Programs & Courses

How to Write Effective Reports

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
  • Audience
  • Instructor

  • 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

  • Anyone who needs to write clear and objective reports for decision makers
  • Business, government, or technical professionals who want to effectively communicate the results of studies, evaluations, investigations, or analyses

Graham Young, MBA, is an independent writer, editor, and consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in business and government communications. He has delivered some 600 business writing and presentation skills workshops since 2000 and taught Business English at the University of Ottawa. His lively, informative professional-development workshops instruct participants how to communicate effectively on the job. In addition to his teaching experience, Graham also has a Teachers and Trainers of Adults certificate.

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

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The Art of Outlining

Just as the stability of any building depends upon its structure, so too does the stability of your documents depend on their structures. But few business writers take advantage of the most useful structural device: an outline.

Writing Effective Executive Summaries

A good executive summary must not only distil the key information in a long and often technical report, it must also engage the reader’s interest. It is often what “sells” the document or ideas contained in it to your reader, even when your report is not a commercial business plan.

Select a session
How to Write Effective Reports
November 15, 16, 2018
9:00 - 16:00
$520.00
Full
How to Write Effective Reports
January 17, 18, 2019
9:00 - 16:00
$520.00
Full
How to Write Effective Reports
March 7, 8, 2019
9:00 - 16:00
$520.00
How to Write Effective Reports
May 23, 24, 2019
9:00 - 16:00
$520.00

Group Training

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