Writing High-impact Reports and Proposals

Writing High-impact Reports and Proposals

Overview/Description
Are you one of the millions of people who groan at the thought of writing a report or proposal? One reason for your lack of enthusiasm about writing business reports may stem from reading those that do nothing to hold your interest. So how do you tackle this formidable problem and produce great reports? Discover proven techniques to help you master report production in Writing High-impact Reports and Proposals. In this course, you'll learn how to determine your purpose, your target audience, and the best format for your report. You'll also learn how to plan your document and manage the information you gather, as well as how to use statistics to achieve the most dramatic effect. Additionally, you'll discover how to avoid cluttered writing, how to use transitions effectively, and how to use bias-free language, a must in today's business environment. Finally, you'll explore ways to enhance your finished document for greatest impact.

Target Audience
Managers at all levels, administrative staff, anyone writing business communications

Expected Duration
3.5 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Focusing on Important Report Issues

recognize the benefits of using guidelines in report writing.

select the ways businesses use reports.

identify the four initial elements to consider about a report's target audience: origin, subject, timing, and reception.

identify the guidelines for limiting report distortions.

Planning Your Document

recognize the benefits of careful planning prior to writing a report or a proposal.

select the questions to ask before preparing the problem statement for a report or a proposal.

identify the guidelines for gathering information to be used in a report.

order the steps in managing information to be used in a report or a proposal.

Developing a Report-writing Style

recognize the benefits of developing a clear document writing style.

recognize the two elements to avoid in order to write more concisely: cliches and euphemisms.

match the types of transitions with the specific examples of each.

select the examples of bias-free language from a list of statements.

Completing the Document: the Finishing Touches

select the benefits of putting the "finishing touches" on a business document.

select the correct order of parts for a formal business report.

select the best practices for proofreading a report for accuracy.

select the correct statements about the enhancements to the formal business report.

Course Number: COMM0222