Writing Nonroutine Reports

1
Writing Nonroutine Reports

• Professor Stevens Amidon
• Department of English and Linguistics, IPFW

2
What is a non-routine report?

• These are variations of the report genre which
  are not a part of the normal routine require of
  the writers job.

3
Interview Report

• A kind of informational report in which you use
  an interview with a person to gather information.
• Purpose To gather information
• Features
• Describes the process
• Summarizes the results
• An example can be found on page 175 of your
  textbook.

4
Exception Report

• A kind of informational report in which you
  notify the reader of an action which deviated
  from the normal operation of your organization.
• Purpose To inform the audience about the
  deviation, and perhaps to persuade the audience
  the deviation was justified, or unavoidable.
• Features
• Describes the deviation
• Explains or justifies the deviation
• An example can be found on page 176 of your
  textbook.

5
Justification Report

• A kind of persuasive report in which you notify
  the reader of an action you are taking/or propose
  to take.
• Purpose To persuade the audience a decision or
  proposal is sound
• Features
• Describes the action or proposal
• Justifies the action or proposal
• An example can be found on pages 177-178 of your
  textbook.

6
Feasibility Report

• A kind of analytical report in which you inform
  the reader of the results of research you have
  undertaken to determine whether a project is
  worth undertaking.
• Purpose To inform the audience of the potential
  consequences of a proposed action.
• Features
• Describes the action or proposal
• Describes the research process
• Describes the findings
• Makes recommendations
• An example can be found on pages 179-181 of your
  textbook.

7
Staff Report

• A report produced by a managers staff.
  (catch-all category).
• Varies
• Examples
• Research reports
• White papers describing new technologies
• Features
• Vary
• Usually organized in a direct format
• An example can be found on page 182 of your
  textbook.

8
Press Release

• An informational report prepared by an
  organization to be read by the mass media.
• Purpose To influence media coverage of an event
  or undertaking.
• Features
• Very specific information is provided
• Organized in a special way the inverted pyramid
  form
• An example can be found on page 184 of your
  textbook.

9
Executive Summaries

• A summary of a report or other information
  prepared for an executive. Usually accompanies a
  longer report, but sometimes are prepared to
  summarize legislation, or current trends.(i.e.
  Presidents daily briefing by Director of Central
  Intelligence).
• Purpose To condense important information into a
  quickly readable format.
• Features
• Usually a direct organizational approach, even if
  the report summarized is indirect.
• Should include the issue, findings, and
  recommendations.
• An example can be found on page 186 your
  textbook.

10
Business Proposals

• A kind of persuasive report in which you are
  proposing a business plan or action.
• Purpose To persuade the audience to support the
  plan or action in some way.
• Features
• Solicited response to an RFP
• Unsolicited initiated by the writer or
  organization.
• Examples can be found on pages 188-190 of your
  textbook.