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    INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION

    1. Completed assignments must be typed and formatted neatly and soft copies should be

    uploaded on or before the dates mentioned above. (September 15,2012)

    2. Ensure that you answer all questions according to the marks allocated.

    3. Content that has been directly copied from the Internet or the Book will NOT be

    accepted.

    MBA- Semester 1

    Assignment Set 2 - Marks 60 (6X10=60)

    MB0039- Business Communication - 4 credits

    Subject Code - MB0039

    *** Please fill in all the details in complete and only in CAPITAL letters

    Name

    Registration Number

    ANSHUL MITTAL

    1205018626

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    4. Please attempt all the assignments individually and independently. Assignments that

    have been copied and shared among students will be automatically rejected and

    disqualified.

    5. Please attach correct assignments to correct subjects. Incase of any errors the student

    will be marked absent for the specific subject

    6. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.

    7. Follow assignment format and complete all the details for each assignment individually.

    8. Roll no/Registration Number found mentioned anywhere else except the place

    provided, the assignments will be rejected.

    9. Incase students extra details like contact number, Name found listed anywhere on this

    document, the assignments will be rejected.

    Note: Each question carries 10 Marks. Answer all the questions.

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    Question 1- Explain the purpose of keeping minutes of a meeting. What goes into thecontents of minutes of a meeting?Ans 1

    Taking Minutes forms an essential part of most meetings. Their purpose is firstly to record

    Action Points, ie, what actions have been decided upon, who is responsible and what the

    milestones and deadlines are. Secondly they record summaries of the discussions held at the

    meeting. Taking minutes is a skilled job because the minute taker has to follow what can be

    confusing and inarticulate debates and summaries accurately what was said. After the meeting

    the minutes should be checked with the chairperson to confirm accuracy and then circulated to

    all attendees and anyone else affected by any decisions taken at the meeting.

    At some point your boss may ask you to take minutes at a meeting. This task isn't reserved for

    secretaries only. Any person who attends a meeting may be asked to do this. Since the minutes

    will serve as an official record of what took place during the meeting, you must be very accurate.

    Here are some pointers to help you master this skill.

    Before the Meeting

    1. Choose your tool: Decide how you will take notes, i.e. pen and paper, laptop computer,

    or tape recorder.2. Make sure your tool of choice is in working order and have a backup just in case.

    3. Use the meeting agenda to formulate anoutline.

    During the Meeting

    1. Pass around an attendance sheet.

    2. Get a list of committee members and make sure you know who is who.

    3. Note the time themeeting begins.

    4. Don't try to write down every single comment -- just the main ideas.

    5. Write down motions, who made them, and the results of votes, if any; no need to write

    down who seconded a motion.

    6. Make note of any motions to be voted on at future meetings.

    7. Take signature of all the attendee on the conclusion of a meeting.

    After the Meeting

    1. Type up the minutes as soon as possible after the meeting, while everything is still fresh

    in your mind.

    2. Include the name of organization, name of committee, type of meeting (daily, weekly,

    monthly, annual, or special), and purpose of meeting.

    3. Include the time the meeting began andended.

    4. Proofread the minutes before submitting them.

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    Question 2 Prepare a brief notice to be put up on official notice boards, informing

    employees of your organization about a newly introduced, official bus service.Ans

    Notice boards are an ideal platform to allow you to put up information if you want it to be seen by

    everyone around you. Notice boards are often used in a variety of setting including schools,

    offices, government buildings, and in private homes. Notice boards serve the purpose of

    informing, warning and directing people to the right place for the right purpose. Notice boards

    are made up of several materials. Cheap noticeboards do not last as long as higher quality

    more expensive boards, but then can however provide the ideal solution for those on a budget

    or those looking for just light or short to medium term use

    Please find the notice below

    NOTICE Date: 14/09/2012REF: ADM/AM/20

    Sub: Information on newly introduced bus services.

    This is to inform all the employees of SMC India that management has

    decided to introduce bus service for pick and drop to entire employee of

    SMC India. This bus service will be start operating from next week. All are

    requested to send their address , land mark details with photograph to us

    through your concerning head of department.

    The list of Stoppages with route number is given below kindly select and

    sends us before 29 Sep 2012. List with employee name, timing and

    stoppages of designated route number will be displayed on 30 Sep 2012.

    Route 1. Noida, Phase II , Bhangel, Atta market , Sec 34 , Plant.

