A1) What is a report? Provide at least 3 definitions (remember to identify the source)
ØA report is a systematic, well organised document which defines and analyses a subject or problem, and which may include: the record of a sequence of events interpretation of the significance of these events or facts evaluation of the facts or results of research presented discussion of the outcomes of a decision or course of action conclusions recommendations.
ØA report like this will usually be requested by people who need the information for a specific purpose and their request may be written in terms of reference or the brief. Whatever the report, it is important to look at the instructions for what is wanted
(http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/Reports.htm) ØA report written for an academic course can be thought of as a simulation. We can imagine that someone wants the report for a practical purpose, although we are really writing the report as an academic exercise for assessment. Theoretical ideas will be more to the front in an academic report than in a practical one. (http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/Reports.htm)
A2)What are the possible/ basic components or parts of reports? Results(possibly included in scientific/engineering reports) This section records your observations (in the past tense) and would normally include statistics, tables or graphs.
Conclusion (always included) Your conclusion should draw out the implications of your findings, with deductions based on the facts described in your main body. Don’t include any new material here.
Recommendations (sometimes included) These should follow on logically from your conclusion and be specific, measurable and achievable. They should propose how the situation/problem could be improved by suggesting action to be taken. A “statement of cost” should be included if you are recommending changes that have financial implications.
Recommendations can be numbered if you wish. Appendices (sometimes included) An appendix (plural=appendices) is detailed documentation of points you outline in your findings, for example, technical data, questionnaires, letters sent, tables, sketches, charts, leaflets etc. It is supplementary information which you consider to be too long or complicated or not quite relevant enough to include in your main body, but which still should be of interest to your reader.
Each appendix should be referred to in your text. You should not include something as an appendix if it is not discussed in the main body. References (always included) This is a list giving the full details of all the sources to which you have made reference within your text. By far the most common method in use at UCE is the Harvard method. Bibliography (sometimes included) This is either a separate list of sources which you have used during your research, but have not actually made reference to in your writing, or this list together with your list of references. (//http://www.ssdd.uce.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.02%20Reports.htm#Title//)
B1) What is an annual report? Provide two definitions. ØAn annual report lists the achievements and failures of an organisation. It is a progress report in which every department is accounted for. (http://www.howtobooks.co.uk/business/reports/annual.asp)
ØAn annual report is a record of a company's financial performance and operations for the year. Publicly traded companies produce annual reports to tell shareholders, prospective investors, customers and others what happened. (//http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html//
1)Reassure recipients that you are making progress, that the project is going smoothly, and that it will be complete by the expected date. 2) Provide their recipients with a brief look at some of the findings or some of the work of the project. 3)Give their recipients a chance to evaluate your work on the project and to request changes. 4)Give you a chance to discuss problems in the project and thus to forewarn recipients. 5) Force you to establish a work schedule so that you'll complete the project on time. (http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B4) Give two pieces of advice to someone who wants to write an annual report.
1) Make sure you use the right format. Remember, the memo format is for internal progress reports; the business-letter format is for progress reports written from one external organization to another. (Whether you use a cover memo or cover letter is your choice.) 2)Write a good introduction-in it, state that this is a progress report, and provide an overview of the contents of the progress report. (http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B5) Should the report be long or short?
As a general rule, the shorter the report the better the chances of attracting a fringe readership. (http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html) B6) Do annual reports include a chairperson’s message?Annual reports usually include a chairperson's statement. Most of these statements are far too long. Tactfully explain that all that is required is a resume and critical analysis of the past year's work, and an assessment of prospects. This section should pass logically from topic to topic. It should be informative, businesslike and balanced. It should also be concise - no more than 1,000 words (less if possible). (http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B7) What is an ideal structure of an annual report? This depends on the nature of the organisation and the readership. Here is one possible structure:
contents list
what the organisation does
some of the year's highlights
chairperson's statement
main body (possibly department to department, or task to task)
B8) Visit http://www.annualreports.com/. What can one find on this website? Their Free Service allows users to review an annual report in an easy and convenient manner. Boasting the most complete and up-to-date listings of annual reports on the internet, AnnualReports.com provides instant access to annual reports in their actual format in one single location. For educated investors, corporate annual reports are the most important research tool available. Annual Reports enable investors to stay up to date on a company's yearly outlook.
PART A: REPORTS
A1) What is a report? Provide at least 3 definitions (remember to identify the source)
Ø A report is a systematic, well organised document which defines and analyses a subject or problem, and which may include:
the record of a sequence of events
interpretation of the significance of these events or facts
evaluation of the facts or results of research presented
discussion of the outcomes of a decision or course of action conclusions recommendations.
