Recommendation in report writing

Chapter 13

Recommendation Reports

Goals

· Determine how a recommendation report is used and adjust the structure to accommodate the reader

· Devise criteria for evaluation after determining the problem and possible solutions

· Organize a recommendation report using the appropriate format

· Compose a recommendation report by evaluating criteria and drawing conclusions using a point-by-point analysis

Terms

· appendixes, p. 317

· criteria, p. 308

· persuasive writing, p. 309

· point-by-point organization, p. 316

· rank, p. 318

· receptive audience, p. 309

· recommendation report, p. 308

· solicited, p. 308

· standard, p. 318

· subcriteria, p. 312

· unreceptive audience, p. 309

· unsolicited, p. 308

WRITE TO LEARN

Think of the last time you had to choose between two things. Maybe you had to decide between two classes or two restaurants. In a one-page journal entry, describe the process you used to make your decision, including your comparisons and evaluations.

Focus on Recommendation Reports

Read the sample recommendation report on pages 303–306 and answer these questions:

· What two items are being compared?

· On what factors (also known as criteria) is the recommendation based?

· Why is this report presented in memo format?

What If?

· The writers were not concerned about the environment?

· The audience (decision maker) was opposed to the idea of purchasing a car for courier service?

Sample Recommendation Report

Writing@Work

Courtesy of Anne Nickel

Anne Nickel is a brand engagement consultant in London, England, for a global brand-building company called The Brand Union. Her job requires a combination of marketing and management skills. She advises clients about what they need to change inside their organization to fit and promote their brand.

In her role, Anne writes recommendation reports to help clients learn how to strategically adjust their marketing campaigns, business practices, communication methods, and reward policies. According to Anne, these reports combine information gathered through other kinds of writing. “In order to write a recommendation report, one also has to write interview questions, interview notes, an implementation plan, and briefs for the design team that tell them what to produce for the client. So it requires a diverse writing skill set.”

She believes that persuasive documents like these need to do many things at once in order to have the desired effect on their audience. “Recommendation reports require both rational and emotional persuasion. Case studies and statistics can be used as evidence for rational persuasion. Visuals, like graphics and video, help emotional persuasion by bringing life to ideas beyond the words used to enunciate them.”