Ohio University College of Business Communication Standards

Table of Contents
Section 3: Report Guidelines
REPORT PLANNING PROCESS ..........................................................................................................3
BUSINESS REPORT SEGMENTS ........................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTORY ELEMENTS OF THE FORMAL REPORT ..............................................5
REPORT OUTLINES ..................................................................................................................................6
REPORTS IN THE IMPERSONAL STYLE .....................................................................................8
QUALITIES OF WELL-WRITTEN REPORTS............................................................................10
LETTER OR MEMO OF TRANSMITTAL.....................................................................................11
SAMPLE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.........................................................................................12
SAMPLE MEMO OF TRANSMITTAL ............................................................................................13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (SAMPLE WITHOUT HEADINGS) ...........................................15
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (SAMPLE WITH HEADINGS) .....................................................16
FORMATTING GUIDELINES .............................................................................................................18
EXAMPLE: COB REPORT HEADINGS .........................................................................................19
CREATE A TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................20
TRANSITION IN A LONG, FORMAL REPORT.........................................................................21
EXAMPLES OF LEAD-INS, SUMMARIES, AND TRANSITIONS.....................................22
REPORT GRAPHIC AIDS......................................................................................................................23
ANCILLARY PAGES................................................................................................................................24
APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................... 24
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................... 24
CHICAGO MANUAL STYLE (CMS) DOCUMENTATION ...................................................25
INSERT A FOOTNOTE OR ENDNOTE ..........................................................................................25
PAGINATION (COLLEGE OF BUSINESS STANDARD) .......................................................26
REPORT CHECK SHEET ......................................................................................................................27
3-2