(//http://www.ssdd.uce.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.02%20Reports.htm#Title//)
Ø A report like this will usually be requested by people who need the information for a specific purpose and their request may be written in terms of reference or the brief. Whatever the report, it is important to look at the instructions for what is wanted
(http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/Reports.htm)
Ø A report written for an academic course can be thought of as a simulation. We can imagine that someone wants the report for a practical purpose, although we are really writing the report as an academic exercise for assessment. Theoretical ideas will be more to the front in an academic report than in a practical one.
(http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/Reports.htm)
A2) What are the possible/ basic components or parts of reports?
Results(possibly included in scientific/engineering reports)
This section records your observations (in the past tense) and would normally include statistics, tables or graphs.
Conclusion (always included)
Your conclusion should draw out the implications of your findings, with deductions based on the facts described in your main body. Don’t include any new material here.
Recommendations (sometimes included)
These should follow on logically from your conclusion and be specific, measurable and achievable. They should propose how the situation/problem could be improved by suggesting action to be taken. A “statement of cost” should be included if you are recommending changes that have financial implications.
Recommendations can be numbered if you wish.
Appendices (sometimes included)
An appendix (plural=appendices) is detailed documentation of points you outline in your findings, for example, technical data, questionnaires, letters sent, tables, sketches, charts, leaflets etc. It is supplementary information which you consider to be too long or complicated or not quite relevant enough to include in your main body, but which still should be of interest to your reader.
Each appendix should be referred to in your text. You should not include something as an appendix if it is not discussed in the main body.
References (always included)
This is a list giving the full details of all the sources to which you have made reference within your text. By far the most common method in use at UCE is the Harvard method.
Bibliography (sometimes included)
This is either a separate list of sources which you have used during your research, but have not actually made reference to in your writing, or this list together with your list of references.
(//http://www.ssdd.uce.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.02%20Reports.htm#Title//)
A3) What are some types of reports?
(//http://www.ssdd.uce.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.02%20Reports.htm#Title//)
PART B: ANNUAL REPORTS
B1) What is an annual report? Provide two definitions.
Ø An annual report lists the achievements and failures of an organisation. It is a progress report in which every department is accounted for.
(http://www.howtobooks.co.uk/business/reports/annual.asp)
Ø An annual report is a record of a company's financial performance and operations for the year. Publicly traded companies produce annual reports to tell shareholders, prospective investors, customers and others what happened.
(//http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html//
B2) What type of report is an annual report?
The physical appearance of annual reports is crucial. For that reason they are usually prepared professionally.
(//http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html//
B3) What is the purpose of a progress report?
1) Reassure recipients that you are making progress, that the project is going smoothly, and that it will be complete by the expected date.
2) Provide their recipients with a brief look at some of the findings or some of the work of the project.
3) Give their recipients a chance to evaluate your work on the project and to request changes.
4) Give you a chance to discuss problems in the project and thus to forewarn recipients.
5) Force you to establish a work schedule so that you'll complete the project on time.
(http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B4) Give two pieces of advice to someone who wants to write an annual report.
1) Make sure you use the right format. Remember, the memo format is for internal progress reports; the business-letter format is for progress reports written from one external organization to another. (Whether you use a cover memo or cover letter is your choice.)
2) Write a good introduction-in it, state that this is a progress report, and provide an overview of the contents of the progress report.
(http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B5) Should the report be long or short?
As a general rule, the shorter the report the better the chances of attracting a fringe readership.
(http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B6) Do annual reports include a chairperson’s message? Annual reports usually include a chairperson's statement. Most of these statements are far too long. Tactfully explain that all that is required is a resume and critical analysis of the past year's work, and an assessment of prospects. This section should pass logically from topic to topic. It should be informative, businesslike and balanced. It should also be concise - no more than 1,000 words (less if possible).
(http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B7) What is an ideal structure of an annual report?
This depends on the nature of the organisation and the readership. Here is one possible structure:
(http://www.ehow.com/how_16565_write-annual-report.html)
B8) Visit http://www.annualreports.com/. What can one find on this website?
Their Free Service allows users to review an annual report in an easy and convenient manner. Boasting the most complete and up-to-date listings of annual reports on the internet, AnnualReports.com provides instant access to annual reports in their actual format in one single location. For educated investors, corporate annual reports are the most important research tool available. Annual Reports enable investors to stay up to date on a company's yearly outlook.