    Route 2. Faridabad Sec 55, Sec 44, Sec 42, NHPC square, Badarpur, Plant

    Route 3. Dilshad Garden, Mayur vihar, Vinod nagar, Noida Cut, Plant.

    All are encourage making full use of this facility and make this

    arrangement successful

    Manager - Admin

    http://www.adboards.com/noticeboards-sundealahttp://www.adboards.com/noticeboards-sundealahttp://www.adboards.com/noticeboards-sundealahttp://www.adboards.com/noticeboards-sundealahttp://www.adboards.com/noticeboards-sundeala
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    Question 3 Write short notes on (a) Upward communication (b) Downwardcommunication (c) Horizontal communicationAns 3

    Upward Communication

    This may be defined as information that flows from subordinates to superiors. Some of the

    reasons for upward communication include discussing work related problems, giving

    suggestions for improvement and sharing feelings about the job and co-workers.

    This type of communication has both benefits and disadvantages. One of the biggest benefits is

    problem-solving. Once a subordinate has brought a problem to his superiors notice, chances

    are that the problem will not recur, since the subordinate learns from his superior how to tackle it

    the next time. Thus, his ability to solve new problems and therefore his managerial ability,

    improves. Another benefit that could arise from upward communication is that valuable ideas

    and suggestions may sometimes come from lower level employees. Therefore organizations

    should encourage this kind of communication. A third benefit is that employees learn to accept

    the decisions of management and thereby work as a team. The biggest problem associated with

    this type of communication is that it may lead to handing down of decisions by superiors. When

    subordinates frequently seek the superiors guidance, the latter may adopt an authoritarian

    approach and merely give instructions, disregarding the subordinates opinion completely.

    Upward Communication is a mean for staff to:

    1. Exchange information

    2. Offer ideas

    3. Express enthusiasm

    4. Achieve job satisfaction

    5. Provide feedback

    Downward Communication

    This may be defined as information that flows from superiors to subordinates. The most

    common reasons for downward communication are for giving job instructions, explaining

    company rules, policies and procedures and giving feedback regarding job performance. A

    number of studies have indicated that regular downward communication in the form of feedback

    given to employees is the most important factor affecting job satisfaction. Therefore

    organizations today are trying to encourage more of this type of communication. There are both

    benefits and disadvantages associated with this type of communication. Downward

    communication that provides regular feedback will be beneficial if the feedback or review of

    performance is constructive. A constructive review is one where a manager counsels an

    employee, or advises him on how to improve his performance. On the other hand, a destructive

    review can destroy employee morale and confidence. Regular downward communication also

    creates a climate of transparency or openness, where information is passed on through official

    channels, rather than through rumors. Thirdly, downward communication boosts employee

    morale, since it indicates that management is involved in their progress. The problems with this

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    type of communication are the danger of doing destructive reviews, as mentioned, and that of

    message overload. This means that superiors many sometimes burden their subordinates with

    too many instructions, leading to confusion.

    This type of communication is needed in an organization to:

    1. Transmit vital information

    2. Give instructions

    3. Encourage 2-way discussion

    4. Announce decisions

    5. Seek cooperation

    6. Provide motivation

    7. Boost morale

    8. Increase efficiency

    9. Obtain feedback

    Horizontal Communication

    This type of communication is also known as lateral communication. It may be defined as

    communication that takes place between co-workers in the same department, or in different

    departments, with different areas of responsibility. For example, Sales Managers and

    Advertising Managers in the Marketing department, or Marketing Managers and Finance

    Managers. The reasons for this type of communication are for coordination of tasks, sharing of

    information regarding goals of the organization, resolving interpersonal or work related problems

    and building rapport. The biggest potential benefit of horizontal communication is the sense of

    teamwork that is created. Regular communication of this type ensures that all co-workers work

    together towards achieving a common goal in the overall interest of the organization. The

    biggest potential problem is that conflicts such as ego clashes are bound to arise, when co-

    workers at the same level communicate on a regular basis.

    Communication among employees at the same level is crucial for the accomplishment of work.

    Horizontal Communication is essential for:

    1. Solving problems

    2. Accomplishing tasks

    3. Improving teamwork

    4. Building goodwill

    5. Boosting efficiency

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    Question 4 - Go through business magazines and daily newspapers and select asituation when a company was facing a crisis (e.g., Coke and Pepsi pesticidecontroversy). How did the company communicate with its shareholders and otherstakeholders to overcome the crisis? Was the communication effective?

