Topic:

Analytical report

This topic page includes introductory information, a list of readings, and questions to guide your
reading and prepare you for class discussion; it may also include an individual or group
assignment, which may or may not be graded.

Introduction
An analytical report is the most formal type of report that we will discuss in this class. The term
analytical report is synonymous for our purposes with the formal report in Alred, Brusaw and
Oliu (2015). Students in this class will prepare two analytical reports, one as part of a group
project early in the semester and one as an individual authors (though relating to a project shared
within a group of peer reviewers).

The purpose of doing this type of report twice is to give students practice doing the type of DP&TC
report that is most difficult in terms of sustained effort and organization. Note, though, that the
organization and format you choose in this class may not be available to you in a work situation;
there, the organization for which you are working has often already adopted a report format
(formally or informally). If you wish to vary from the commonly accepted format in a work
context, you must consider the cognitive cost you are imposing on your audience.

Readings for this topic

Read the following entries in Alred, Brusaw and Oliu (2015; ABO). Pay close attention to the
examples:
formal reports, paying particular attention to the example in Figure F-5.
titles
abstract
executive summary
introduction
conclusions
You may want to read some of the other ABO entries that the formal reports entry links
to, including documenting sources, appendix, bibliography, etc.

Reading questions
As you read about the forma for analytical reports, think about which components of the analytical
report might be necessary or appropriate for your current assignment. Which ones might you wait
to decide on and why?

Classroom activities for this topic

Think, pair, share:

Assignments for this topic

Usability assessment report (group project)

Final project

2015 Brian N. Larson

Topic: Analytical report

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Works cited

2015 Brian N. Larson

Topic: Analytical report

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