Below is the table of contents for the Business Report Writing course.
Goals and objectives
Course outline
1. Writing process
Planning to write
Analyze your audience
Determine the purpose of your document
Gather ideas and facts
Brainstorming
Researching your topic
Establish your scope
Identify the appropriate information type
Determine the appropriate medium
Organizing your information
Create an outline for longer documents
Decide how to organize information
Writing the draft
Writing an opening
Writing a closing
Revising
Readability
Revision checklist
Summary
2. Plain language
What is plain language?
What isn’t plain language?
Why use plain language?
How can I develop documentation in plain English?
What are the principles of plain language?
Readability
Organizing information
Designing an effective document
Further reading
3. General report writing
Introduction
Purpose of report writing
What is reporting?
Elements of reporting
Narrative
Context
Audience
Content and evidence
Style
Form and structure
A reporting spectrum
Scientific report
News Article
Academic Report
Magazine article
Story
Reporting in different styles
Writing effective reports
5. Writing informal reports
Informal reports
Writing for your audience
The audience question
What is an audience
Meet the needs of your audience
Parts of an informal report
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Recommendations
Types of reports
Investigative report
Trouble report
Progress report
Trip report
Writing strategies
Layout
Content
Aim for parallelism in headings
Conciseness
5. Formatting the report
Page layout
Title page
Margins
Headers and footers
Bibliography
Headings
Document design
Determine the purpose of your document
Use consistent page design
Use emphasis appropriately
Plan balanced pages
Planning page design
Determining format
Using grids for page composition
Columns
Text organizers
White space
Using color
Integrating text and graphic devices
Typography
What is a typeface?
Typeface categories
Type properties
Type alignment
Type size
Emphasis
Monospaced versus proportional fonts
Choosing fonts for your report
Using tables
Using graphics
Types of graphics
Screen captures
6. Writing formal reports
What is a formal report?
When would the report be used?
Parts of a formal report
Letter of Submittal
Title page
Abstract
Table of contents
List of figures
Executive summary
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Recommendations
References
Appendix
Notes
Researching with care
Bibliographic methods and formats
7. Writing presentations
What is a presentation
Writing a presentation
Consider your audience
Create an outline
Start by getting the attention of the audience
Support your points
Highlight important words
Use legible fonts
Preparations
Rehearse your presentation
Test your venue
Delivery techniques
Audience
Setting the tone (formal or informal)
Pace
Eye Contact
Volume
Fielding questions
Ending the presentation
Styles of presentation
Making an impression when you enter
Stating and emphasizing main points
Giving clear explanations
Body language
A few guidelines for speaking
PowerPoint tutorials
8. References
Style guides
Report writing resources
General writing resources
Glossary