Modern business report writing / Salvatore J. Iacone

Includes index.

1. The nature of reports -- 2. Planning the report -- 3. Gathering the information -- 4. Evaluating the information -- 5. Organizing and outlining the information -- 6. Report formats and elements -- 7. Writing the report: the first draft -- 8. Using illustrations in the report -- 9. The final draft: revising the report -- 10. Writing an abstract of the report -- 11. Oral reports -- 12. English usage handbook (including exercises).

Modern Business Report Writing is designed as a practical guide to preparing well-written business reports in the 1980s. My goal was to devise a format that not only combined theory and practice but offered actual step-by-step procedures for writing a report. As a result, the text proceeds from a discussion of the nature of reports to techniques for gathering, evaluating, and organizing information, writing the rough draft, including illustrations, revising the report, constructing an abstract, and if needed, transforming a written report into an oral one. In an effort to reflect truly modern considerations when writing a business report, discussions of computerized information retrieval systems, word processors, computer graphics, and teletext have been included. Because writing mirrors thinking, special attention has been given to overcoming writer's block and getting started, critical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques. Throughout the text, there are samples of actual business reports and questionnaires, and realistic report writing assignments. My goal was to create a text that would leave the reader an experienced and confident report writer by the last chapter. My hope is that both instructors and students will find that the techniques for writing effective business reports have been presented in an informative and enjoyable manner