Powerful & Practical: Writing the Impact Report

Powerful & Practical:Powerful & Practical:Writing the Impact ReportWriting the Impact Report

What is IMPACT?What is IMPACT?

Impact is…Impact is…

The reportable, quantifiable, and verifiable The reportable, quantifiable, and verifiable positive difference (or potential difference) positive difference (or potential difference) your program makes in the lives of peopleyour program makes in the lives of people

Impact is the impression your program makesImpact is the impression your program makes

What is an Impact Statement?What is an Impact Statement?

An Impact Statement is…An Impact Statement is…

A brief summary, in lay terms, of the A brief summary, in lay terms, of the economic, environmental and/or social economic, environmental and/or social impact of your efforts. It states your impact of your efforts. It states your accomplishments and their payoff to accomplishments and their payoff to societysociety

What is an Impact Statement?What is an Impact Statement?

In short, an impact statement answers the questions…In short, an impact statement answers the questions…

Who cares?Who cares?andand

So what?So what?andand

What have you done for me lately?What have you done for me lately?

Why Write an Impact Statement?Why Write an Impact Statement?

The purpose of an impact The purpose of an impact statement is to PERSUADE statement is to PERSUADE your reader that you have your reader that you have

done good workdone good work

PREVIEW PREVIEW of this Presentationof this Presentation

Principles for Powerful PersuasionPrinciples for Powerful Persuasion Principles for a Practical ProcessPrinciples for a Practical Process Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

Principles for Powerful Principles for Powerful PersuasionPersuasion

The art of persuasion has a name: The art of persuasion has a name: rhetoricrhetoric..

What is Rhetoric?What is Rhetoric?

According to Aristotle’s teaching:According to Aristotle’s teaching:

Rhetoric is the art of finding the best Rhetoric is the art of finding the best available means of persuading a available means of persuading a specific audience in a specific specific audience in a specific situationsituation

What are the Tactics of What are the Tactics of Rhetoric?Rhetoric?

EthosEthos – presenting the trustworthiness and – presenting the trustworthiness and authority of the writerauthority of the writer

PathosPathos – speaking to the emotions and deeply- – speaking to the emotions and deeply-held beliefs of the audienceheld beliefs of the audience

LogosLogos – using the logic, reasoning, and – using the logic, reasoning, and evidence of the subject as presentedevidence of the subject as presented

The Rhetorical TriangleThe Rhetorical Triangle

Subject

Writer Audience

The Rhetorical Triangle and the The Rhetorical Triangle and the Tactics of RhetoricTactics of Rhetoric

Writer

Subject

Ethos

Logos

Audience

Pathos

The Rhetorical Triangle The Rhetorical Triangle and the Larger Contextand the Larger Context

Writer

Subject

Ethos

Logos

Audience

Pathos

Your Work & Research

Their Needs & Interests

Your Project’s Impact

Pathos Principle 1:Pathos Principle 1:Know your Impact Audience.Know your Impact Audience.

1.1. Peers Peers (Other researchers and extension specialists) (Other researchers and extension specialists)

2.2. PoliticiansPoliticians (Governing boards and legislators) (Governing boards and legislators)

3.3. Public & Private Public & Private OrganizationsOrganizations (Current & potential funding sources) (Current & potential funding sources)

4.4. PublicPublic (Clients, taxpayers, and the media) (Clients, taxpayers, and the media)

Pathos Principle 2: Know what Pathos Principle 2: Know what moves your Impact Audience.moves your Impact Audience.

What do they all commonly want?What do they all commonly want? What have you done for me lately?What have you done for me lately? What are your program’s results? What are your program’s results? (And give it to me straight!)(And give it to me straight!) Since I have lots of competition for my Since I have lots of competition for my

attention, give it to me short and simpleattention, give it to me short and simple Tell me the facts & figures that prove your Tell me the facts & figures that prove your

program helpsprogram helps Show me how people were helpedShow me how people were helped

Ethos Principle 1:Ethos Principle 1:Write like a ProfessionalWrite like a Professional

To trust you, your readers must believe you are a To trust you, your readers must believe you are a competent person, a professionalcompetent person, a professional

Make sure you get the information down correctly Make sure you get the information down correctly

The dataThe data The namesThe names The spelling The spelling The grammar The grammar

Ethos Principle 2:Ethos Principle 2:Write like a PersonWrite like a Person

Never talk down to or over the heads Never talk down to or over the heads of your audienceof your audience

Tell your story simplyTell your story simply Aim for a 10th grade levelAim for a 10th grade level Use simple familiar wordsUse simple familiar words Avoid jargon and acronymsAvoid jargon and acronyms Use short simple sentencesUse short simple sentences Show rather than tellShow rather than tell

Logos Principle 1:Logos Principle 1:Make your argument clear.Make your argument clear.

