9.1 Formal Report
The Formal Report will be due by the deadline posted in the Schedule.
Submit your final report in the "Submit Work Here" button in Blackboard.
As a professional in your chosen field, a good deal of your time will be centered around problem solving and reporting the results of research that you have done to investigate and solve problems.
The formal report project for this class should focus on a local problem or issue, and the result of your research should be a solution to that problem or issue. In other words, you will need to
The report should consist of the following (see an example of the format on pp. 326-337):
Submit your final report in the "Submit Work Here" button in Blackboard.
As a professional in your chosen field, a good deal of your time will be centered around problem solving and reporting the results of research that you have done to investigate and solve problems.
The formal report project for this class should focus on a local problem or issue, and the result of your research should be a solution to that problem or issue. In other words, you will need to
- identify that a problem exists and convince your audience of the seriousness of the problem,
- research potential solutions for the problem, and
- propose a solution that you believe best addresses the key issues of the problem.
The report should consist of the following (see an example of the format on pp. 326-337):
- A clearly defined and specific audience (not myself) addressed on both the letter of transmittal and the cover page.
- A table of contents formatted appropriately.
- A list of tables and figures (include at least one table or figure in the body of your report).
- An abstract that is written after the report is complete and includes a sentence summarizing each section.
- A clear introduction that briefly sets up the problem studied and briefly introduces your final recommendation.
- A body that is divided by clearly labeled headings and subheadings.
- A conclusion that clearly states your final recommendation.
- A list of references.
- Appendices that include copies of any survey or interview questions or supplemental materials necessary to understanding the research that went into producing the report.
- Use MLA or APA format unless you have cleared the use of a different style of citation in advance.
Caution: Steer clear of "the heart attack report." This report is one that is very broad and general (i.e., a lot of people have heart attacks and this is a problem) and the solution is already known (i.e., diet and exercise will help prevent heart attacks). In the "heart attack report," the problem is clear and the solution is simple, but your audience has heard this advice again and again and is unlikely to be convinced by hearing it yet again in your report. Instead, focus on a problem that might be smaller in scope (i.e., the use of Styrofoam "to go" boxes in the student union as an environmental hazard) and research possible solutions for that problem.
Think About It
Audience Awareness
Identify a particular audience to whom you are writing. Ideally, your audience will be very specific...a particular person that you address by name (i.e., the superintendent of a school) or a particular group of people (i.e., the local school board). You'll need to identify the person's or peoples' stake in the issue. What do they believe about this problem? What arguments will be likely to persuade them to act on solving the problem you identify?
Information Literacy
In order to both establish the problem and to pose a solution that will be persuasive to your audience, you will need to utilize primary and secondary research using online library databases, interviews, surveys, and other research methods. You will also need to document sources appropriately both in the text and in a References section at the end of the report.
Digital Literacy
In order to complete the research for the report, you will need to become familiar with finding accurate, credible, and knowledgeable sources online. You will need to use search engines available through the Ottenheimer Library and online searches, such as Google Scholar that find reliable, peer-reviewed sources. You will also need to be able to utilize Microsoft Word or another word processing software that will allow you to format your report with appropriate headings, a table of contents, and other design considerations (see the example formal report on pp. 326-337).
Audience Awareness
Identify a particular audience to whom you are writing. Ideally, your audience will be very specific...a particular person that you address by name (i.e., the superintendent of a school) or a particular group of people (i.e., the local school board). You'll need to identify the person's or peoples' stake in the issue. What do they believe about this problem? What arguments will be likely to persuade them to act on solving the problem you identify?
Information Literacy
In order to both establish the problem and to pose a solution that will be persuasive to your audience, you will need to utilize primary and secondary research using online library databases, interviews, surveys, and other research methods. You will also need to document sources appropriately both in the text and in a References section at the end of the report.
Digital Literacy
In order to complete the research for the report, you will need to become familiar with finding accurate, credible, and knowledgeable sources online. You will need to use search engines available through the Ottenheimer Library and online searches, such as Google Scholar that find reliable, peer-reviewed sources. You will also need to be able to utilize Microsoft Word or another word processing software that will allow you to format your report with appropriate headings, a table of contents, and other design considerations (see the example formal report on pp. 326-337).