WRITER’S CHECKLIST

384

In planning your recommendation report, did you

  • analyze your audience?

  • determine your purpose?

  • identify the questions that need to be answered?

  • carry out appropriate research?

  • draw valid conclusions about the results (if appropriate)?

  • formulate recommendations based on the conclusions (if appropriate)?

Does the transmittal letter

  • clearly state the title and, if necessary, the subject and purpose of the report?

  • clearly state who authorized or commissioned the report?

  • acknowledge any assistance you received?

  • establish a courteous and professional tone?

Does the cover include

  • the title of the report?

  • your name and position?

  • the date of submission?

  • the company name or logo?

Does the title page

  • include a title that clearly states the subject and purpose of the report?

  • list your name and position and those of your principal reader(s)?

  • include the date of submission of the report and any other identifying information?

Does the abstract

  • list the report title, your name, and any other identifying information?

  • clearly define the problem or opportunity that led to the project?

  • briefly describe (if appropriate) the research methods?

  • summarize the major results, conclusions, and recommendations?

Does the table of contents

  • contain a sufficiently detailed breakdown of the major sections of the body of the report?

  • reproduce the headings as they appear in your report?

  • include page numbers?

  • Does the list of illustrations (or list of tables or list of figures) include all the graphics found in the body of the report?

Does the executive summary

  • clearly state the problem or opportunity that led to the project?

  • explain the major results, conclusions, recommendations, and managerial implications of your report?

  • avoid technical vocabulary and concepts that a managerial audience is not likely to be interested in?

Does the introduction

  • explain the subject of the report?

  • explain the purpose of the report?

  • explain the background of the report?

  • describe your sources of information?

  • indicate the scope of the report?

  • briefly summarize the most significant findings of the project?

  • briefly summarize your recommendations?

  • explain the organization of the report?

  • define key terms used in the report?

Does the methods section

  • describe your methods in sufficient detail?

  • justify your methods where necessary, explaining, for instance, why you chose one method over another?

Are the results presented

  • clearly?

  • objectively?

  • without interpretation?

385

Are the conclusions

  • presented clearly?

  • drawn logically from the results?

Are the recommendations

  • clear?

  • objective?

  • stated politely?

  • in an appropriate form (list or paragraph)?

  • in an appropriate location?

  • Does the glossary include definitions of all the technical terms your readers might not know?

  • Does the list of symbols include all the symbols and abbreviations your readers might not know?

  • Does the list of references include all your sources and adhere to an appropriate documentation system?

  • Do the appendixes include supporting materials that are too bulky to present in the report body or that are of interest to only a small number of your readers?