Writing Reports and Proposals

COURSE SUMMARY

It is essential to understand how to write reports and proposals that get read. We write reports in a range of formats and a variety of purposes. Whether you need to report on a product analysis, inventory, feasibility studies, or something else, report writing is a skill you will use again and again. Having a method to prepare these documents will help you be as efficient as possible with the task. This course will build on a solid base of writing skills to present information in formal, informal, and proposal styles.

Participants should complete Business Writing That Works course before taking this course.

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

• Prepare reports and proposals that inform, persuade, and provide information.
• Review your work so that it is clear, concise, complete, and correct.
• Apply these skills in real work applications.

WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED

• The stages of report writing (investigating, planning, writing, and revising)
• Using headings, charts, and graphs
• The parts of a proposal
• Persuasion, designing a message, and tough questions
• Giving credit

COURSE OUTLINE

The Stages of Report Writing

This session will introduce the four stages of report writing: investigating, planning, writing, and revising.

The First Stage – Investigating

The first step is to gather the information for your report. In this session will give participants some guidelines to ensure that what they gather is accurate.

The Second Stage – Planning

Next, participants will learn how to plan a report based on information gathered during the first stage.

The Third Stage – Writing 

This session will give participants some ways to ensure that their writing is clear, concise, complete, and correct.

The Fourth Stage – Revising

In this session, participants will learn about the importance of revision, including spelling and grammar checks.

Using Headings

This session will provide a brief introduction to organising a report.

Charts and Graphs

Next, participants will learn the right way to add charts and graphs to their report.

The Proposal

During this session, participants will learn how writing a proposal is different from writing a report. Participants will also review the ten steps to successful proposal writing.

Persuasion

This session will look at finishing touches for a report, including steps in the persuasion process, how to design your message, and how to deal with tough questions.

Practical Application

To summarise all that they have learned, participants will peer edit each others’ work.

Giving Credit

This final session will focus on documentation methods and styles.

Workshop Wrap-Up

At the end of the workshop, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.