Global Bussiness

For FINAL DRAFT:

Number of Sources: At least FOUR credible/authoritative reference sources (Please consult Chapter 6 of

Writing That Works for more information on researching your subject.)

Number of Visuals: At least TWO visuals, such as a bar graph, pie chart, and/or table. (Please consult

Chapter 7 of Writing That Works for more information on selecting and/or creating visuals.)

Report Sections: Front matter: Title page, Abstract, & Table of Contents

(Other front sections are optional.)

Body: Introduction

Text

Conclusion (& Recommendations, if applicable)

References

Back Matter: Your choice of TWO of the following sections:

~Annotated Bibliography: Your annotated bibliography should have

1-2 summary sentences [annotations] per entry AND

include at least FOUR MORE sources than your

References/Works Cited page. ~Appendixes

~Glossary: Your glossary should include at least FOUR key terms

~Index: Your index should include at least FOUR key terms

Report Length: At least NINE (9) SECTIONS (when counting the title page), single-spaced

Report Format: Typed, reasonable font (typically size 12, Times New Roman), APA or MLA style

THE FORMAL REPORT (Ch. 11)

Formal reports are written accounts of major projects. Such projects include research into new developments in a field, explorations of the feasibility of a new product or a new service, or an organization’s end-of-year review. Because of the variety of purposes they serve, formal reports can be called by different names: feasibility study, annual report, investigative report, research report, analytical report, and the like. The purpose, scope, and complexity of the project will determine which components will be included and how they are organized. Most formal reports require signposts that point to the material in the report.

PARTS OF A FORMAL REPORT: Most informal reports have THREE main parts:

· FRONT MATTER: The front matter usually includes the following components:

· Title page

· Table of contents

The front matter may also include the following:

· Abstract

· List of figures

· List of tables

· Forward

· Preface

· List of abbreviations and symbols

· BODY: The body usually includes the following components:

· Executive summary

· Introduction

· Text (including headings, tables, illustrations, and references)

· Conclusions and recommendations

· Works Cited or References page

· BACK MATTER: The back matter contains supplementary material, such as the following:

· Bibliography

· Appendixes

· Glossary

· Index

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SUMMARY: WRITING FORMAL REPORTS (Ch. 11)

Formal reports require thoughtful planning because of their varied audiences, purposes, scope, and complexity. To ensure that your formal reports are adequately planned and written, review the following summary checklist.

· Who is the principal audience for the report? Who is the secondary audience?

· Is the transmittal letter or memo necessary and addressed to the principal audience?

· Are the elements that make up the front matter, body, and back matter of the report organized correctly?

· Does the title page include the report, title, date, preparer, and recipient?

· Does the abstract highlight the report’s major points?

· Does the table of contents list section titles exactly as they appear throughout the report?

· Does the executive summary describe the purpose, major findings, conclusions, recommendations, and methodology used to reach the findings? Can it be read independently of the report?

· Does the introduction state the purpose of the report, the scope of material it covers, how you plan to develop the topic, and how the report will be organized?

· Does the body of the report enable the principal audience to interpret your findings, conclusions, and recommendations?

· Do the conclusions grow logically from the report’s findings?

· Do the recommendations advise the audience on the appropriate course of action to take based on the findings?

· Do the references provide enough information to permit a reader to locate a source of interest?

· Is the material in the appendixes of sufficient importance to be included but so voluminous or ancillary that its presence in the body of the report would impede the reader?

· Does the report include a large number of technical terms that should be defined for your audience in an alphabetically arranged glossary?

· Are the index terms sufficiently selective that they allow the audience to locate key topics throughout the report quickly and accurately?