Excellence in business communication 12e by vthill and brovee chapter 11

Adapt the three-step writing process to reports and proposals.. Explain the role of secondary research, and describe the two major categories of online research tools.. Explain how to pl

1. Adapt the three-step writing process to reports and

proposals

research, explain how to evaluate the credibility of an information source, and identify the five ways to use research results

Learning Objectives (1 of 3)

3. Explain the role of secondary research, and describe the two

major categories of online research tools

most common forms of primary research for business

communication purposes

Learning Objectives (2 of 3)

5. Explain how to plan informational reports and website

Applying the Three-Step Writing Process to Reports and Proposals

Applying the Three-Step Writing Process to Reports and Proposals

(LO 1) Adapt the three-step writing process to reports and

proposals

Categories of Typical Reports

Informational Reports Analytical Reports Proposals

Monitor and Control

Analyzing the Situation

Compose a Statement of Purpose

Prepare a Work Plan for the Project

Sample Work Plan

Selecting the Right Combination of Media

and Channels

Organizing Your Information

Supporting Your Messages with Credible

Applying the Research Process

Planning Your Research

(1) Develop a Problem Statement

(2) Identify Essential Information

(3) Generate Research Questions

Avoiding Ethical Lapses

Locating Data and Information

Using Research Results

• Analyze the data.

• Quote, paraphrase, or summarize information.

• Draw conclusions.

• Make recommendations.

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and

Summarizing Summarizing Paraphrasing Paraphrasing Quoting Quoting

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and

Interpretation of the Facts in the

Report

Recommendations

Suggestions for What to Do

about the Facts

Drawing Conclusions and Making

Recommendations

Conducting Secondary Research

(LO 3) Explain the role of secondary research, and describe the two

major categories of online research tools

Almanacs and

Statistics

Government

Finding Information Online

Actively search for

existing information

Actively search for

existing information

Monitor selected sources for new information

Monitor selected sources for new information

Online Search Tools

(General-Purpose Search Engines)

Online Search Tools

(Improve on General Search Engines)

Human editors evaluate Format searches for Journals, magazines, and

Web Directories Metasearch Engines Online Databases

Online Monitoring Tools

 Subscribing to Newsfeeds Subscribing to Newsfeeds

 Following People on Twitter Following People on Twitter

 Setting Up Online Alerts Setting Up Online Alerts

 Using Specialized Monitors Using Specialized Monitors

Using Search Tools Effectively

Conducting Primary Research

(LO 4) Explain the role of primary research, and identify the two most common forms of primary research for business communication

purposes

Conducting Surveys

Provide Clear Instructions

Keep Questionnaires Short and Easy to Use

Avoid Asking Leading Questions

Obtain a Representative Sample

Types of Survey Questions

Conducting Interviews

•Open-Ended Style •Closed Style

The Questions You

Ask

The Questions You

Ask

•Question Sequence •Potential Answers

The Way You Ask

Questions The Way You Ask

Questions

Planning Informational Reports Planning Informational Reports

(LO 5) Explain how to plan informational reports and website

content

Classifying Informational Reports

Monitor and Control Operations

Implement Policies and

Procedures

Organizing Informational Reports

Topical Organization

Organizing Website Content

Information Architecture

Consider a Mobile-First Approach

Plan Site Structure and Navigation

Let Your Readers Be in Control

Planning Analytical Reports

(LO 6) Identify the three most common ways to organize analytical

reports

Planning Analytical Reports

•Assessing Opportunities

•Solving Business Problems

•Supporting Decision Making

Understanding the Challenges of Writing

Analytical Reports

Focusing on Recommendations

Focusing on Logical Arguments

Hostile Readers

Planning Proposals

(LO 7) Explain how to plan proposals

Organization

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