Creating a Formal Report Proposal

Creating a Formal Report Proposal.

• A brief discussion on asking the right questions & pursuing a balanced view
• A brief discussion on primary sources for research
• Procedures for preparing your proposal

Asking the right question

After reading the chapters on the research process and Formal Reports, you need to consider your experiences in the workplace, as a volunteer, or a student. Identify a system, or procedure that is problematic in some way: inefficient, environmentally dangerous, unhealthy, or some other similar category relevant to the situation you choose.

• What questions do you need to ask in order to investigate the problems?
• What questions do you need to ask for an analysis on the best ways to solve the problem?

While you are brainstorming:

Be sure to consider your audience right from the beginning.  Your Formal report will be addressed to specific readers; not to your instructor.

Yes, your proposal is for your instructor so will need to include background information and details about your reader.

But, again, the final report will be addressed and written for a specific reader(s) who has the authority to act on your recommendations.

Remember your definition assignment and always take into careful consideration your reader. Again, Your reader will need to be a person, or persons, who can act on your final recommendations. The ultimate purpose of the report is to make detailed recommendations according to your investigation and analysis.

Primary sources for research:

Carefully review the sections in our text that discuss primary sources and consider what types of data gathering you can use for the topics you are brainstorming.

You will need to schedule yourselves accordingly; gathering data via interviews and surveys is time consuming and designing your interview questions and/or surveys will become a priority once you have settled on your topic for of investigation.

Surveys, Interviews and observations are your primary research methods. Collecting these data is time consuming so you will want to schedule yourselves accordingly – now. Please carefully review the requirements for surveys and interviews. You must include an introduction to the survey/ interview that:

1] In the case of surveys – assures your participants confidentiality

2] Clearly states the purpose of the survey

3] Describes the amount of time required to complete the survey

4] Thank your participants

Procedures for preparing your report:

The list of steps for researching the analytical report in your textbook is an excellent way to begin. I encourage you to use this list when you organize your report, and to use your writing forums to discuss your approaches to audience profiles and narrowing down your topics, if time allows.

As always, please feel free to ask any questions or alert me to any confusions via our CHAT page or personal email message. Thank you and enjoy.