The document provides guidance on preparing formal reports and proposals. It outlines the essential elements that should be included such as a cover letter, title page, table of contents, executive summary, headings within the body, introduction, discussion of the issue, relevant information and options, conclusion and recommendation, references, and appendices. The document instructs the reader to include background information, findings from research, figures/tables, possible solutions, costs associated with solutions, and a justification for the recommended course of action. It emphasizes organizing the content in a logical flow and following formatting guidelines.

1. Preparing Formal
Reports and Proposals
p. 385-417 & p. 448-493

2. Proposal
 The proposal is persuasive in purpose
 You must convince your audience using evidence and
argumentative techniques
 Internal proposals are intended to persuade someone
within the company and external proposals are
intended to persuade someone outside the company
 Depending on your scenario, you are being asked to
make recommendations that will involve large sums of
money

3. Front Matter:
 Essential Elements for this assignment:
 Cover or transmittal letter (p. 388)
 Title Page (p. 389)
 Table of Contents (p. 394)
 Optional Elements:
 Abstract
 List of Figures (if used)
 List of tables (if used)
 Forward (unnecessary for this assignment)
 Preface (unnecessary for this assignment)
 List of abbreviations and symbols (if used)

4. Cover or Transmittal Letter/
Memo (p. 388)
 In the introduction paragraph:
 Identify report topic
 Explain why the report has been prepared
 In the body paragraph:
 Summarize the report’s contents
 Emphasize important features
 Mention any special limitations
 In the conclusion paragraph:
 Acknowledge help received
 Express hope for the project and goodwill
 Provide contact information

5. Title Page (p. 389-391)
 Full title of report
 Names of the writers/ team members
 The date
 The name of the organization for which the team works
 The name of the organization and/or the person to
whom the report is submitted
 Check formatting and numbering guidelines

6. Table of Contents (p. 394-
395)
 All headings
 Page numbers
 Does not include cover letter, title page, or table of
contents itself
 Headings should be identical to those in the text

7. Executive Summary (p. 398-
399)
 Identifies the purpose of the study/ proposal
 Provides major findings from research
 Provides background on issue
 Provides conclusions and recommendations
 If primary research is conducted, such as surveying
employees, the methodology used should be discussed here
 Best to write after the report is finished
 Approximately one page in length
 Follow organization and formatting guidelines

8. Body: Headings
 Titles and subtitles in the body of the report/ proposal
 Levels of headings should be observed and consistent
(p. 408-409)

9. Body: Introduction (p. 400-
403)
 Be sure to state the
 Subject
 Background on the subject
 Purpose
 Scope
 Plan for development of the subject
 Exclude specific details from the report
 Use bulleted lists and subheadings for easier reading
 Follow formatting guidelines

10. Body: Issue
 Detailed background of issue, including:
 History
 Definitions
 Description of problem

11. Body: Relevant Information
and Available Options
 This is where you will place:
 Findings from research
 Figures and tables
 Possible, logical solutions and discussions of
these, including what has been successful or
unsuccessful elsewhere and why
 Overview of costs (financial, labor, energy, time, etc.)
associated with each solution

12. Conclusion: Recommendation and
Justification
 This is where you suggest the best course of action to
solve the problem
 Justify this with evidence from your research and with
logic

13. Back Matter
 Reference page (APA style)
 Appendices
 Schedule
 Budget
 Follow formatting guidelines for APA style using the
online Documentation Guide (in web links)
 Follow formatting guidelines for appendices on p. 415
of WTW

14. Writing Proposals Checklist
 P. 493 of Writing That Works