    Ans 4

    After going through paper and articles I have selected Maruti Manesar plant crises situation.

    On July 18, production at the factory came to a sudden halt after violent conflict between

    management and workers resulted in the death of its human resources general manager,

    injuries to 96 employees, and damage to the plant. Worried about the safety of its staff, Maruti

    has shut down the factory indefinitely. The lockout is costing it over Rs 50 crore daily, say

    analysts and due to this Maruti Suzuki shares in market fall steeply.

    Maruti Suzuki Communication with share holder and stake holder in crises

    Through print Media , TV Media, Internet, website etc Maruti release statement whose main

    points are

    1. They says by any account, this is not an industrial relations problem in the nature of

    management-worker differences over issues of wages or working conditions. Rather, it is

    an orchestrated act of mob violence at a time when operations had been normal over the

    past many months.

    2. Such acts of violence are pre planned, unprovoked and gruesome - have implicationsbeyond one company or region. They are negative trigger for existing companies and

    regions across the country, as also for prospective investors and job seekers

    3. The managements most important concern at this time is the safety and security of its

    supervisory and management personnel. The management firmly believes that unless

    the causes are identified and appropriate corrective action is in place it would be unsafe

    for supervisors and managers to resume work.

    4. The Company wants to ensure that the injured continue to receive quality medical care

    and recover from the mental trauma caused by the violence. About 30 managers and

    executives are currently admitted in hospitals in Gurgaon. Even among those discharged

    from hospital, many are going through trauma owing to the terror and abuseaccompanying the attacks. The families of these victims remain disturbed

    5. Maruti will extending full cooperation to the police and government authorities in

    identifying the guilty and taking suitable action.

    6. Both our plants in the Manesar campus were, of course, closed from 18 July. We will

    shortly announce our decision on the next steps with regard to resuming operations in

    these facilities. We request our customers and partners to bear with us in this

    extraordinary situation.

    I feel that by these communication was effective and Maruti again gain the confidence of its

    shareholders and stakeholders.

    http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/swift-dzire-drives-maruti-suzuki-sales-up-in-july/1/186845.htmlhttp://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/swift-dzire-drives-maruti-suzuki-sales-up-in-july/1/186845.html
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    Many voices emerge some loudly when a crisis unfolds. It is essential for a company to

    know which stakeholder groups are most important, so that they can weigh carefully the impact

    of their decisions on each group. When trouble surfaces, many interest groups will have a stake:

    1. Shareholders/investors.

    2. Customers.

    3. Employees.

    4. Vendors/suppliers.

    5. Government officials.

    6. Media.

    7. NGOs and special interest groups.

    8. Members of the public-at-large.

    A company in crisis will want to live up to its stakeholders expectations and honor their

    interests. These groups have tied their own future to the company; they have a stake and the

    way the crisis plays out has implications for them. Many also have their own views about the

    standards that should be central to a companys response. Recognizing that stakeholders may

    have competing interests and conflicting views about the values that should guide company

    decisions, boards and senior executives can set the stage for crisis management by considering

    stakeholder expectations. Answering these broad questions can guide response to the

    stakeholder views that will come up

    Ignoring Values in a Crisis Can Result in:

    1. Denial..Downplaying the situation or refuting involvement

    2. Internal Chaos..No internal coordination3. Transference..Its someone elses problem4. Deception..Cover up the wrongdoing5. Boxes..Organizational parts develop hardened opinions of right and wrong6. Fishing..Calling in anyone and everyone from outside7. Silos..Sectors operating in isolation. Self-preservation behavior can occur8. Paralysis..Inability or Refusal to act

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    Question 5 - Discuss the different types of business reportsAns 5.

    Different types of reports used in business:

    After thorough study, collection of all relevant facts and information and proper scrutiny and

    analysis of a problem relating to past or present, submission of the conclusions supported by

    statements and other relevant data etc. is called a report, which offers suggestions for solution

    of the problem studied. The following are the two bases of classifying the reports-

    1. According to function, and

    2. According to formality.

    3. According to functions the reports may be divided into three parts:

    a) Informational reports.

    b) Analytical reports

    c) Research reports.

    4. According to formality the reports may be divided into two parts:

    a) Statutory reports

    b) Non statutory or voluntary reports.

    The above two may further be divided into two parts again, i.e. (i) routine reports and (ii) special

    reports.

