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Critical Thinking Questions
1. Discuss the effects of formality and likely length on report makeup as described in the chapter. (LO1)
As a general rule, the more formal the report situation, the more the report writer should dress up the report.
2. Which of the prefatory pages of reports appear to be related primarily to the length of the report?
Which to the need for formality? (LO1)
3. Describe the role and content of a transmittal message. (LO1)
The message takes the place of the conversation that would take place if the writer were to present the
4. Why is the personal style typically used in the transmittal message? (LO1)
5. Explain how to write the executive summary of a report. (LO1)
6. Why does the executive summary include key facts and figures in addition to the analyses and
conclusions drawn from them? (LO1)
7. Explain why some routine report problems require little or no introduction. (LO2)
8. Why is the direct order generally used in the shorter reports? When is the indirect order desirable
for such reports? (LO2)
9. Describe a situation in which you would use short-report format rather than email format for an
internal report. Why would you choose the short-report format? (LO3)
Student answers will vary. Short-report format typically is used for short, informal reports submitted to
10. Describe a situation in which you would prepare a memo report rather than an email report for an
internal report. Why would you choose the memo format? (L03)
11. What kinds of information might go into routine operational reports for different kinds of
organizations? Why would these organizations need this information regularly? (L04)
The answers will vary depending on the kinds of companies your students are familiar with, but such
12. Given what you’ve learned about progress reports, suggest a general structure for these reports.
What might go into the beginning? What might the middle parts be? What would the conclusion do?
(LO4)
Of course the plan can vary with the situation, but here is a common order:
The opening clearly identifies what project the report concerns and makes an overall statement assessing
13. How might an internal problem-solving report that has been assigned differ from one on the same
subject that an employee generated on his or her own? (L04)
14. Study the audit reports in several companies’ annual reports. What seem to be the common features
of such audit reports? (LO4)
15. Discuss the pros and cons of including a list of absentees in meeting minutes. (LO4)
Including the names of absentees makes the document a more complete record. And it may add an
