Deck 17: Writing Proposals and Analytical Reports

Question 1

Which of the following elements of a formal report can appear after the List of Illustrations?

A)Cover
B)Letter of Transmittal
C)Executive Summary
D)Table of Contents

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following elements of a formal report appears before the Table of Contents?

A)Introduction
B)Letter of Transmittal
C)List of Figures
D)Works Cited

Answer 2

B

Question 3

When you describe the scope in the introduction to a report,you are identifying the:

A)material consulted in researching the report.
B)region or the organization covered by the report.
C)topics the report covers.
D)organizational problem the report addresses.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The title of a report should never state the recommendation for solving a problem.

Question 5

Organizations report to investors and donors in long,formal documents.

Question 6

When writing a report,use a single numbering system for both tables and figures.

Question 7

If a report is not supposed to offer recommendations,_.

A)"bury" the recommendation in the middle of a paragraph in the introduction
B)don't mention the recommendation until the report's conclusion
C)omit the recommendations in the title
D)use a passive verb to conceal the recommendation

Question 8

Which component of a report can be placed in one of two different places?

A)List of References
B)The Executive Summary
C)List of Illustrations
D)Letter of Transmittal

Question 9

A full formal report may contain a list of illustrations.

Question 10

The Conclusions section should contain at least one new piece of information in order to strengthen your argument.

Question 11

Formal reports differ from informal letter and memo reports in length,layout,and their additional components.

Question 12

Survey data and questionnaires should be included in appendices at the end of a report.

Question 13

The title of a report need not be informative.

Question 14

An Executive Summary provides a topical overview of a report,without any recommendations.

Question 15

The body of a report presents information,but does not interpret or analyze it.

Question 16

The history section of a report should never go back more than six months.

Question 17

Start composing a report with the:

A)recommendations and conclusions,because that is the goal you are trying to reach.
B)Executive Summary,because it serves as an outline for the whole report.
C)introduction,because starting at the beginning is the most logical process.
D)body,because everything else in the report depends on the evidence presented in the findings section.

Question 18

The Executive Summary should be written before you write any other part of your report.

Question 19

It is acceptable to make the headings in the Table of Contents shorter than they appear in the body of the report.

Question 20

The first paragraph of an Executive Summary should identify the major supporting points for one's argument and should include all the information decision makers will need.

Question 21

Negatives in the Findings section should be de-emphasized by:

A)using talking heads.
B)discussing them after you discuss objections.
C)offering alternatives.
D)putting them in the last paragraph of a report's ending.

Question 22

The Executive Summary of a report functions as a(n):

A)stand-alone document,because it covers the whole report.
B)paraphrase of the report's purpose and recommendations.
C)introduction,because it describes the situation and problem.
D)bottom line,because it summarizes only the recommendations.

Question 23

All of the information you put in an Executive Summary comes from:

A)the report itself.
B)your draft of the recommendations you're trying to reach.
C)the conclusions and recommendations in the Letter or Memo of Transmittal.
D)your initial outline of the report.

Question 24

The conclusions and recommendations you present should:

A)present a unique perspective on the topic so the reader sees it in a new way.
B)be presented creatively.
C)reflect the conclusions and recommendations preferred by the person who requested the report.
D)not come as a surprise to the reader.

Question 25

Which of the following is true about limitations in a report?

A)They identify the random sample used in a survey.
B)They point out that the recommendations are valid only under certain conditions.
C)They tell the audience what could be researched.
D)They make the recommendations more valid.

Question 26

If a report is shorter than 25 pages,the table of contents should list:

A)only the two or three highest levels of headings.
B)only the top level of headings.
C)all headings in the report.
D)the main headings and only the first level of subheadings.

Question 27

Emphasize reader benefits:

A)by offering alternatives.
B)through placement of text and headings.
C)through the appendix.
D)by leaving out any findings that would validate the reader's objections.

Question 28

Which of the following sections of a formal report should you spend the most time on?

A)Recommendations
B)Executive Summary
C)Conclusions
D)Findings

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a component of a letter of transmittal?

A)A call to action
B)Information on additional research,if any
C)A summary of conclusions and recommendations
D)The purpose of the report

Question 30

Which of the following is true about long reports?

A)They use the third person.
B)They focus more on the writer than on the data.
C)They use contractions.
D)They are usually informal.

Question 31

If you think your audience will find your recommendations difficult to accept,you should:

A)bury your recommendations in the conclusion section.
B)list your recommendations without comment.
C)use subjunctive verbs in your recommendations.
D)give a brief rationale for each recommendation.

Question 32

Which of the following is true about conclusions?

A)They sum up the key ideas proven by facts that were presented in the body of the report.
B)They are given at the end only if the audience needs them.
C)They are needed to sum up the key ideas in the report only when the audience has no expertise in the topic.
D)They are the same as recommendations.

Question 33

When you write the Executive Summary for a report,include:

A)the research methods in the first paragraph.
B)the objective(s)of the person who requested the report.
C)a brief description of your research methods.
D)an intriguing "hook" that makes the reader want to read the full report.

Question 34

Limitations in research usually arise because:

A)time or money constraints have not permitted full research.
B)company policy has prevented full research.
C)the researcher has been lazy.
D)the conclusions have not been provable.

Question 35

If a report is not supposed to offer recommendations,you:

A)should omit the recommendations in the title of the report.
B)may use a passive verb to conceal the recommendation.
C)should "bury" the recommendation in the last of a paragraph of the report's ending.
D)may still mention the recommendation in the report's title page.

Question 36

The body of the Executive Summary of a report,_.

A)outlines the assumptions and methods you used for your research
B)includes all the information that decision makers will need
C)explains who requested the report and why
D)summarizes only the recommendations and direct readers to the body of the report for the supporting evidence

Question 37

Which of the following is true about reports?

A)The Conclusions should not be presented in single sentences.
B)One should use "should" throughout the Conclusion and Recommendation section because the writer and reader share the assumption that the points have been proven.
C)One's report should contain a few surprises in the concluding section.
D)Formal reports are very lengthy,so they should not use a great deal of repetition for reinforcement.

Question 38

Which of the following parts of a formal report would be the BEST place to include proof for the recommendations?

A)Purpose
B)Executive Summary
C)Findings
D)Conclusion

Question 39

Which of the following is true about recommendations?

A)They should introduce at least one new piece of information.
B)They may use repetition for reinforcement.
C)They should surprise the intended audience.
D)They partially solve the problem stated in the body of the report.

Question 40

You can write the title page and the letter or memo of transmittal as soon as you know:

A)what your talking headings should be.
B)what your audience's address is.
C)how long the report will be.
D)what your recommendation will be.

Question 41

Explain how to organize time when composing the sections of a full formal report.

Question 42

What do appendices provide? Give examples of materials that might be included in an appendix.

Question 43

How can one create a letter or memo of transmittal?

Question 44

How do reports differ from each other in format and style?

Question 45

What is the importance of the Background or History section of a report?