COMM 300: Paragraph & report structure

From BluWiki

Big things to remember

• THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD HAVE IS AN INTRODUCTION - DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING
• THE NEXT THING YOU SHOULD HAVE IS A PARAGRAPH OUTLINING WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS.
• Only include specific, related ideas in paragraphs
• Be VERY SPECIFIC about what we're saying

Situational analysis

• beyond description to provide analysis & meaning
  • Use comarison over time
  • comparison with others
  • comparison with stanards

High value, analaysis paragraphs

• describe "why" they should do what we're recommending
• emphasize findings / analysis that allow them to make decisions

A good BLUF paragraph

• "When considering a proposal of this magnitude, Hecht's must consider multiple macro-envromental factors in the industry over which it has little control.
• Must groups just stopp after industry, forgetting the most important part.

Title Page

• Grab the exec's attention
• Tell the story of your proposal thematically & creatively
• USE PICTURES, ADVERTISING LIKE COPY
• Be creative!

Title

• Don't use words "initial report"
• Say something catchy, that gives execs an idea of theme

Introductions

• Should be 1-2 paragraphs
• You DON'T NEED TO FOLLOW BLUF STRUCTURE
• Give context for the story of our findings. Talk about what the industry is like. Who is in the industry? Just tell a story, set the stage!
• Say what we're propsing that we're going to do.
• You MUST GRAB THEM

Table of contents

• Do not reiterate headings
• It's ok to have general listings
• eg:
  • Industry analysis.... pg 3
    • Macro environmental.. pg 4
    • etc. etc

Examples & comparisons

• If you're having a hard time talking about what you want done, give an example of where it has already happened.