Q. What is planning the report?

Answer: effective report writers follow a six step plan before begin to write.

Identify purpose

Identify audience

Identify context

Identify content

Select medium

 

Choose report structure

Q. How to choose report structure?

Answer: the appropriate structure for a report depends of the specific purpose content and context of the report.

Direct (deductive)

The direct structure is best on the deductive style of reasoning from general to specific

Indirect (inductive)

The indirect structure is best on the inductive style of reusing which examine facts and forms generalization based on those facts.

Chronological

Chronological structure uses time as the central organizational component of the message.

Problem solution

As the name implies the problem solution structure presents a problem followed by a proposed solution.

Cause effect

When using the cause effect structure the writer identifies and discuss solutions and a predicted outcomes of those conditions.

Spatial

The spatial structure si appropriate anytime your date can be presented logically in terms of geographic units

Topical

In topical structure information is organized around major topics of discussions

Comparison or contrast

Comparison or contrast structure examines two or more items in terms of common criteria.

Combination

Q. What is outlining the report?

Answer: An outline will help you plan the structure of your report. The outline should indicate the relative important of the facts ad their interrelationships

Informal outlines

An informal outline is a list of topic to be included in the report , in often consists of words, short phrases or combination of those elements. Such an outline is a primarily an idea generation tool. For example short reports.

Formal outline

Formal outlines are useful communications tool both before and as you write the report. Report with a supervisor or a colleague before you began writing you can use outline as a guide.

Q. What is collaborative writing?

Answer: the process whereby a group of people work together to produce a finished report such as a report

Forming

During the forming stage the group is usually at its best behavior

Storming

The storming stage is marked by intergroup conflict

Norming

If the group successfully navigates the storming phase it moves into norming

Performing

Having past through the storming and forming stage group should be able to work harmoniously towards achieving their common goal.

Adjourning

At this stage members often fail exhilaration in the successful accomplishment of tasks

A caution