the reader.
Protects you from charges of plagiarism.
Learn what to document.
Develop paraphrasing skills.
Know when to use direct quotations.
Select citation format.

8. Select Citation Format
See Appendix C for
two of the most
common citation formats:
Modern Language Association (MLA)
American Psychological Association (APA)

9.  Organize Report Data
Decide on placement of conclusions/recommendations.
Direct strategy (main ideas first)
Indirect strategy (facts and discussion first)
Organize findings in an appropriate organizational pattern.
Use headings to show organization of your report.

10.  Illustrate Report Data
Reasons for using visual aids
To clarify data
To summarize important ideas
To emphasize facts and provide focus
To add visual interest

11. Match Graphics and Objectives
Use tables to show exact figures and values.

12. Use bar charts to compare one item with others.

13. Use line charts to demonstrate changes in quantitative data over time.

14. Use pie charts to visualize a whole unit and
the proportions of its components.

15. Use flowcharts to display a process or procedure.

16. Use organization charts to define a hierarchy
of elements or a set of relationships.

17.    Use photographs to achieve authenticity.
Use maps to spotlight a location. 
Use illustrations to show an item in use.

18.  Present the Final Report
Prefatory Parts
Title page
Letter or memo of transmittal
Table of contents
List of figures
Executive summary
Body of Report
Introduction
Discussion of findings
Summary, conclusions, recommendations
Supplementary Parts
Works cited, references, or bibliography
Appendix

19. Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 10
Review Sections
in the Grammar/Mechanics
Handbook
 Complete 15 statements, p. 311.
 Check your answers against those provided at the end of the book.