Communication

For Work Purposes

Report
Document that provides facts,
opinions, or ideas about a
specific topic or problem

type of reports PLANNING A REPORT

1. Style
1. Identify the objective, 5. Develop a preliminary
Formal: long and
problem, or topic outline
contain preliminary
2. Determine the scope of 6. Analyze the data
parts
the report 7. Draw conclusions and
Informal: typically
3. Develop a timeline make recommendations
shorter that formal
4. Collect the data
reports
2. Purpose
International: used writing informal reports
to present facts
Organizing Informal Reports
Analytical: used to
Direct Order
analyze a problem use direct order when the report is routine or when
and present you expect the reader to respond favorably
recommendations Indirect Order
3. Format usually written in a relatively personal style
Informal: can be Outlining and Writing Informal Reports
written in several Report Outline
different formats helps identify and position the topics and subtopics you
Formal: longer and will include in a report
more complex Writing Style
usually written in a relatively personal style
Formatting Informal Reports
Parts of an Informal Report
Opening Body Closing
Letter Reports
typically written for people outside the organization
Memo Reports
typically written for people inside the organization
Manuscript Reports
typically written for people inside or outside the
organization
 Writing Formal Reports

Organizing and Writing Parts of a Formal

Formal Reports
Direct and Indirect Order
Formal informational reports
are usually organized in
direct order
Writing Style
Formal reports are usually
written in an impersonal
style, which can make the
report sound objective
Report
Preliminary Parts
Parts of a formal letter that
appear first, providing the
reader with information
about the report body
The Report Body
Consist of three parts
1. Introduction
2. Findings and Analysis
3. Summary, Conclusion, &
Recommendation
Supplementary Parts
A formal report may also
contain supplementary parts
that follow the report body,
such as bibliography or
appendix

formal vs. informal writing formal vs. informal language

Formal Formal
Composed and thorough Type of language that you
Use longer sentences use in more formal or serious
Full words situations
No contractions or abbreviations Traits
Objective
Not a personal writing style No contractions Bigger & more
Lack of personal sophisticated words
Informal
pronouns Follows etiquette
Conversational guidelines
Longer, more
Slang and figures of speech
complicated Sounds extremely
Personal or emotional tone
Speak directly to audience sentences polite
Use short words like "you" and Informal
"your" A type of language you use
Short or incomplete sentence in more laid back and casual
Contractions and abbreviations situations
Traits
formal informal
formal informal Contractions Shorter sentences
informal Personal pronouns
formal informal Less complicated
formal informal Slang & idioms words
formal informal Fillers (er, um, uh) Less polite
formal informal