    Informational reports:

    These reports present facts about certain given activity in detail without any note or suggestions.

    Whatever is gathered is reported without giving any thing by way of either explanation or any

    suggestion. A vice-chancellor asking about the number of candidates appearing at a particular

    examination naturally seeks only information of the fact (candidates taking up the examination)

    of course without any comment. Generally such reports are of routine nature. Sometimes they

    may fall under statutory routine category. A company registrar asking for allotment return within

    the stipulate period is nothing but informational routine, falling under statutory but routine report.

    Analytical reports

    These reports contain facts along with analytical explanations offered by the reporter himself or

    may be asked for by the one who is seeking the report. Such reports contain the narration of

    facts, collected data and information, classified and tabulated data and also explanatory note

    followed by the conclusions arrived at or interpretations. A company chairman may ask for a

    report on falling trends in sale in a particular area. He will in this case be naturally interested in

    knowing all the details including that of opinion of any of the investigator.

    Research reports

    These reports are based on some research work conducted by either an individual or a group of

    individuals on a given problem. Indian oil company might have asked its research division to find

    some substitute for petrol, and if such a study is conducted then a report shall be submitted by

    the research division detailing its findings and then offering their own suggestions, including the

    conclusions at which the division has arrived at as to whether such a substitute is these and if it

    is there can the same be put to use with advantage and effectively. All details shall naturally be

    asked and has to be given. In fact such a report is the result of are search.

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    Statutory reports

    These reports are to be presented according to the requirements of a particular law or a rule or

    a custom now has become a rule. The auditor reports to company registrar has to be submitted

    as per the requirements of country legal requirement. A return on compensation paid to factory

    workers during a period by a factory has to be submitted to competent authorities periodically.

    These reports are generally prepared in the prescribed form as the rules have prescribed.

    Non statutory reports

    These reports are not in the nature of legal requirements or rules wants, therefore, the reports

    are to be prepared and submitted. These reports are required to be prepared and submitted: (i)

    for the administrative and other conveniences,(ii) for taking decision in a matter (iii) for policy

    formulations, (iv) for projecting the future or (v) anything alike so that efficient and smooth

    functioning maybe assured and proper and necessary decision may be taken with a view to see

    that everything goes well and the objectives of the organization are achieved with assured

    success.

    Routine reports

    These reports are required to be prepared and submitted periodically on matters required by the

    organization so as to help the management of the organization to take decisions in the matters

    relating to day to day affairs. The main objectives of routine reports are to let the management

    know as to what is happening in the organization, what is its progress where the deviation is,

    what measures have been taken in solving the problems and what to do so that the organization

    may run smoothly and efficiently. Routine reports are generally brief. They only give the facts.

    No comments or explanations are usually offered in such reports. Generally forms are

    prescribed for preparation and submission of such reports.

    Special reports

    Such a type of report is specially required to be prepared and submitted on matters of special

    nature. Due to an accident a death of the foreman has occurred in a factory. The factory

    manager may ask for a detail report from the head foreman. Such a report is classified as

    special reports. These reports contain not only facts and details but they may contain

    suggestion, comments and explanations as well

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    Question 6 - List the different steps involved in report preparationAns 6

    Report writing is an essential skill for professionals in almost every field.

    Steps in report preparation are

    1. Stages in report writing

    2. Terms of reference

    3. Planning your report

    4. Collecting information

    5. Organizing information

    6. Structuring your report

    7. Style of writing

    8. Layout

    9. Presentation

    10. Redrafting and checking

    11. Checklist

    Writing reportsA report is a statement of the results of an investigation or of any matter on which definiteinformation is required.

    1. The following stages areinvolved in writing a report:

    2. Clarifying your terms of reference

    3. Planning your work

    4. Collecting your information

    5. Organizing and structuring your information6. Writing the first draft

    7. Checking and re-drafting.

    Different types of reports Stages in report writing

    Step 1 Reference

    The terms of reference of a report are a guiding statement used to define the scope of your

    investigation. You must be clear from the start what you are being asked to do. You will probably

    have been given an assignment from your tutor but you may need to discuss this further to find

    out the precise subject and purpose of the report. Why have you been asked to write it?Knowing your purpose will help you to communicate your information more clearly and will help

    you to be more selective when collecting your information.

    Step 2 Planning

    Careful planning will help you to write a clear, concise and effective report, giving adequate time

    to each of the developmental stages prior to submission.

