Ch.22: Informal Reports

• Understand the role and purposes of informal reports
• For every formal report made, there are countless informal reports
• Informal reports help people make decisions in different areas
• Most often a memorandum
• Differentiate between informal and formal reports
• Informal reports 
• don't require extended planning
• are created quickly
• contain little/ no background information
• no front or end matter supplements (title page, table of contents)
• Differentiate between informational and analytical reports
• Informational reports answer basic questions
• Analytical reports offer information, interpretations, and conclusions
• Write informational reports
• Progress reports
• Choose between email and memo
• Use clear subject line
• Present information efficiently
• Anticipate/ answer questions
• Activity reports
• Email or memo
• Clear subject line with time frame
• Chunk information using headings, bullets, and lists
• Trip reports
• Take notes
• State the exact trip and include dates
• Record names of people/places
• Note times/location
• Meeting Minutes
• Take notes
• Complete immediately after meeting
• Clear title and date
• List all attendees
• Describe all agenda items
• Record all decisions
• Proofread
• Write analytical reports
• Feasibility reports
• Clear subject line
• Provide necessary background
• Offer the recommendation early
• Follow up with details and data
• End with a call to action
• Recommendation reports
• Clear subject line
• Brief background
• Summarize the situation
• Be authoritative
• Be informative
• List benefits of taking action
• Peer review reports
• Begin with positives
• Organize by topic
• Constructive criticism
• Support your critique with examples and advice
• Close positively
• Justification reports
• State the problem/ recommended solution
• Explain how to implement your plan
• Encourage the reader to act