INFORMAL REPORTS SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 2 III SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

INFORMAL REPORTS

SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 2

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o information/data = n n o 3 objective concerning how equipment has or has not functioned well-documented review of the exact manner in which the equipment has performed

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o Topics = n n n 4 machinery tools vehicles office supplies computer hardware computer software

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o Focus = n n n Equipment problems, suggestions to solutions * Evaluate the equipment, not the problems * o o o 5 Don’t repeat the Problem Analysis Report Arrange your analysis according to its parts; then mention the problems as they relate to the parts Keep your focus on the equipment.

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Abstract o o o 6 purpose of writing summary of what the report says about the equipment (Why are you writing AND What’s ahead? )

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Body v v thorough description of the equipment well-organized critique o o 7 top-bottom, left-right, inside-out, … (coherence) analysis of the parts of one piece of equipment according to selected criteria

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Body v Evaluation Criteria (some, not all) n n n n 8 n physical design specifications ease of use quality of instructions maintenance (frequency & cost) availability of software warranty coverage service

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Body v o v additional supporting data reference to any attachments end with a Comparison/Contrast (table) n n 9 between this evaluated piece of equipment and your #1 recommendation from the R. R.

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Conclusion o o “Conclusions and Recommendations” brief restatement of major n n 10 findings conclusions recommendations (as always, further contact)

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Conclusion o o 11 Remember, your job here is merely to present the Decision-Maker with as much information she/he needs to make an informed decision. In the end, that person, not you, will make the decision.

III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS o ABC Format n Grammar o o o 12 POV = third person, general (“students” or “one” rather than “you”) Hyphens: for 17 -inch, 5 -year warranty, cost-effective, log-in Numbers: for plural model numbers, do not use apostrophes (Model SUX 770 s, not 770’s) Transitions: use transitions to enumerate parts/problems or to note changes in direction Capitalization: Web and Internet are capitalized, Building 7