    1. Consider the report as a whole

    2. Break down the task of writing

    3. The report into various parts.4. How much time do you have to write the report?

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    5. How can this be divided up into the various planning stages?

    6. Set yourself deadlines for the various stages.

    Draw up an outline structure for your report and set the work within a sensible time scale for

    completion by the given deadline. Some of the most time-consuming parts of the process are

    collecting and selecting your information, and checking and revising your report.

    Step 3 Collecting Information

    There are a number of questions you need to ask yourself at this stage:-

    1. What is the information you need?

    2. Where do you find it?

    3. How much do you need?

    4. How shall you collect it?

    5. In what order will you arrange it?

    You may have much of the information you need already such as results from a laboratory

    experiment or descriptions of your methods of data collection. However, there may be other

    material which is needed such as background information on other research studies, or

    literature surveys. You may need to carry out some interviews or make a visit to the university

    library to collect all the information you need.

    1. Make a list of what information you need.

    2. Make an action plan stating how you are going to gather this.

    The Information Technology Skills Guide contains much useful advice on the use of electronic

    information sources. This guide is available from the University's Flexible LearningInitiative.

    Step 4 Organizing Information:

    One helpful way of organizing your information into topics is to brainstorm your ideas into a

    spider diagram.

    1. Write the main theme in the centre of a piece of paper.

    2. Write down all the ideas and keywords related to your topic starting from the centre and

    branching out along lines of connecting ideas.

    Step 5

    1. Each idea can be circled or linked by lines as appropriate.

    2. When you have finished, highlight any related ideas and then sort topics.

    3. Some ideas will form main headings, and others will be sub-sections under these

    headings.

    4. You should then be able to see a pattern emerging and be able to arrange your main

    headings in a logical order.

    Further advice concerning the organizing of material can be found in another section of this

    Study Guide, Taking notes.

    Step 6 Structuring your report:

    There are different types of report such as laboratory reports or report son an industrial

    placement. Always check with the person commissioning the report (your tutor, your placement

    Supervisor ) to find out precisely what your report should include and how it should be

    presented. The following common elements can be found in many different reports:

    1. Title page

    2. Acknowledgements

    3. Contents

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    4. Abstract or summary

    5. Introduction

    6. Methodology

    7. Results or findings

    8. Discussion

    9. Conclusion and recommendations

    10. References

    11. Appendices

    We shall now look at each of these in turn.

    1. Title page: This should include the title of the report (which should give a precise

    indication of the subject matter), the authors name, module, course and the date.

    2. Acknowledgements: You should acknowledge any help you have received in collecting

    the information for the report. This may be from librarians, technicians or computer

    centre staff, for example.

    3. Contents: You should list all the main sections of the report in sequence with the page

    numbers they begin on. If there are charts, diagrams or tables included in your report,

    these should be listed separately under a title such as List of Illustrations together with

    the page numbers on which they appear.

    4. Abstract or summary: This should be a short paragraph summarizing the main contents

    of the report. It should include a short statement of the main task, the methods used,

    conclusions reached and any recommendations to be made. The abstract or summary

    should be concise, informative and independent of the report.

    Step 7 Introduction:

    This should give the context and scope of the report and should include your terms of reference.

    State your objectives clearly, define the limits of the report, outline the method of enquiry, give a

    brief general background to the subject of the report and indicate the proposed development.

    Methodology:

    In this section you should state how you carried out your enquiry. What form did your enquiry

    take? Did you carry out interviews or questionnaires, how did you collect your data? What

    measurements did you make? How did you choose the subjects for your interviews? Present

    this information logically and concisely.

    Results or findings:

    Present your findings in as simple a way as possible. The more complicated the information

    looks, the more difficult it will be to interpret. There are a number of ways in which results can be

    presented.

    Here are a few:

    a) Tables

    b) Graphs

    c) Pie charts

    d) Bar charts

    e) DiagramsStep 8 Discussion:

    This is the section where you can analyze and interpret your results drawing from theinformation which you have collected, explaining its significance. Identify important issues and

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    suggest explanations for your findings. Outline any problems encountered and try and present a

    balanced view.

    Conclusions and recommendations:

    This is the section of the report which draws together the main issues. It should be expressed

    clearly and should not present any new information. You may wish to list your recommendations

    in separate section or include them with the conclusions.

