1. Chapter 21 Informal Reports

2. Informal Reports Are routine documents inside all workplaces
Often replace memos, letters, and s
May function as a piece of a longer document
Inform specific audiences and solve problems
Take many forms to address different workplace and rhetorical situations

3. Types of Informal Reports
Progress reports
Lab reports
Directives
Incident reports

4. Progress Reports Update audiences on an ongoing project
Detail where a project is in relation to its overall goals and objectives
Are written during various stages of a project
Are attentive to the project's time-frame

5. Lab Reports
Document the procedures, methods, and results of an experiment and explain their significance
Demonstrate the writer’s understanding of the data and the underlying concepts & principles
Usually cover a great deal of information for their readers, explaining purposes, results, problems, and recommendations

6. Components of Lab Reports
Title page
Abstract
Introduction that states objectives
Materials
Procedures followed during the experiment
Results and discussion of those results
Conclusions
References, if any
Appendices that provide raw data

7. Directives
Apprise audiences of policies or procedures that they should know and follow
Explain where new policies came from, their specifics, and how readers should comply
Often grouping information under separate headings, for clarity

8. Incident Reports
Document events in the workplace such as accidents, emergencies, and problems
Explain to readers what caused the incident and how the incident is being handled
May also serve as a kind of warning

9. Elements of Informal Reports
Introduction
Announces the project, explains the role of the writer, and identifies the purpose
Body
Provides details, often organized in subsections
Conclusion
Reviews pertinent information and asks the audience to take action

10. Composing Informal Reports
As writers consider the Problem-Solving Approach, these concerns are crucial:
Audience needs
Purpose
Type of report
Tone and style
Layout and design principles
Revisions and transmission

11. Ethical Issues
Ethical reports must disclose everything the audience needs to know about a project, experiment, situation, or problem.
Ethical reports must accurately record and report results and correctly explain problems.