Writing for the Workplace

CHAPTER 6

Reports

Reports provide accounts of information and range from short, informal e-mails to over 100 page formal manuscripts. They may be distributed to an internal or external audience, read via hard copy or on a computer screen, and written in a variety of business genres.

Typically reports fall into one of several categories. Informational reports present information without analysis. They offer facts but do not interpret information. Analytical reports interpret data or information and often provide recommendations. They may be written to assess a business opportunity, provide solutions to problems, or to support business decisions. Proposals are analytical reports that pose persuasive requests to influence decisions either within ...