1. Writing Nonroutine Reports
Professor Stevens Amidon
Department of English and Linguistics, IPFW

2. What is a non-routine report?
These are variations of the report genre which are not a part of the normal routine require of the writer’s job.

3. Interview Report
A kind of informational report in which you use an interview with a person to gather information.
Purpose: To gather information
Features:
Describes the process
Summarizes the results
An example can be found on page 175 of your textbook.

4. Exception Report
A kind of informational report in which you notify the reader of an action which deviated from the normal operation of your organization.
Purpose: To inform the audience about the deviation, and perhaps to persuade the audience the deviation was justified, or unavoidable.
Features:
Describes the deviation
Explains or justifies the deviation
An example can be found on page 176 of your textbook.

5. Justification Report
A kind of persuasive report in which you notify the reader of an action you are taking/or propose to take.
Purpose: To persuade the audience a decision or proposal is sound
Features:
Describes the action or proposal
Justifies the action or proposal
An example can be found on pages of your textbook.

6. Feasibility Report
A kind of analytical report in which you inform the reader of the results of research you have undertaken to determine whether a project is worth undertaking.
Purpose: To inform the audience of the potential consequences of a proposed action.
Features:
Describes the action or proposal
Describes the research process
Describes the findings
Makes recommendations
An example can be found on pages of your textbook.

7. Staff Report
A report produced by a manager’s staff. (catch-all category).
Varies
Examples:
Research reports
White papers describing new technologies
Features:
Vary
Usually organized in a direct format
An example can be found on page 182 of your textbook.

8. Press Release
An informational report prepared by an organization to be read by the mass media.
Purpose: To influence media coverage of an event or undertaking.
Features:
Very specific information is provided
Organized in a special way: the inverted pyramid form
An example can be found on page 184 of your textbook.

9. Executive Summaries
A summary of a report or other information prepared for an executive. Usually accompanies a longer report, but sometimes are prepared to summarize legislation, or current trends.(i.e. President’s daily briefing by Director of Central Intelligence).
Purpose: To condense important information into a quickly readable format.
Features:
Usually a direct organizational approach, even if the report summarized is indirect.
Should include the issue, findings, and recommendations.
An example can be found on page 186 your textbook.

10. Business Proposals
A kind of persuasive report in which you are proposing a business plan or action.
Purpose: To persuade the audience to support the plan or action in some way.
Features:
Solicited: response to an RFP
Unsolicited: initiated by the writer or organization.
Examples can be found on pages of your textbook.