It must be a ‘Formal Report’ for my Technical Communication class, the following information has all specifications:
You are to write a report on the job opportunities in your vocational field. Your report is to be both informative and analytical. A formal report is a discussion of an issue, question, problem, or phenomenon you seek to investigate.
The audience will consist of people who will use your information for a specific purpose. It may be high school students who are trying to decide on a career, a visiting professor from a different country, or people who are changing careers. You must, however, make clear in your report exactly who the primary audience is and why the information will be useful.
The report will cover such aspects of the chosen career field as:
• Educational requirements
• Special skills requirements
• Employment prospects
• Advancement opportunities
• Trends
• Salary ranges
• Specific duties/responsibilities
• Gender considerations
You will need to include at least two graphics in your report. You must use a minimum of six sources, one of which must be a personal interview.
Report Format
Be sure to follow the formatting/content guidelines discussed in class. The Formal Report Checklist, attached to this assignment, should aid your formatting decisions. Please include each of the following in your Final Report:
1. Cover (report must be bound using either comb or spiral binding.)
2. Letter of transmittal
3. Title page
4. Abstract
5. Table of contents
6. List of tables and figures
7. Body of report, including no less than three levels of heading and at least two appropriate graphics
8. Works Cited page (MLA or APA)
9. Research notes–primary and secondary (photocopies, computer printouts, correspondence
notes from interviews. Papers without these will not be graded and will receive a “0.)
10. Parenthetical documentation—you must follow MLA or APA format.
11. Completed formatting checklist (attached). Papers without a complete formatting checklist will have one full graded deducted.
You may also include (although these are not required):
12. Glossary of terms
13. Index
Report Length:
The body of the report (including visuals) must be a minimum of eight typed, double-spaced pages. This total does not include supplemental front and back material. Papers that do not meet the minimum length requirement will receive an “F”. Use an appropriate font for the report. The body type should be at least 12 point, but headings and captions may vary.
Visuals: Each report must have at least two visuals, properly formatted with descriptive titles, appropriate table/figure designations, accurate labels, and action captions. If you use visuals created by someone else, you must give credit properly.
Research: Each report must have a minimum of six independent sources. You should use both primary and secondary sources. Try to be as broad as possible, using a balance of books, journals, interviews, and Internet. Dependence on one type of source will result in a lower grade. If you have difficulty locating sources, consult me for guidance.
Works Cited: You must use the MLA or APA documentation system accurately and carefully. Works Cited pages that are incomplete, inaccurate, or incorrectly organized will have one full grade deducted. Reports submitted without a Works Cited page will receive an “F”. Incorrect in-text citations will have two grades deducted.