Answer the basic questions (5W’s & 1H)Answer the basic questions (5W’s & 1H) State your activities and results plainlyState your activities and results plainly Choose clear wordsChoose clear words

Choose a common vocabularyChoose a common vocabulary Choose active verbsChoose active verbs Choose concrete nouns, adjectives, & adverbsChoose concrete nouns, adjectives, & adverbs

Logos Principle 2:Logos Principle 2:Make your results clear.Make your results clear.

An impact statement is not...An impact statement is not... Just a description of your processJust a description of your process Just the number of folks attending, enrolled, or Just the number of folks attending, enrolled, or

served in a program (or acres involved, etc.)served in a program (or acres involved, etc.) What YOU got out of the programWhat YOU got out of the program A technical or scientific reportA technical or scientific report

An impact statement shows real, positive An impact statement shows real, positive results of applying your program to a real needresults of applying your program to a real need

Six Principles for Six Principles for Powerful PersuasionPowerful Persuasion

1.1. Know your impact audienceKnow your impact audience2.2. Know what moves your impact Know what moves your impact

audienceaudience3.3. Write like a professionalWrite like a professional4.4. Write like a personWrite like a person5.5. Make your argument clearMake your argument clear6.6. Make your results clearMake your results clear

Principles for a Principles for a Practical ProcessPractical Process

How do I go about writing my How do I go about writing my Impact Report?Impact Report?

Principle 1: Writing Principle 1: Writing ISIS a process a process

Forget the myth of the perfect first draftForget the myth of the perfect first draftMultiple drafts lead to better reportsMultiple drafts lead to better reportsUsing “stream of consciousness” writing does Using “stream of consciousness” writing does not make for good reportingnot make for good reportingYour process may be unique to youYour process may be unique to youTo complete the process of writing, you have to To complete the process of writing, you have to plan the time to write (Avoid “the night before plan the time to write (Avoid “the night before class” syndrome)class” syndrome)

Principle 2: Principle 2: Writing is a simple processWriting is a simple process

(But no one said it was easy)(But no one said it was easy)

PrewritePrewrite

WriteWrite

RewriteRewrite

PrewritePrewrite

Gather your data and writing materialsGather your data and writing materials Write a preliminary summary (the “elevator” Write a preliminary summary (the “elevator”

exercise)exercise) Organize your dataOrganize your data

What defines the issue?What defines the issue? What describes what was done?What describes what was done? What shows the results, the impact?What shows the results, the impact?

Make notes on what you want to sayMake notes on what you want to say

WriteWrite

Try writing your Impact Report in this order:Try writing your Impact Report in this order: The Impact Report SpecificsThe Impact Report Specifics

The contact person(s)The contact person(s) The cooperatorsThe cooperators The funding sourcesThe funding sources The year and title(?)The year and title(?)

The Impact Report StatementThe Impact Report Statement IssueIssue What was doneWhat was done ImpactImpact

The Impact Report SummaryThe Impact Report Summary

Writing the Impact Report Writing the Impact Report StatementStatement

Issue Issue (Who cares? Why?)(Who cares? Why?)

Show the gap: What is] [What should beShow the gap: What is] [What should be Use state or national figures to put the local Use state or national figures to put the local

need in contextneed in context Define the problem and/or opportunityDefine the problem and/or opportunity

What was done What was done (Who? What? Where? When? How?)(Who? What? Where? When? How?)

Select the details, facts, & figures which Select the details, facts, & figures which summarize what you did for a non-scientistsummarize what you did for a non-scientist

Set the scope of the projectSet the scope of the project


Impact Impact (So what? What have you done for me lately?)(So what? What have you done for me lately?) Which evaluation tools did you use?Which evaluation tools did you use?

