SHORT REPORTS
PURPOSE:
When
a brief written communication is necessary and can do the job for the reader.
v For
example, a weekly or monthly financial or production report can be handled by a
Short Report.
v Or,
a proposal for a simple project or improvement on a process can be written up
in a Short Report.
WHAT
IS THE FORM?
Can be written as a Letter or as a Memo.
§ Memo
when it is written within your department or company. (Sometimes a letter is OK
here.)
§ Letter
when it is written for outside your company.
HOW
MANY PAGES?
Short
Reports are usually one page (two pages maximum).
However, attachments can be several pages.
WHAT
ARE THE PARTS?
There
are usually 4 parts.
1)
Summary
2)
Background (which is optional and not always necessary)
3)
Body (main contents)
The content may even include a simple, small chart or diagram (if
it contains lots of information, is complex or several pages, then include it
in the “attachments” section). When you use HEADINGS and a list . . .
remember that after each heading it is more effective to write a
short sentence or phrase
to INTRODUCE the list. See the example here.
4)
Recommendation or Conclusion (use either one, depending on the subject/purpose
of your report).
SEE FORMAT BELOW
SHORT
REPORT FORMAT (memo)
Lined up straight on left; colons are next to
words.
Memorandum very
important!
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
(with signature)
SUBJECT:
Notice: body text is single spaced
Attachments: (name what it is and how many pages – if you have them)
cc:
(include the names and titles of the people to get a copy – if you are sending them)
page 1 of ___ (if more than 1 page.
If
only 1 page, this is not needed)
SUMMARY
Summarize
the report information without giving the details. Write the problem briefly, for example, but
not all the details, and give the way you will solve it, and what the benefits
would be.
BACKGROUND (sometimes you did not need this.
Use it only if you must explain the history)
Write
the history of the project, idea, proposal, etc. Write the problem, past solutions and who was
involved in them, so the reader or member of the department can know what is
going on now (and what happened before).
This part is to give the reader “the background.”
BODY (Do not write the word “BODY.”
You will write some descriptive word or words for this section for the headling, according to your topic/subject/contents/main
idea.)
RECOMMENDATION
or CONCLUSION (choose
1, based on your purpose)
You
will choose either one, depending on the subject of your report. [There is
a special case when you use both. I will
explain in class.]
Recommendations
are given when you are asked to provide your opinion about a problem or
issue. This is your suggestion of WHAT
SHOULD BE DONE.
Conclusions
are given when you are asked to study a problem, find out the facts and then
report about what happened – you DO NOT
SUGGEST WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE.
Thank
you. If you have any questions, please
contact me at _______________. (This is called the RESPONSE LINE)
SEE
EXAMPLE BELOW OF A 2-PAGE SHORT REPORT
Memorandum
TO: All
KFUPM Students
FROM: Ahmed K., Director of Student
Transportation
DATE: November 20, 1995
SUBJECT: Report on Survey of Bus Proposal;
Recommendations
Attachment: sample of survey (4 pages)
cc: All Deans
page 1 of 2
SUMMARY
The
students of KFUPM have a severe parking problem, which has developed recently
along with the increased numbers of students being admitted and having
cars. Our department proposed having an
excellent bus system to solve the problem, but we wanted to hear what students
thought. We conducted the following
survey, and the results are given below, along with our recommendations.
BACKGROUND
A
few years ago, parking for cars was no problem at KFUPM. Recently, though, (about the last two years)
this has become a serious problem with lateness accidents, damage and
frustration resulting. Our
department decided to implement a bus system for students and conducted a
survey of all the levels of students from orientation to graduate, to determine
their feelings and the best way to serve them students’ needs. They survey took one year, and the results
are in the next section.
SURVEY
RESULTS
The
attached survey questionnaire give the details of the actual questions the
students were asked. For all questions,
either a response of excellent, v.g., g. neutral , or poor with numbers 1 to 7 were asked for. The questions ranged from (and then continue with the
remainder of the explanation in detail).
Page
2 of 2, Report on KFUPM bus proposal
Here
is a table that explains the results of the survey in a brief format:
PUT TABLE HERE: The table is not an attachment. It would only be page 2 of this
report. The questions that were
asked on the survey (4 pages) are an attachment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As a
result of this study, here are the recommendations:
1)
Do XXXXXX
2)
Do YYYYYY
3)
Do ZZZZZZZ
Thank
you. If you have any questions, please
contact me at ___________.