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How to Write Effective Reports

Overview

This workshop teaches you how to plan, write, and revise effective reports. What makes an effective report?—one that decision makers can use to choose options, set policies, allocate funds, solve problems, capitalize on opportunities, and implement plans. But when reports are poorly structured, biased, difficult to read, or misleading, decision making can suffer—with potentially harmful consequences for organizations and careers. This workshop explains how to write and publish reports that improve decision making and generate results.

You’ll learn to apply the steps in the report-writing process and to convey the right information in the right way for your readers. You will also learn to avoid common report-writing problems that can cloud and weaken your messages.

Topics

• Following the five steps to producing effective reports
• Knowing your readers and meeting their information needs
• Planning and outlining your reports
• Choosing from one of nine report structures
• Helping readers find information and navigate your reports
• Selecting the appropriate amount of detail—how much is too much?
• Anticipating responses
• Writing the various parts of reports: summaries, introductions, bodies, conclusions, and recommendations
• Getting to the main point quickly
• Interpreting your data
• Persuading your readers
• Illustrating your report
• Designing page layouts
• Reviewing and editing reports

Audience

• Anyone who must write summaries of written reports

Duration

Cost

• $1095 (plus tax)

Featured Instructor

Moira White is a versatile communicator with decades of experience in plain language editing, writing, and teaching.

Moira holds a master’s degree in social policy. She has managed onsite production of reports in Canada and Europe and has travelled across Canada with public consultations writing, editing, and producing reports. Her specialties include synthesizing the work of multiple authors, writing to tight deadlines, and writing executive summaries.

She is an honorary life member and past president of Editors Canada and is a member of PLAIN (Plain Language Association InterNational).

In her spare time, Moira indulges her fascination with fiber and colour by spinning, knitting, and weaving.

The class was great! I really enjoyed it and I take away new ideas on how to write effective reports.   

Sessions