Back to 205 Syllabus
Formal Report Assignment
Formal Report Assignment
Business Writing: English 205
Professor Alred
Date Due ~ See Course Schedule
Prepare a formal report (read that entry and cross references) on a topic of your choice, based on the suggested topics on the topic sheet. Your research must include at least three of the following sources:
A formal report is "formal" because it has parts that follow specific forms. This report should contain the following parts:
The report will receive the following three grades; thus it is equivalent to three assignments:
Business Writing: English 205
Professor Alred
Date Due ~ See Course Schedule
Prepare a formal report (read that entry and cross references) on a topic of your choice, based on the suggested topics on the topic sheet. Your research must include at least three of the following sources:
1. Your own special knowledge of a subject
2. Observation of a business or system
3. Web and media sources
4. The UWM or other Library
5. Local government agencies
6. Government documents
7. Other documents (maps, Yellow Pages, special dictionaries)
8. Interviews with appropriate individuals on or off campus
9. Business documents (annual reports, brochures, etc.)
10. Professional publications (e.g., Fortune)
Important: Check with me at any time for help; any student who does not seek my help is (I must assume) having no trouble.
Format of the ReportA formal report is "formal" because it has parts that follow specific forms. This report should contain the following parts:
- Cover (or transmittal) letter: addressed and written to me (single
spaced)
- Title page (which you must design)
- Executive summary (not to exceed one single-spaced page)
- Body (double spaced: 10-15 pages depending on number
of figures)
- Figures (at least two illustrations, tables, or non-text items)
- References (only if four or more printed or online sources are
used)
- Appendixes (optional, if needed)
For each of these parts, use The Business Writer's Handbook as the primary source for form and style. Use common sense and your instructor for issues not directly covered in the book.
Evaluation of the ReportThe report will receive the following three grades; thus it is equivalent to three assignments:
[R] Research: Information gathered, logic applied, and persuasivenessThis assignment represents the culmination of a semester's work; you can complete it successfully only by starting early. Hint ~ See an annotated model in pdf format of a complete formal report
[F] Format: Professional design and adherence to instructions
[W] Writing: Essential clarity, coherence, and correctness