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Report Writing. JoAnn Syverson Carlson School of Management University of Minnesota. Report Components. Title Page Name of report (all caps) Name, title, organization of receiver Author’s name, title, organization Date submitted. Report Components. Table of Contents
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Report Writing JoAnn SyversonCarlson School of ManagementUniversity of Minnesota
Report Components • Title Page • Name of report (all caps) • Name, title, organization of receiver • Author’s name, title, organization • Date submitted
Report Components • Table of Contents • Show beginning page number where each report heading appears • Connect page numbers with leaders (spaced dots)
Report Components • Executive Summary • One of most important parts of report • Synopsis (overview) of report • Concentrate on what management needs to know • Summarizes • Purpose • Scope • Methodology • Findings • Conclusions • Recommendations
Report Components • Executive Summary • Organized same as report • Style and tone same as report • Avoid unexplained jargon/abbreviations • Do not refer to figures/tables presented later • Should not contain exhibits or footnotes • Include headings/make skimmable • Use transitional words • Length should be generally 1/10 of whole report
Executive summaries should be the last pieces of reports to be written since they are the most important sections of the reports!
Report Components • Introduction • Explain problem motivating report • Describe its background and significance • Clarify scope and limitations of report • Describe data sources, methods, key terms • Close by previewing report’s organization
Report Components • Body • Discuss, analyze, interpret research findings • Arrange findings in logical segments following outline • Use clear, descriptive headings/skimmable
Report Components • Conclusions • Explain findings in relation to original problem
Report Components • Recommendations • Make recommendations on suggested action to be taken
Report Components • Appendix • All items must be referred to in the text and listed on the table of contents • Items of interest to some, but not all, readers • For example, data questionnaires or computer printouts
Report Components • References • List all references in section called “Works Cited” or “References” • Include all text, online, and live sources • Follow style manual for citing sources
Other Specifics on Report Writing • Single- or double-spaced • About 2500 words (not counting appendix) • Tables of Contents will help you organize and write report—write early! • Headings of same level must be consistent • First, second, third levels
Headings Same-level headings must be written consistently! (For example) Level 1: CENTERED UPPER-CASE Level 2: Centered Upper-case and Lower-case Level 3: Centered, Underlined, Upper-case and Lower-case Level 4: Flush left, Underlined, Upper-case and Lower-case Level 5: Indented, underlined, lower-case paragraph heading ending with a period.
Visual Aids • Introduce • Label/Number/Informative Title • Discuss