Question

English 216

Using Chapters 10-11, compare and contrast formats for formal and informal reports. Describe an example of either kind of report you have actually used or locate one on the internet. Explain how the document meets (or fails to meet) the standard described in our text. Is it more or less difficult to compose a solicited or an unsolicited proposal? Why? Describe a situation in which you would compose an unsolicited proposal. Who is your imagined audience—internal or external? How might you persuade your reader to agree to your proposal? What ethical or legal issues must you anticipate?

Answer 1

Personally speaking, I used an informal report to the organization where I worked. In my role as the Team Lead for the Rewards and Recognition Committee, I need to give routine reports on the meetings, update on the surveys, data collection, data analysis, etc. All these were pre-structured and the report is meant for the sponsor (one of the management team members) of the committee. The decision is then forwarded to the sponsor wherein the facts and recommendations are provided to the management team.

The document meets the standards in the text in terms of length, nature, formality, audience, writing style, coherence, format, etc. Since the audience was highly satisfied with the informal report, they insisted on following the same format to communicate similar updates to the management team.

Please find below the differences between informal and formal reports:

Factors INFORMAL OR SHORT REPORTS FORMAL OR LONG REPORTS Includes special pages or prefatory pages and is lengthy Size/lengtlh Shortreports usually 1-3 pages Incl Deals with sudden or any major issues. Both internal and external to the organization Nature Deals with routine issues Audience Internal to the organization Does not require planning and has a variety of formatting Format Focuses on planning Deductive writing style is used in Analysis, investigation, informal reports. Facts and recommendations are the main recommendations are the part of the informal report. Writing style conclusion and structure of the report.

Please note- With regard to the 'solicited or an unsolicited proposal' question, please post it in a different thread in Chegg portal.