Ask them (survey research)Ask them (survey research) Test them (simple experimental designs)Test them (simple experimental designs) Observe them (recorded & confirmed observations)Observe them (recorded & confirmed observations) See See http://www.ca.uky.edu/agpsd/soregion.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agpsd/soregion.htm & &

http://www.extension.psu.edu/evaluation/titles.htmlhttp://www.extension.psu.edu/evaluation/titles.html Which approach will you use?Which approach will you use?

Quantitative, qualitative, or a combination?Quantitative, qualitative, or a combination?


What level of impact did you achieve? What level of impact did you achieve?

1.1. Program PreparationProgram Preparation

2.2. Program Activities / ResearchProgram Activities / Research

3.3. People Involvement People Involvement

4.4. Participant Reactions Participant Reactions

5.5. Change in KASA Change in KASA (knowledge, attitudes, skills, aspirations)(knowledge, attitudes, skills, aspirations)

6.6. Change in practiceChange in practice

7.7. Broad resultsBroad resultsFrom Claude Bennett (1975) Up the Hierarchy. Journal of Extension: March/April, pp. 7-12.


Impact Impact (So what? What have you done for me lately?)(So what? What have you done for me lately?) Quantify change which occurred in one or all:Quantify change which occurred in one or all:

Economic value or efficiency (cost/benefit?)Economic value or efficiency (cost/benefit?) Environmental quality (facts & figures)Environmental quality (facts & figures) Societal/individual wellbeing (facts & figures)Societal/individual wellbeing (facts & figures)

Use anecdotes and testimonialsUse anecdotes and testimonials If change is yet future,focus on potential impactIf change is yet future,focus on potential impact

Explain your project’s importance to real worldExplain your project’s importance to real world Report present accomplishments–extrapolate carefullyReport present accomplishments–extrapolate carefully

Example of “potential impact”Example of “potential impact”

We bought special software for classroom We bought special software for classroom computers. The students learned to analyze the computers. The students learned to analyze the total true cost of producing food products. total true cost of producing food products. Using the same software industry uses makes Using the same software industry uses makes these students ready for the job market and these students ready for the job market and ready to enhance the food economy.ready to enhance the food economy.

Example of an anecdotal impact Example of an anecdotal impact statementstatement

Farmer James says the university saved her life. Farmer James says the university saved her life. A radio report on rabies symptoms in cattle A radio report on rabies symptoms in cattle was produced and distributed. Farmer heard on was produced and distributed. Farmer heard on her local station and thought she had a cow her local station and thought she had a cow with symptoms. Called the vet -- no rabies. A with symptoms. Called the vet -- no rabies. A second opinion -- no rabies. Cow dies and the second opinion -- no rabies. Cow dies and the farmer sends it for testing. Tests positive for farmer sends it for testing. Tests positive for transmittable rabies. The farmer got immediate transmittable rabies. The farmer got immediate treatment. And credits the radio report with treatment. And credits the radio report with describing things well enough to save her life. describing things well enough to save her life.

Writing the Impact Report Writing the Impact Report SummarySummary

In the summary, summarize the following into one In the summary, summarize the following into one sentence eachsentence each The IssueThe Issue What Was DoneWhat Was Done The ImpactThe Impact

Combine them into a short paragraph which Combine them into a short paragraph which describes the need(s), the process(es), and the describes the need(s), the process(es), and the impact(s) involved in your project without going into impact(s) involved in your project without going into detailsdetails

RewriteRewrite

Set your report in orderSet your report in order Read it out loud; listen for awkward sectionsRead it out loud; listen for awkward sections Ask yourself, “Does this report answer the 3 Ask yourself, “Does this report answer the 3

questions?”questions?” Who cares?Who cares? So what?So what? What have you done for me lately?What have you done for me lately?

Edit for 1st time readers, checking content Edit for 1st time readers, checking content

RewriteRewrite

Rewrite for content remembering to:Rewrite for content remembering to: ShortenShorten SimplifySimplify Show resultsShow results

Proofread for grammar and spelling errorsProofread for grammar and spelling errors Have another person check it over as wellHave another person check it over as well Send it off!Send it off!

