Online Technical Writing: Recommendations-Report Planner

Use this planner to guide you through the key phases in producing the recommendations report. When you are through, you can e-mail this planning information to yourself (and to your instructor, if requested).

What's your name?

1. To get started on this project, read the following sections in the online textbook:
   • Feasibility and recommendation reports
   • Documentation
   • Cross-referencing

2. If you've not done so in the preceding writing project, read these sections as well:
   • Descriptions
   • Definitions
   • Graphics
   • Headings
   • Lists
   • Special notices

3. Be sure and take a look at the recommendation-report examples:

   The frames and nonframes versions work only on Netscape version 3 or later. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Plain (or download Netscape).
   Example recommendation report 1: Sport Utility Vehicles	Frames	Nonframes	Plain
   Example recommendation report 2: Laptop Computers	Frames	Nonframes	Plain
   Example recommendation report 3: Fire Ant Control	Frames	Nonframes	Plain
   Example recommendation report 4: Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems	Frames	Nonframes	Plain
   Example recommendation report 5: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems	Frames	Nonframes	Plain
   Example recommendation report 6: First Telescope Purchase	Frames	Nonframes	Plain
   Example recommendation report 7: Voice Recognition Software	Frames	Nonframes	Plain

4. To test your understanding of those sections in the online textbook, take the following online reading quizzes:
   • Recommendation and feasibility reports
   • Documentation
   • Cross-referencing

5. Next, read the recommendation-report assignment, which states the requirements on the content, format, length, and other such details for this assignment.

6. Send questions to altanerotw@yahoogroups.com—the class mailing list. (To subscribe to the list, go to www.groups.yahoo.com/group/altanerotw.)

   Note: Filling out the following planning information is not a requirement in ENGL 1311; it counts as "class participation."

7. Describe the topic of your recommendation report. (Try using the topic planner for this.)
   

8. If you are having problems getting ideas for the recommendation report, take a look at what other people are doing for this project by checking recommendations bulletin board.

9. Describe the intended audience for your recommendation report---who are these readers? How are they going to use your recommendations. What's the background on why this report is needed? (Try using the audience planner for this.)
   

10. List and describe the things you are going to compare and then make recommendations on.
    

11. The online textbook strongly recommends using the point-by-point approach rather than the whole-to-whole when organizing a comparison (which is an essential element in a recommendation report). List the points of comparison you plan to use in your recommendation report.
    

12. List and explain the requirements (criteria) that you'll use in your recommendation report. Remember that "cost" is a point comparison; a maximum cost of $2,000 is a requirement.
    

13. Explain the priorities you'll use in your recommendation report. For example, if one brand is better in one area and another brand better in another area, how will you decide? Well-defined requirements and priorities between them will help.
    

14. If you think that this recommendation report will require some introductory background discussion, explain that in the box below.
    

15. List the second- and third-level headings you'll use in these instructions. (See the chapter on headings in the online textbook.
    

16. Explain the supplementary information you'll need to use in this recommendation report (specifically, description, definition, or both). (See the chapter on description or the chapter on definition in the online textbook.)
    

17. Once you've got a plan for the recommendation report, post a brief description of that plan on the recommendations bulletin board so everybody can see what others are working on. If you're stumped for ideas, try looking at the board to get some ideas.

18. When you are ready, write the draft of your recommendation report in your preferred software (for example, Word, WordPerfect, or other), save it as a Microsoft Word or RTF (Rich Text Format) document, and review it against the recommendation-report checklist. (Be sure and use the file name shown in your personal web-page schedule.)

19. When you are satisfied with your recommendation report, send it as e-mail attachment to your instructor, Tim Altanero.

20. Use the unit evaluation form to give your opinions on the effectiveness of the study materials and organization of this unit. (This evaluation is strictly optional, strictly voluntary.)

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