The Short Report is a 2-4 page, single-spaced unsolicited, persuasive problem-solving report.
The approach:
Generally, one of two. These are
Either:
Where you offer a product, service, or partnership that solves a problem your business can address
Because your business may be hypothetical, so might the solution be
An extension of your BMP business (BMP Extension)
Or
Where you research and propose a solution to an existing problem, ideally one you care about personally that isn’t simply about OSU/Stillwater parking or a petty grievance with an individual or group
a real-world problem (Real-World Solution)
The recipient:
In the case of the BMP Extension, someone real or fictional, but still in a position to help you solve or contribute or benefit from your proposed solution.
In the case of the Real-World Solution, someone who can address and or benefit from your proposed solution.
The format:
Is memo report or letter report, depending on the general nature of your recipient (internal – memo or external – letter).
Phone numbers should look like this:
(405) 744-5000
Depending on which one you’re doing, you should follow standard formatting conventions for the genre (memo or letter)
For a memo, use:
To: From: Date: Re: or Subject: lines on the left
The Memorandum line at the top/center
For a letter:
The recipient and return addresses must look something like this:
Mary Jones / 1234 Main St. / Stillwater, OK 74074
Contact information (phone number/email address) should be clearly visible
The content:
Clearly states (not necessarily in this order/look more closely at the assignment for specifics):
The problem
The solution
Your qualifications for proposing the solution
Your research on the problem
Your recommendations
Note: The content should include any persuasive incentives to say yes. For example, if a cost is associated with them saying “yes,” then you should include appropriate elements that make saying “yes” easy.
The organizational pattern:
Greeting
Overview
Identify the problem
Clarify why the person is being contacted
Clarify how you are qualified to deliver this solution
Major recommendations
Significant research findings
Major recommendations
Provide further details of how you will deliver your proposed solution, outlined by segments or steps.
Weave in research elements along the way, making sure to cite them according to the notes-bibliography citation style of the Chicago Manual of Style.
Conclusion
Briefly summarize what’s been discussed in the report in a way that helps the recipient clearly see the need to act or respond in the affirmative.
Appropriate closing
Provides a forward-looking end that invites the recipient toward taking positive action, inviting further conversation, etc.
The writing:
Balances appropriate tone and formality while delivering important information
Should be as error-free and concise as possible.
Must be persuasive in its appeal to your reader – you want this person to say “yes” to your solution.
Is generally in indirect order since it is unsolicited.
The visual elements:
You must include a logo if you are doing the BMP Extension approach. You are not required to have a logo if you are doing the Real-World Solution approach.
Your document design should demonstrate an understanding of visual appeal and readability through section or topic headers and other features, such as bullets, where feasible/helpful.
These include continuation headers for pages beyond the first.
These continuation headers should be in the same font as the body (see the next bullet point and its supporting points).
All section or topic headers must remain with the text they reference; they cannot appear at the end of a page
You should use readable fonts ranging between 10 and 12 points in size. Variations in fonts should be limited and consistently used for the purpose intended.
The body font should be the same throughout the document.
If you change fonts for in-document headings, they should remain the same throughout.
Your document can include relevant, helpful images, charts, etc. that aid the reader in understanding and acting on the message. They cannot be more than a quarter-page in size.
These images, charts, etc. must be appropriately labeled and cited following Chicago Manual of Style, 17thEdition, Notes and Bibliography guidance (see next section).
Outside sources/documentation:
Should be 4-6 appropriately quoted, summarized, or paraphrased credible outside sources.
Do not include block quotes unless there is a clear, reader-driven reason to do so.
These outside sources must be documented using the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, Notes and Bibliography.
Superscript numeric notes where the outside source appears
Brief, numerically ordered citation footnotes at the bottom of the page where the reference to an outside source happens
The notes appear in two forms:
The bibliography entries are listed in alphabetical order appear on a page at the end of the document. This page does not count in the 2–4-page range.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|