Report

Week 7- Reports and Proposal

What is a Report?

A report is a statement of the results of an investigation or of any matter on which definite information is required. (Oxford English Dictionary)

Reports are written for a variety of reasons. They can be informative or persuasive or a combination of both. Informative reports include employee evaluations, progress reports and minutes of meetings. Whereas, persuasive reports usually fall into two categories: problem/solution based and feasibility studies.

There are two basic kinds of report.

* Informational reports tell the reader about a topic. They present information without analysis or recommendations. The report writer's task is to select and emphasise the relevant facts clearly and concisely.

* Analytical reports tell the reader to do something. They analyse and interpret data and make recommendations. The report writer's task is to select and emphasise the facts and arguments that support the recommendations.

What is a Proposal?

It is primarily a sophisticated sales piece that seeks to define problems or opportunities and to sell the client or management on your ability to provide solutions and strategies.

What is the Purpose of a Report?

Reports communicate information which has been compiled as a result of research and analysis of data and of issues. Reports can cover a wide range of topics, but usually focus on transmitting information with a clear purpose, to a specific audience. Good reports are documents that are accurate, objective and complete. They should also be well-written, clearly structured and expressed in a way that holds the reader's attention and meets their expectations.

The purpose of writing for business, in the form of a paper or a report, is to inform the reader(s) about something of relevance to them. Your first step in writing such a document should be to identify what you are trying to communicate - what is the overall purpose of the report, and what are the key...