    References:

    It is important that you give precise details of all the work by other authors which has been

    referred to within the report. Details should include:

    1. Authors name and initials.

    2. Date of publication.

    3. Title of the book, paper or journal.

    4. Publisher

    5. Place of publication

    6. Page numbers

    Details of the journal volume in which the article has appeared. References should be listed in

    alphabetical order of the authors' names. Make sure that your references are accurate and

    comprehensive.

    Appendices:

    An appendix contains additional information related to the report but which is not essential to the

    main findings. This can be consulted if the reader wishes but the report should not depend on

    this. You could include details of interview questions, statistical data, a glossary of terms, or

    other information which may be useful for the reader.

    Step 9 Style of writing:

    There are several points that you will need to consider when you are writing your report:

    active or passive?

    Your tutor will be able to advise whether the report should be written in the active or passive

    voice.

    The active voice reads as follows:

    I recommend ...

    The passive voice reads

    It is recommended that ...

    The active voice allows you to write short, punchy sentences. The passive appears more formaland considered. Be aware of these differences and avoid mixing the two voices.

    Simplicity:

    Most written reports should avoid using overly complicated language. If a report is to persuade,

    brief or justify, it's message must be clear. Furthermore ,the factual presentation of data should

    not be swamped with sophisticated, lengthy sentences. Avoid using unnecessary jargon. This

    confuses even the most informed reader.

    Ensure that your abbreviations are standardized. All too often authors invent their own jargon to

    ease the pressure on writing things in full. Be cautious of confusing your reader.

    Use of language:

    Most reports should avoid the use of subjective language. For example, to report on a changein colouration from a "stunning green to a beautiful blue" is to project your own values onto a

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    measurable outcome. What does the term "beautiful" mean to you? What will it mean to your

    reader? Such subjective or personal language commonly has no place in the more objective

    field of report writing.

    Step 10 Layout:

    Most reports have a progressive numbering system. The most common system is the decimal

    notation system. The main sections are given single arabic numbers -1, 2, 3 and so on. Sub-

    sections are given a decimal number - 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and so on. Sub-sections can be further

    divided into - 1.11, 1.12, 1.13 and so on.

    Step 11 Presentation:

    The following suggestions will help you to produce an easily read report:

    1. Leave wide margins for binding and feedback comments from your tutor.

    2. Paragraphs should be short andconcise.

    3. Headings should be clear - highlighted in bold or underlined.

    4. All diagrams and illustrations should be labelled and numbered.

    5. All standard units, measurements and technical terminology should be listed in a

    glossary of terms at the back ofyour report.

    Step 12 Redrafting and Checking:

    Once you have written the first draft of your report you will need to check it through. It is

    probably sensible to leave it on your desk for a day or so if you have the time. This will make a

    clear break from the intensive writing period, allowing you to view your work more objectively.

    Assess your work in the following areas:

    1. Structure

    2. Content

    3. Style

    Look at the clarity and precision of your work. Use the report writing checklist at the end of thissection to check your report.

    Step 13 Checklist:

    1. Title page: Does this include the: Title? Authors name? Module/course details?

    2. Acknowledgements: Have you acknowledged all sources of help?

    3. Contents: Have you listed all the main sections in sequence? Have you included a list of

    illustrations?

    4. Abstract or summary: Does this state: The main task? The methods used? The

    Conclusions reached? The recommendations made?

    5. Introduction: Does this include: Your terms of reference? The limits of the report? An

    outline of the method? A brief background to the subject matter?

    6. Methodology: Does this include: The form your enquiry took? The way you collected

    your data?

    7. Reports and findings:Are your diagrams clear and simple? Are they clearly labelled?

    Do they relate closely to the text?

    8. Discussion: Have you identified key issues? Have you suggested explanations for your

    findings? Have you outlined any problems encountered? Have you presented a balanced

    view?

    9. Conclusions and recommendations: Have you drawn together all of your main ideas?

    Have you avoided any new information? Are any recommendations clear and concise?

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    10. References: Have you listed all references alphabetically? Have you included all the

    necessary information? Are your references accurate?

    11. Appendices: Have you only included supporting information? Does the reader need to

    read these sections?

    12. Writing style: Have you used clear and concise language? Are your sentences short

    and jargon free? Are your paragraphs tightly focused? Have you used the active or the

    passive voice?

    13. Layout: Have you clearly labeled each section? Is your labeling consistent throughout

    the report?

    14. Presentation: Have you left sufficient margin space for binding/feedback? Are your

    headings clear? Have you checked your spelling?