Targets for LengthTargets for Length

Report SummaryReport Summary One short paragraphOne short paragraph 100-150 words100-150 words

IssueIssue One short paragraphOne short paragraph 100-150 words100-150 words

What was doneWhat was done One or two paragraphsOne or two paragraphs 150-200 words150-200 words

ImpactImpact One or two paragraphsOne or two paragraphs 200-300 words200-300 words

Why should I work so hard when Why should I work so hard when someone else is going to edit it someone else is going to edit it

anyway?anyway?You can:You can: Save the whole program time & moneySave the whole program time & money Develop a reputation as a real professionalDevelop a reputation as a real professional Improve your communications skills in all Improve your communications skills in all

areas of your lifeareas of your life Make sure your ideas aren’t changed Make sure your ideas aren’t changed Do your best and save the worldDo your best and save the world

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

Give That to Me One More TimeGive That to Me One More Time

Six Principles for Six Principles for Powerful PersuasionPowerful Persuasion

1.1. Know your impact audienceKnow your impact audience2.2. Know what moves your impact Know what moves your impact

audienceaudience3.3. Write like a professionalWrite like a professional4.4. Write like a personWrite like a person5.5. Make your argument clearMake your argument clear6.6. Make your results clearMake your results clear

Two Principles for a Two Principles for a Practical ProcessPractical Process

1.1. Writing IS a ProcessWriting IS a Process

2.2. Writing is a Simple ProcessWriting is a Simple Process• PrewritePrewrite• WriteWrite• RewriteRewrite

Sample impact summarySample impact summary

Economic value or efficiency…Economic value or efficiency…Five years ago, Cornpone County pork Five years ago, Cornpone County pork producers spent $17 more than the state average producers spent $17 more than the state average to raise a market hog. We helped them improve to raise a market hog. We helped them improve their record keeping and production practices, their record keeping and production practices, and costs dropped $20 to $3.19 BELOW the and costs dropped $20 to $3.19 BELOW the state average. Each farm’s profit increased state average. Each farm’s profit increased $345,000 over five years, bringing more hogs, $345,000 over five years, bringing more hogs, more jobs, and more spending to the county.more jobs, and more spending to the county.


Environmental quality...Environmental quality...Chopped waste paper is an economical substitute Chopped waste paper is an economical substitute for wood chips commonly used as bedding by for wood chips commonly used as bedding by the horse industry. Our scientists have found that the horse industry. Our scientists have found that the paper absorbs moisture better too. By using the paper absorbs moisture better too. By using some of the 76 million tons of paper Americans some of the 76 million tons of paper Americans throw away each year, researchers can reduce throw away each year, researchers can reduce landfill demands, save a few trees and keep landfill demands, save a few trees and keep horses comfy all at once.horses comfy all at once.


Social/Individual wellbeing… (health)Social/Individual wellbeing… (health)No standards exist for wooden basketball, dance and No standards exist for wooden basketball, dance and aerobics floors. So, we’re setting them. Our scientists aerobics floors. So, we’re setting them. Our scientists study the role of floor type and construction in chronic-study the role of floor type and construction in chronic-use injuries that often make people stop exercising. use injuries that often make people stop exercising. Computer models predict how a floor reacts to various Computer models predict how a floor reacts to various forces or environmental changes. Those predictions, forces or environmental changes. Those predictions, and what doctors know about chronic athletic injuries, and what doctors know about chronic athletic injuries, bring a prescription for safer exercise for athletes of all bring a prescription for safer exercise for athletes of all ages and abilities.ages and abilities.

Remember….Remember….

The public expects us to be accountable -- to The public expects us to be accountable -- to show the impact of our land-grant programs.show the impact of our land-grant programs.

Impact is the difference your programs are Impact is the difference your programs are making in peoples lives.making in peoples lives.

Impact statements tell various audiences about Impact statements tell various audiences about that difference.that difference.

Where can you go for additional help Where can you go for additional help with writing reports?with writing reports?

You are welcome at the Purdue You are welcome at the Purdue University Writing LabUniversity Writing Lab

Heavilon Hall, Room 226Heavilon Hall, Room 226 Grammar Hotline:Grammar Hotline: (765) (765)

494-3723494-3723 Check our web site: Check our web site:

http://owl.english.purdue.eduhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu Email brief questions to: Email brief questions to:

[email protected]@owl.english.purdue.edu

Purdue University Writing Lab

Questions?Questions?

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Powerful & Practical: Writing the Impact Report